Green Events Source/blog

Chicago Leads on WWF's Second Annual "Earth Hour"

Chicago will be the official flagship  U.S. city for Earth Hour 2008, the World Wildlife Federation’s annual observance in which cities will voluntarily and safely turn out their lights to demonstrate concern about climate change.  In addition to Chicago such environmental leaders as Bangkok, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Manila, Tel Aviv and Toronto will participate.

During Earth Hour, businesses and individuals will turn off their lights in a dramatic, highly symbolic gesture to demonstrate that by working together, people all around the world can make a difference in the fight against climate change. According to Chicago officials, Earth Hour sponsorship is one more step in Chicago's ongoing commitment to be the greenest city in the nation.

To make Earth Hour a success, WWF and City of Chicago officials said they'll be working over the coming weeks to turn off the lights at many of Chicago's skyline buildings and famous landmarks, including Navy Pier's Ferris Wheel, marquees at the Cadillac Palace Theatre and Ford Center for the Performing Arts and businesses along the Magnificent Mile.

Individuals and organizations throughout the US are encouraged to participation. To register for Earth Hour or for more ideas about how to celebrate Earth Hour, visit www.earthhourus.org.

HSMAI Becomes Distribution Partner

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association has signed on to become a 2008 Distribution Partner for The Green Events Source Book.

As a distribution partner, HSMAI will be distributing copies of the multimedia resources guide to an estimated 3,000 meeting planners at three upcoming U.S. conferences:  Affordable Meetings Mid-America at Chicago’s Navy Pier April 9 - 10; Affordable Meetings West at the Long Beach Convention Center June 11 – 12; and the National Conference and Event Technology Expo in Washington D.C. September 10 – 11, 2008.

In addition to exhibiting at the conference, Green Events Source founder Deborah Popely will be leading an educational session on green meetings at the Long Beach and Washington sessions. For more information or to register for the conferences, visit www.affordablemeetings.com.

HSMAI is a global organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality and sales and marketing management disciplines, as well as connecting its members with customers. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprised of nearly 7,000 members from 35 countries and chapters worldwide. More information is available at www.hsmai.org.

Chicago’s Whitney WoodWorks Chosen to Manufacture The Bambooth™

Green Events Source has chosen Whitney WoodWorks, one of the premier green cabinetmakers and woodworking companies in the Midwest, to manufacture The Bambooth™, a new eco-friendly display system being launched at Exhibitor 2008 March 10 - 12. Based in the nationally renowned Chicago Center for Green Technology, Whitney WoodWorks specializes in non-toxic, earth-friendly cabinetry and woodworking for both residential and commercial clients.

            “We chose to partner with Whitney Wood Works because of the company’s impressive trackrecord as a sustainable manufacturer,” said Deborah Popely, Green Events Source founder and president. “Their involvement ensures that The Bambooth™ is green from design through execution, so our customers know that their investment in the product is genuinely good for the planet.”

            A founding member of the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance, Whitney WoodWorks was Chicago’s first green woodworker to use formaldehyde-free materials, significantly reducing the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Its cabinets and furniture are designed and manufactured with FSC certified, as well as local, sustainably harvested woods, rapidly renewable resources and non-toxic materials.

The Bambooth™ is part of a growing number of new sustainable exhibiting products coming on the market, designed to meet the demand for more choice in green exhibiting options. Designed by Lisa and Ron Elkins, both LEED-accredited architects and principals of the Chicago-based architecture/design firm 2Point Perspective, The Bambooth ™ reflects state-of-the-art thinking in green design and construction, fulfilling sustainability requirements on many levels. It is constructed of renewable bamboo and recycled metal and can be personalized with eco-friendly banners and high-recycled content eco-resin panels in wide range of colors and textures.

            Whitney Woodworks not only employs eco-friendly materials and finishes in its woodwork, it offers the added benefit of running on 40% solar power, which helps offset the carbon emissions associated with importing bamboo for the booth’s panels. In addition, Whitney recycles or sells 100% of any waste products generated in the manufacturing process.

            The Bambooth™ is the first product of its kind from Green Events Source, which publishes The Green Events Source Book and provides other resources for green meetings, trade shows and special events.  The Green Events Source Book is a multimedia resource that covers the many ways event organizers can reduce the environmental impact of their events, while also highlighting hotels, convention centers, event management companies, display designers and manufacturers, printers, shippers and other vendors who offer sustainable products and services.          

             To take a video tour of the product or obtain a customized quote, visit www.thebambooth.com or call (847) 827-8456.  For more information on Green Events Source and The Green Events Source Book, visit www.greeneventsource.com.