From conferences and corporate meetings to incentive trips, festivals and sporting competitions, hotels, destinations and tourism businesses are increasingly involved in hosting and delivering events. 

By integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into event planning and delivery, tourism businesses can maximise the benefits of events while minimising their impacts. 

How tourism businesses can deliver more sustainable events

Sustainable events decisions start long before attendees arrive. From venue selection to catering and transportation, early planning decisions can help reduce environmental impacts while enhancing the overall experience. 

Key priorities include: 

• Promoting public transport, shared mobility and lower-carbon travel options for attendees. 

• Selecting venues with strong environmental credentials and energy-efficient infrastructure. 

• Increasing the use of renewable energy wherever possible. 

• Reducing water consumption through efficient facilities and operational controls. 

• Minimising food waste and prioritising locally sourced and seasonal catering. 

• Replacing single-use items with reusable or recyclable alternatives. 

• Measuring and monitoring environmental impacts to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. 

Events also provide an opportunity to generate positive social outcomes for visitors, employees and local communities. By embedding inclusion, accessibility and community engagement into event planning, tourism businesses can create experiences that deliver lasting value beyond the event itself. 

Key priorities include: 

• Ensuring safe, inclusive and welcoming environments for all attendees. 

• Providing accessible venues and experiences for people with different needs. 

• Promoting diversity and representation across speakers, suppliers and event partners. 

• Supporting fair working conditions throughout the event value chain. 

• Prioritising local suppliers and businesses wherever possible. 

• Creating economic opportunities that benefit host communities. 

• Engaging residents and stakeholders to maximise the event's positive legacy. 

Delivering sustainable events requires effective planning, collaboration and accountability. Tourism businesses can strengthen governance by integrating sustainability into decision-making and monitoring performance throughout the event lifecycle. 

This can be achieved by: 

• Setting measurable sustainability objectives before the event. 

• Embedding ESG criteria into supplier selection and procurement processes. 

• Collecting data on energy use, waste generation, mobility and social impact. 

• Monitoring progress against established targets. 

• Reporting results transparently to stakeholders. 

• Communicating achievements and challenges honestly to avoid greenwashing. 

• Applying lessons learned to improve future events. 

The Sustainable Events Checklist developed by the United Nations Global Compact Network Spain offers practical guidance to help organisations align event management with environmental, social and governance best practices.

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