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Beginning in March, meeting industry professionals can participate in one of the most extensive green-awareness education events. The Convention Industry Council (CIC), in partnership with the members of the local meeting, convention, trade show and exhibition industry in cities across the globe are invited City Discussion Groups on green meetings and events.

The City Discussion Groups program is part of APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange), a CIC initiative to develop and implement industry-wide accepted practices to  create and enhance efficiencies throughout the profession. “The City Discussion Groups will provide an important opportunity for all stakeholders in the community to present important feedback which will help shape these critical and much demanded standards in a time when meeting organizers are looking for ways to be part of helping make meetings more sustainable,” said Karen Kotowski, Chief Operating Officer, CIC.

Locations for the first round of City Discussion Groups include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Gainesville, Louisville, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, and Vancouver. Later in the spring, City Discussion Groups are scheduled for Denver, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Frankfurt, Germany. A total of 17 City Discussion Groups are planned.

The City Discussion Groups will be in a format similar to town hall meetings, with ample opportunity for dialogue, comments and review. The groups be presented with the recommendations of the Green Meetings and Events Practice Panel, a CIC organizing currently creating standards for the meetings and hospitality industry around nine topic areas: accommodations, audio/visual and production, communication, destinations, exhibits, food and beverage, meeting venue, on-site offices, and transportation.

The City Discussion Groups are designed to offer industry members an opportunity to participate publicly in dialogue and help bring accepted practices to life, illuminating the initiative’s meaning to their own companies and jobs. The formats allow industry members to keep informed, engage each other, and help shape the industry’s agenda.  For those unable to attend city discussion groups in person, a virtual discussion board will be coming soon to the Apex Solution website.

For more information and to register for one of the City Discussion Groups, visit: www.APEXsolution.org.