Net-Positive Meetings & Events

Leveraging education to create tangible impacts for sustainability in Singapore’s tourism & events sector

As someone deeply involved in Singapore's Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, I've seen our significant progress in promoting sustainability. Post-COVID-19, the tourism and events sector has rebounded and is leading the way in adopting sustainable practices. NTUC LearningHub’s Tourism Insights Report 2024 found that a large portion of tourism organizations have incorporated sustainability practices (20% to a large extent, 31% to some extent, 23% to a small extent).

As Singapore progresses with a new standard for sustainable meetings and events, the industry needs a skilled workforce to ensure that sustainability practices offer meaningful experiences and lasting benefits, positively impacting the environment, society, and economy. At NTUC LearningHub, we believe our commitment to education and lifelong learning is key to achieving a net positive future for the MICE industry.

Here are some examples of how strategic approaches to continuing education and training are fostering sustainability in the tourism and events sector.

Empowering Event Professionals with Sustainability Skills

NTUC LearningHub, in partnership with the Singapore Association for Convention & Exhibitions Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), offers the Certified Event Sustainability (CES) course to equip professionals with skills for sustainable event planning and execution. Key areas include developing sustainability frameworks, operationalizing sustainable practices, sustainable storytelling, returns on sustainable investments, and responsible procurement and supply chain management.

CES professionals are crucial for companies aiming to achieve the MICE Sustainability Certification, Singapore’s MICE sustainability framework. The impact of this program can be seen through the work of our industry partners, such as:

• Constellar Venues, operating Singapore Expo, which has sent their frontline and customer facing  teams to go through CES, enhancing their sustainability efforts.
• Informa Markets, organizer of major trade shows like Food & Hotel Asia, which has successfully implemented various sustainability measures such as reducing waste to landfill, incorporating reusable materials, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Investing in Skills for a Responsible and Regenerative MICE Industry

In addition to up-skilling event professionals in pressing areas such as waste management and carbon reduction, NTUC LearningHub strategically drives holistic sustainability in the tourism and events sector by bringing together stakeholders, including government agencies, trade associations, employers, and skills accreditors.

We gather insights to identify sector skills needs and develop learning frameworks to address these gaps, providing training and upskilling opportunities. Our training inspires learners to apply new knowledge effectively in their work.

New masterclasses in partnership with international experts are introduced to the sector with the intent to deliver cutting-edge knowledge and skills to industry colleagues. For example, we are partnering with GDS-Movement to deliver training on storytelling and communication strategies for regeneration, and with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) on accessible and inclusive travel.

Immersive local experiences to promote sustainability values and support local engagement

For meetings and events to be a positive force in today’s world, they need to be designed with a focus on sustainability and meaningful engagement. Here are some innovative examples from across the EXO Events network, provided by team members from EXO Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Immersive Cultural Experiences: In-person gatherings can be powerful tools to encourage participants to immerse in local cultures, helping promote respect for diverse traditions. For example, event participants in Bali can join local village tours organized by the EXO team, and be part of activities such as learning traditional dance steps and participating in a blessing ceremony aimed at achieving harmony in life. Such offers not only provide a memorable experience, but also support local communities by encouraging tourism in lesser-known areas.

Interactive and Educational Experiences: Events can offer unique opportunities for engaging in grassroots sustainability efforts. For example, event participants in Hanoi, Vietnam can visit an organic farm in Co Loa village and learn about local green food, while participating in activities like picking fruits and preparing traditional dishes. Similarly, an interactive dinner concept integrating storytelling and participatory activities promotes a deeper understanding of local culinary traditions and food culture.

Sustainable Gala Dinners: Incorporating eco-friendly practices into event planning is a key aspect of our MICE programs. Often such environmental ethos go hand in hand with supporting local cultural traditions. A great example of this is our gala dinner hosted for a leadership summit in Laos. The event was plastic-free and showcased traditional Lao handicrafts, textiles, and attire by local artisans who represent eco-friendly practices based on their cultural identities.

