Detroit, MI – Cobo Center is the latest U.S. convention center to earn its green meetings certification from the Green Meeting Industry Council and the Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX).
The certification declares that Cobo’s management has met the criteria in nine separate areas, guaranteeing that show organizers staging events in the Motor City will leave the best possible green footprint. The areas include staff management, procurement and overseeing waste disposal, energy and water usage.
“Achieving certification to the industry’s global standard is clear proof of Cobo Center’s commitment to sustainability,” said Thom Connors, SMG regional vice president and general manager of Cobo Center. “In the last four years, and despite the ongoing major renovations, we have substantially reduced utility costs while increasing the event schedule and expanding the footprint of the facility. At the same time, we reduced water usage by 17 million gallons.”
Connors said the certification application was a coordinated effort by Cobo Center’s Green Committee, which included members from every department and vendor company in the center. The committee created 85 documents to substantiate the development of multiple policies and best practices.
The addition of Cobo Center increases the number of U.S. convention centers with APEX/ASTM certification to nine. Four of the certified centers are managed by SMG.
Cobo Center is in the final stages of a $279 million renovation. The riverfront center has 723,000 square feet of prime exhibit space and is ranked 17th on the Trade Show Executive World’s Top Convention Centers.
Reach Thom Connors at (313) 877-8777 or tconnors@cobocenter.com
