Conference Matters 143

EDITOR’S NOTE

Sustainability

VenueNL

Initiative

Where business meets nature

The perfect conference room

Which venue will be the most sustainable conference centre in Europe in the shortest possible time? Or completely carbon-neutral around 2030?

Many international conference centres promote their corporate social responsibility goals by claiming that they’ll be the first or the best, which is understandable. Sometimes, an organisation needs a dot on the horizon to make major progress.

Finding the ideal venue is crucial for events and conferences. With us, you won’t find a standard business hotel. Instead, you’ll discover a stylish conference hotel with a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Whether you’re attending a conference on healthcare, finance, energy efficiency, sustainable development, education, or science, we have the perfect space for you! Exclusivity Exclusive use of a conference space is possible, as we offer a dedicated wing with plenary rooms, breakoutrooms, a private foyer with exhibit space, and a cloakroom.

However, anyone concerned with sustainability knows that it’s a complex issue, especially when it comes to not only the environment but also social policy and governance.

The European Union is trying to provide guidance in this matter with its ESG policy and CSRD reporting. However, much of the sector-specific interpretation remains ambiguous, making it susceptible to influence. Trade-offs are common in this context, as an improvement in sustainability on one element can lead to a deterioration on another ESG touchpoint. I recently spoke to a number of young professionals in the financial services sector who have to assess both their company and other companies along the sustainability ladder. They are intrinsically very motivated, but they also struggle every day to prioritise all of the sustainability elements. That is why eight conference locations in the Netherlands have joined the VenueNL Sustainability Initiative as founding venues. The goal is not to determine who is the best but rather to ensure collective progress. To avoid getting bogged down in the sheer number of details (ESG has approximately 1,100 touchpoints), progress is monitored on 10 main topics. The GSES monitoring system provides the numerical substantiation, and knowledge partner ELAN – ESG in Hospitality provides valuable guidance. As a result, the participating conference locations can support and learn from one another’s sustainability initiatives. They also like sharing these lessons with the rest of the world, which is why Conference Matters publishes updates and case studies from the VenueNL Sustainability Initiative on a regular basis.

45-hectare forest estate

Centrally located in The Netherlands

Golden Green Key classification

High level of customer service

Persoonlijke gastgerichtheid

info @ woudschoten.nl

www.woudschoten.nl / en

+ 31 343 492 492

Edwin Nunnink Editor-in-Chief Conference Matters edwin@zynchrone.com

events | conferences | meetings | hotel

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