The Venues Collection can announce that all their UK conference & training venues have achieved the ‘silver’ level in the Green Tourism ‘Green Meetings’ Standard - the world's largest sustainable certification programme.
The Standard uses a strict three pillar sustainability criteria which focuses on people, places and planet and is examined by an independent assessor. Each of the people, places and planet goals were assessed by five different factors including focuses on areas such as food, health & wellbeing, carbon, waste and water consumption.
Jo Austin, Sales Director of The Venues Collection and mia board member, said: “Sustainability runs through everything we do and we are totally dedicated to ensuring that our venues, and therefore the events that we host, are as sustainable as possible. Our clients work with us as a trusted partner who can help them to create more sustainable events. Impartial accreditation reassures organisers and helps them to know that they can rely on our venues. We are thrilled that we came straight in at the silver level, but our journey is far from over. Sustainability is constantly evolving and our venues are now working towards achieving gold. The Green Meetings Standard gives each of our venues a road map to follow to ensure they are continually improving and developing their offer and exceeding clients’ needs and expectations.”
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association, said: “Achieving the silver Green Meetings standard across all six venues is a great achievement that clearly demonstrates The Venues Collection’s sustainable values. These high standards provide vital reassurance to buyers that the organisation is genuinely invested in sustainable operations and practices, as further made evident by its striving for gold.”
The Venues Collection has already achieved Venue Directory’s Green Accreditation, and this further builds on their Meetings for Change Day Delegate Rate and 24-hour Rate. These advancements all sit under the Group’s Future First Charter, a framework to shape and deliver the Group’s social purpose initiatives and targets. The Charter is built around three key pillars; People Pledge, Food Focus and Enriching Environments and has been adopted by all head office staff and venue teams.
The Venues Collection is part of Lime Venue Portfolio and is the residential venue business of Compass Group UK & Ireland. The Collection consists of six event and training sites across the South West, South East, and East & West Midlands. The venues also offer comfortable and relaxing breaks for leisure guests, with double or family rooms, contemporary restaurants and bar areas with seasonally inspired menus, outdoor space with many venues also offering leisure facilities.