Media Contact: Megan Conway, Travel Portland, 503.275.9795, megan@travelportland.com
Portland, Ore. (June 25, 2013) – Travel Portland, the destination marketing organization for Portland, Ore., has become the second in the world to be certified by a new international sustainability standard. Travel Portland achieved Level One certification with the new ASTM International standard pertaining to the “Evaluation and Selection of Destinations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences.” The destination standard is one of nine standards introduced by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry in 2012 to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner.
“Portland has a well-deserved reputation for environmental and social responsibility,” said Jeff Miller, president and CEO, Travel Portland. “Achieving this certification is confirmation of Portland’s commitment to sustainability and gives meeting planners one more reason to choose Portland as their next meeting destination.”
The ASTM Destination Standard clarifies the procedural requirements for destination selection — the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the location for a meeting or event. The standard outlines specific performance criteria for staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement and community partners. These new industry standards were created in partnership with ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials – http://www.astm.org), an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards development organization.
Michael Luehrs, President of the Green Meeting and Industry Council (GMIC) said, “We are very pleased to see a destination that is well-known for its environmental and social commitment adopt the standard and obtain independent certification.”
iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, a non-profit international auditing organization, developed the certification protocols for the ASTM International standards and performed the independent third party certification of the Oregon Convention Center’s compliance with the venue standard.
About Travel Portland
Travel Portland is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Portland, Ore. Its mission is to strengthen the local economy by marketing the Greater Portland region as a preferred destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. For more information on Travel Portland, visit www.travelportland.com.
About the Green Meeting Industry Council
The Green Meeting Industry Council is a non-profit, membership-based professional organization that provides educational resources to planners, suppliers, and venues seeking to meet the ever-rising standards consumers set for sustainable meetings. www.gmicglobal.org
About iCompli
iCompli is a division of BPA Worldwide, a not-for-profit auditing organization established in 1931 to audit circulation for publishers, advertisers and their agencies. Today, BPA’s audit services have expanded to include external assurance of government and industry standards and independent verification of companies’ technology and service claims. iCompli provides GRI reporting services (gap analysis, competitor benchmarking and external assurance) and third-party certification of ASTM International and ISO event standards. www.bpaww.com
