2017 UFI Sustainable Development Award goes to Fira Barcelona
June 12, 2017
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has unveiled Fira Barcelona as the winner of its annual Sustainable Development Award.
The theme of this year’s competition, “Best destination approach to implementing sustainability”, was chosen in order to recognize initiatives that combine the efforts of a destination, in partnership with a professional exhibition operator, to implement sustainability around an individual exhibition or a series of events.
The award jury was composed of Members of the UFI Sustainable Development Committee and Dianne Young, Chair of the UFI Sustainable Development Committee and CEO of the Exhibition Place (Toronto, Canada), said: “Fira Barcelona’s entry demonstrates a very broad approach to sustainability which goes much beyond the stand-alone direction,”
She added, “Their strong collaboration with the City Council and other organizations is an important part of maximizing change and innovation, and as highlighted below several of their results are very impressive. The jury would also like to congratulate Marina Bay Sands from Singapore and RAI Amsterdam from the Netherlands who were finalists for this year’s award”.
After implementing certain measures around their own events (energy efficiency, eco-design, waste management, CSR program and paperless processes) and guest events (such as free consultancy and donation room), Fira Barcelona realised that they needed to expand their scope: they therefore began to develop joint initiatives with their City Council and other relevant entities.
These joint initiatives included the following:
- Development of a “Good Environmental Practices Manual” in conjunction with the Catalan Regional Government and the Catalan Waste Management Agency;
- Admission to the Barcelona Sustainable Tourism program developed by the Barcelona Convention Bureau;
- Promoting the use of public transportation among the attendees with the Barcelona City Council and other entities;
- Launch of the “Towards Zero Waste” program as a part of the “Smart City World Congress”.
Constantí Serrallonga, general manager of Fira de Barcelona, said, ”Fira de Barcelona’s commitment towards sustainability is a long-standing one. Not only have we implemented many initiatives over the past few years around our own events, but we have launched new events focusing on making companies, cities and the world a better place and have tirelessly encouraged our partners, clients, attendees and fellow cities to join us in this collective effort. Sustainability has indeed become a part of who Fira de Barcelona is and receiving the UFI Sustainable Development Award is not only an honour but a reward that further strengthens our determination to continue developing even better initiatives.”
The entries submitted by the 2017 UFI Sustainable Development Award finalists, together with the three additional entries selected during the first round of the competition as examples of best practices: BVV Trade Fair Brno (Czech Republic), CTICC (South Africa) and Meetings Africa (South Africa), are all available at www.ufi.org/sdaward.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
Add new comment