Green Initiatives and Community Engagement: Event participants can turn their memory into a lasting legacy by investing in local initiatives and community projects. For example, during a group convention in Hanoi, participants supported the building of a new community space including a playground for children, fostering community spirit and providing tangible health benefits. Similarly, a sporting event incorporated a volunteer program supporting a local forest restoration initiative, raising awareness of the importance of promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing local engagement.

Addressing the Carbon Footprint of Events: Using the tool "Path Net Zero", we calculate the carbon footprint of each event, reflecting key details such as the meeting rooms occupancy, event space size, the use of cocktail bars and other facilities. With accurate data on emissions, we can work with our clients on reduction strategies. Since transport is a key source of emissions, we are actively seeking locally available lower-impact options, such as the converted LPG tuk-tuks in Cambodia, which provide a lively open air experience to travelers and additional incomes for locals. Greener transport options such as electric and solar powered vehicles are also becoming more and more accessible. In addition, throughout the planning phase we consider various possibilities to encourage walking and on-foot discovery of visited places.

Through thoughtful planning and a focus on sustainability and cultural respect, meetings and events can go beyond their activities and schedules to create lasting, positive impacts on participants and communities alike.

Embracing the responsibility of bringing people together in a beautiful natural place

Soča Outdoor Festival attracts every year more and more trail runners to one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys shaped by river Soča. This year more than 2.500 trail runners joined the competition and twice as many visitors came to spend an outdoor weekend cheering for competitors, exploring the area and taking part in a number of outdoor activities.

Sport events are an important part of our lives. They motivate us to train for the whole year, do better, stay fit and healthy and on the day of the event we come together and share our achievements, experience community spirit, and enjoy the outdoors. But they can not be only a positive experience for the participants. They need to be organized responsibility and in cooperation with all stakeholders, understanding the potential threats as well as opportunities for positive impacts.

That’s why, from waste management to ride-sharing, and to the involvement of local vendors, the organizing team works hard to create a sustainable event, striving to leave as little negative and as many positive impacts as possible.

For example …

Protecting the Trails: The location, this magical confluence of two rivers, is essential for the relaxed atmosphere and well-being of both participants and our team. Our runners enjoy the run along a beautiful river, through the gorge and up to the edge of the National park and as a grand finale they jump into a cold river. The trails are narrow and pass many natural sites. So it’s our responsibility to maintain the trails which can then also be used by locals throughout the year. And our responsibility is to make sure we limit the number of runners, protect nature and clean the trails after the run. For that reason this year we split the runs into two days to decrease pressure.

Engaging Local Communities: And another responsibility goes to the local communities. We are trying hard to make them part of the event by offering economic opportunities within the festival and involving them in as many parts as possible. We are proud to see that the number of local volunteers along the trail or at water stations is increasing every year. They accepted the festival as their own and became one of the most important forces of the whole weekend. So giving back and embracing them is a big part of our value system.

Eliminating Waste: An event like this, however carefully planned, will always have an environmental impact. Runners need food and drink along the route, where a total ban of packaging is almost impossible to achieve. But already a few years ago we started eliminating all cups at water stations and people have completely accepted the need to carry their own cups and we don't tolerate empty plastic bottles being thrown on the ground. Since last year, we have also banned promotional giveaways by sponsors (we all know where they end up!). Instead, our sponsors place their promotional materials in our virtual goody bag accessible via QR code printed on the starting numbers of our contestants. The response both from sponsors and participants has been very positive.

Promoting Equity and Inclusion: We also believe that events should promote values like equity and inclusion. For that reason we offer part of the festival to people with special needs with hosting of para-festival. Each year we look for new solutions to make all participants feel welcome. This year for example we tried to meet the needs of women runners with more toilets, changing rooms for women, pads and tampons on stations... Next year we will try to make a step further with even more initiatives like that.

Impactful and engaging: Who says sustainability can’t be fun?

Throughout my career, I've attended countless events and noticed a consistent oversight: little effort is made to help attendees understand how they can contribute to the event's sustainability. The initiatives are there—I can spot them as a sustainability nerd—but does the average attendee notice? Often, the answer is no. This lack of engagement is not just an oversight; it's a missed opportunity.

