Congresses, conferences, meetings, galas, sports tournaments, concerts… Events are important to Austria’s economy. Many people travel regularly on business to events in other regions and cities. Such travelling consumes many resources, causes emissions and is detrimental to our environment. That is why sustainability is also becoming more and more important to conference and event organisers.
Sustainable Meetings and Events in Vorarlberg

GREEN MEETINGS AND GREEN EVENTS
It is possible to certify events in Vorarlberg with the Österreichische Umweltzeichen – the Eco Symbol of Austria – for ‘Green Meetings and Green Events’. ‘Green Meetings’ and ‘Green Events’ are characterised by better energy efficiency, waste avoidance and environmentally-friendly travel to and from the events as an alternative to the production of mountains of waste and traffic tsunamis. Central aspects are climate protection, creation of value in the region and social responsibility. The events’ standing can therefore be improved among the population, participants and sponsors.
Since 2013 Convention Partner Vorarlberg has been licensed to use the ‘Green Meetings and Green Events’ eco symbol and offers to certify events as sustainable for free.
More about Greent Meetings and Green Events Certification


Global Destination Sustainability-Index
The topic of sustainability is very important to Vorarlberg as a region. Convention Partner Vorarlberg wishes to raise awareness for the subject within the event industry by participating in the GDS Index and, wherever possible, by strengthening this awareness in future through its work with service providers and partners.
The Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index is the world’s largest benchmarking and cooperation platform for sustainability in the conference and event industry. It promotes and encourages the sustainable development of the international meetings industry by comparing and networking meeting destinations worldwide. It focuses here on environmental and social aspects as well as on destination management and service providers.




CASE STUDY: CERTIFICATION OF THE KLEINWALSERTALER DIALOGE
In 2019, the Kleinwalsertaler Dialoge event was awarded the ecolabel for Green Meetings for the fifth time, providing an insight into complying with several criteria.