Marriott International has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, Connect Responsibly with Marriott Bonvoy Events, aimed at helping meeting planners weave sustainability into their events. The new program, launching by the end of October, will be available at Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide, offering planners access to detailed reports on their event’s environmental impact and options to purchase carbon credits.
Erika Alexander, Chief Global Officer at Marriott, highlighted the importance of responsible in-person connections: “There’s nothing quite like meeting face-to-face, and doing so with a focus on sustainability makes it even more rewarding. Through the Connect Responsibly program, we’re empowering our customers to understand the environmental impacts of their events, helping us all work together toward a more resilient future for travel.”
A Tailored Approach to Sustainability
Connect Responsibly responds to the growing demand for eco-friendly meeting solutions. As part of the program, planners will receive a Meeting Impact Report after their event, detailing property-specific sustainability practices and calculating the event’s carbon and water footprints. This user-friendly report will be available in 11 languages, making it accessible to a global audience.
Additionally, in collaboration with South Pole, a leading climate consultancy, Marriott will offer planners the opportunity to invest in select carbon offset projects. Customers will be able to choose verified carbon offset options from South Pole’s portfolio, allowing them to mitigate the environmental impact of their events.
Tammy Routh, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Marriott, emphasised the importance of sustainability in their operations: “Meetings and events are critical to our business, and our customers are eager to contribute to sustainability efforts. Connect Responsibly strengthens our commitment to sustainable hospitality, and we’re thrilled to offer enhanced reporting capabilities and carbon offset options through our collaboration with South Pole.”
Part of a Broader Climate Strategy
This new initiative is a key part of Marriott’s wider efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its properties and supply chain. In April 2024, Marriott became the largest global hospitality company to receive approval from the Science Based Targets initiative for both near-term and long-term emissions reduction goals. As part of this drive, the company’s Climate Action Program (CAP) sets ambitious property-level carbon reduction targets.
Connect Responsibly not only builds on Marriott’s existing sustainability initiatives but also provides event planners with meaningful ways to contribute to a greener future, positioning Marriott at the forefront of eco-conscious event planning.
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