As the founder of TripDoodler and Act by Choice, my focus has been on making sustainable choices easy and accessible for everyone. Only by combining systemic change with the genuine empowerment of individuals in making sustainable choices can we create the urgent changes needed.

To truly resonate with attendees, sustainability must be more than a backdrop; it should be a hands-on, integral part of the event experience. This is vital in an era where interest in sustainability is soaring, yet comprehensive knowledge is lacking. We all seek information to support our sustainable choices, necessitating the simplification of complex sustainability topics into straightforward, relatable actions.

The key to making this connection is behavior design, a strategy that can make sustainability both fun and interactive. Inspired by the EAST framework (developed by The Behavioral Insights Team), which outlines four guiding principles for behavior change—Easy, Attractive, Social, and Timely—we've crafted gamified experiences that bring sustainability efforts to life.

Engaging through gamification:

• Interactive Challenges: We ask attendees to identify tangible sustainability actions through simple yes/no questions, making engagement easy.
• Rewards for Engagement: We incentivize participation with rewards and tokens, enhancing the attractiveness of sustainability.
• Sharing Sustainability: Launching the game in a plenary session and allowing attendees to share identified actions and announcing participation at the game's end fosters a social environment.
• Access Through QR Codes: Displaying the game throughout the event near targeted sustainability actions ensures timely interaction.

A gamified approach also serves as a method for collecting valuable feedback. Understanding attendees' perceptions and knowledge gaps can refine future events, making sustainability efforts more effective and communication more transparent. By focusing on these strategies, we ensure that sustainability is not merely another box to tick but a core feature of the event experience. This approach educates and actively engages participants, making each event a step toward a more sustainable future.

Through thoughtful design and interactive elements, we can create events that are impactful and inspire attendees to incorporate sustainability into their daily lives too.

Balancing impact and making the most of personal, professional, and community benefits of in-person events

Typically, meetings and events are evaluated in terms of their short-term impact, either how many delegates attend and how satisfied they are, or what the economic impact through tourism has been.

But increasingly, we're realizing these gatherings offer more than just short-term benefits. Now, there's a growing focus on their longer-term impact on individuals, industries, governments, and communities where they take place.

Meetings and events provide numerous social benefits, such as networking with professionals from different fields, sharing knowledge and experiences, and learning new skills. They also help in building a sense of community among attendees who share common interests.

Attending conferences can boost career opportunities by increasing visibility and recognition, while also inspiring and motivating participants through interactions with experts and peers. These events also offer chances for socializing and making new friends. Face-to-face interactions at these events are great for building networks and collaborations.

Research has shown (Edwards et al*) that meetings and events have range of benefits:

• Expanding knowledge
• Creating positive outcomes for communities
• Building lifelong networks of professional and personal contacts
• Fostering innovative and collaborative projects
• Opening doors for international relations, trade, and networking
• Supporting educational, professional, and career development
• Strengthening business-to-business relationships

These benefits last far longer than any individual event – often at least 12 months post-event and in many cases up to 5 years or more after the event has finished.
However, meetings and events can also harm the environment. Issues like carbon footprints, pollution from transportation, waste disposal problems, and excessive water and energy use are concerns. Organizers are working to minimize these negatives and at the same time reduce their costs by:

• Choosing sustainable venues and infrastructure, such as LEED-certified buildings and energy-efficient technology
• Supporting local economies by buying local products and using nearby suppliers; surplus food is often donated to charity to reduce waste
• Encouraging environmentally friendly practices among attendees, like separating waste and using recyclable materials instead of plastic
• Promoting zero-carbon initiatives and investing in carbon compensation projects

Balancing these benefits and concerns helps ensure that meetings and events contribute positively to both the community and the environment.

*Edwards, D et al. 2017. The Power of Conferences: Stories of serendipity, innovation and driving social change. Sydney: UTS ePRESS. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5130/978-0-6481242-0-7