Back to the future - the motto of the Austrian conference professionals
"Back to the Future" was the motto of this year's Convention 4 U, the meeting industry's conference that can be interpreted in many ways - and where better to do that than at the Congress Centrum Alpbach in the Village of Thinkers? The Austrian Ecolabel was there too!
Almost 200 participants came this year. "Back to the Future" is the motto, which can be interpreted in many ways - as a resumption of the determined, forward-looking course of the Austrian congress industry, interrupted by the pandemic, but also as a call to contribute to viable solutions for a future fit for grandchildren. The topics of sustainability and green meeting were repeatedly addressed in a variety of ways.
The conference lab
The ACB staff have the ambition to make each Convention 4 U unique as a "conference laboratory" in terms of content and organisation and thus to show that it is possible to leave the usual paths and win in the process. Nevertheless, some themes run like a red thread through the years. For example, the implementation as a Green Meeting and the space that the topic is allowed to occupy in theory and practice at this event. Or workshops that not only deal with specialist topics, but also go deeper on a personal level - for example, stress management or transformation.
All-round "green" success
This time the conference took place in the Congress Centrum Alpbach and thus had an - in the truest sense of the word - excellent partner at its side. On the one hand, the congress centre is certified with the Austrian Ecolabel for conference venues and thus already offers a good basis for a resource-saving meeting, such as geothermal heating and cooling, energy- and water-saving facilities, and the use of renewable energy sources.
On the other hand, the Congress Centre has also acquired the licence to hold green meetings and thus knows the needs of these clients particularly well.
As far as accommodation is concerned, the ACB in Alpbach has done well: with the greatest density of eco-labelled hotels in such a small area, participants could not make a wrong choice and thus make a contribution to reducing the burden on the environment.
The fresh and healthy catering was almost entirely vegetarian and partly vegan, and of course regional as far as possible. Ample water stations provided refreshment.
It was also relatively easy to travel in an environmentally friendly way - Alpbach is well connected to the railway by bus and a collective transfer from Wörgl station made it even easier for participants to leave their cars at home. A large proportion of the guests were prepared to do this: 60% came by train and bus.
Sustainable content
With an "Onboarding Camp" on the first day of the event, industry newcomers were addressed and accompanied into the world of Convention 4 U with buddies and introductory talks so that they quickly felt welcome. This commitment also has a sustainable dimension. In addition, a workshop on the topic of Green Meeting certification with the Austrian Ecolabel was also offered, which was very well attended. But also in many other lectures and sessions, which per se were not focused on sustainability at all, sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals or the necessary transformation of society were taken up again and again. For example, during the guided tour of the Congress Centrum by host Thomas Kahn, there were lively discussions about the opportunities and problems of a sustainably oriented event location. Sarah Sommerauer from the Sustainable Events Club presented case studies on challenges and solutions for sustainable event design. In the Open Space, a 20-member group exchanged ideas with the Ferry Porsche Congress Centrum and the KEM Management Zell am See on the topic of sustainability of locations and events. The importance of partners in the regions was emphasised, as was certification with the Ecolabel and the difficulties of collecting tangible environmental data.
Congratulations on your birthday, ACB!
There was also a reason to celebrate: the Austrian Convention Bureau celebrated its 30th anniversary with a lively evening - and we would also like to take this opportunity to thank the partners in the ACB for their many years of cooperation, support and valuable exchange on green meetings and to congratulate them on their birthday!
