Salt Lake Tourism Entities Receive Sustainability Certification
In a September announcement, in an unprecedented approach to gain international sustainability certification from the Events Industry Council, five Salt Lake entities applied for and concurrently received APEX/ASTM Level 1 Certification in a collaborative effort spearheaded by SMG, the management company of the Salt Palace Convention Center and South Towne Exposition Center. Additional partners included Visit Salt Lake, Utah Food Services and PSAV. The Events Industry Council’s 33 member organizations represent over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. “Receiving this certification is a great accomplishment for Salt Lake and sets the stage for more collaborative work throughout the area,” said Dan Hayes, general manager of the SMG-managed and Salt Lake County-owned Salt Palace Convention Center and South Towne Expo Center facilities. “For five tourism-related entities to concurrently receive green certification sends a very strong and positive message about our area’s commitment to sustainability. We see this as an opportunity to position ourselves as leaders in the green meetings industry arena. It’s unprecedented for the destination, our two venues along with their exclusive caterer and their in-house audio visual company, to come together to receive certification at the same time.”