Conference Matters 144

SUSTAINABILITY VENUENL INITIATIVE

debate, social and psychological safety still seems to be a challenge within organisations. For years, companies have been made aware of the need to develop a proper diversity and inclusion policy. Moreover, since 2022, there has been legislation that requires companies to have a whistleblowing scheme. However, its practical implementation appears to be inadequate. 8. Actions and implementation regarding labour practices (an organisation’s employees and subcontractors, including employees in the value chain) Half of the companies have formulated measures regarding labour practices, such as preventing forced labour, ensuring fair working conditions and providing a safe and healthy and waste separation. With excellent accessibility and flexible spaces, Expo Houten is popular among organizers of trade shows and confex events. Martiniplaza Martiniplaza in Groningen is the largest event venue in the northern Netherlands, offering four plenary halls, 14 breakout rooms, and stylish foyers for conferences hosting up to 10,000 participants. This Green Key-certified complex combines modern facilities with sustainable initiatives, such as solar energy and waste reduction. NextVenue NextVenue represents more than ten locations across central Netherlands. Each location has a uni que character, ranging from historical and industrial to rural and innovative settings. These venues are equipped with energy-efficient technologies and focus on circular business practices. P ostillion Hotels Postillion Hotels operates eight meeting and confe rence centers with on-site hotel rooms in key cities and regions across the Netherlands. The venues are fully Green Key Gold-certified and committed to CO 2 reduction, circular solutions, waste minimization, and sustainable catering options. These full-service conference center hotels combine luxury with environmental consciousness.

7. Actions and implementation regarding human rights

The majority of venues have insight into the financial materiality and its influence on the company, both positive and negative. However, no venue has yet created a policy as part of management processes. For example, Postillion Hotels have installed energy-efficient lighting, which reduces energy consumption and generates savings that contri bute positively to the financial health of the orga nisation. 4. Governance The baseline measurement gives governance a very low score because many venues rarely or never integrate its principles into their deci sion-making. Furthermore, nothing about it has been documented, and it’s anybody’s guess as to why. 5. ISO 26000 – The seven core subjects of corporate social responsibility Furthermore, when it comes to the core topics of ISO 26000, such as human rights, working conditions and environmental protection, it appears that the venues have not formulated specific or only brief policy measures to com ply with these guidelines. Surprisingly, when it comes to the environment, including environ mental principles such as ‘prevention’ and ‘pollu ter pays’, no policy seems to be in place yet. Only one third of participants have formulated a policy on stakeholder interest, on how this invol vement is organised, why it’s important, and how it is considered when evaluating action plans, decision-making and goal-setting. PART II. ACTIONS (ACTUAL ACTIVITIES AND MEASURES) After these general topics, the benchmark zooms in on specific ESG topics and examines whether and where action is being taken. The following are the most interesting findings. 6. Policy & stakeholder interest and communication

Here, it specifically concerns human rights policy such as the ban on child labour, discrimi nation and the right to association (for exam ple, union membership). As expected, venues score well on this, although it seems that it’s not yet firmly established in policy. However, in terms of diversity and inclusion, the benchmark also shows notable scores. Only a few participants have a policy for promoting diversity and inclusion. In addition, there is often a lack of an effective mecha nism or process for reporting complaints and incidents concerning human rights violati ons, including a clear complaints procedure. Despite the increased attention in the public SIX FOUNDING VENUES Six leading Dutch conference venues support the VenueNL Sustainability Initiative, which aims to monitor collective progress in sustainability. To achieve this, they broadly register their results in the areas of environment, social responsibility, and governance. These are the founding venues. RAI Amsterdam RAI Amsterdam is a globally renowned convention center featuring 11 halls, 2 auditoriums, a ballroom, and 70 meeting rooms. Strategically located just 8 minutes from Schiphol Airport and 12 minutes from Amsterdam’s city center, RAI Amsterdam has won multiple "Best International Venue" awards for its green initiatives, smart technologies, and customer satisfaction. World Forum The Hague World Forum The Hague combines over fifty years of experience with innovative sustainable practices, such as a green roof with solar panels, water refill stations, and the elimination of plastic. Located in the international city of peace and justice, this venue stands out for its expertise in organizing secure and high-quality international events. Expo Houten Expo Houten is a versatile venue located in the heart of the Netherlands. The venue actively promotes sustainability by utilizing energy-efficient systems

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