Green Meetings Industry Council Announces Keynotes and Green Facility Tours for Annual Conference

SAN FRANCISCO - Jan. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is excited to reveal the highlights of their ninth annual Sustainable Meetings Conference taking place in San Francisco April 15–17, including a diverse array of sustainability leaders and activities exploring the best practices in the green event industry in San Francisco and beyond.

The 2014 conference program will feature combined short presentations with large and small group collaborations integrated as a whole. The keynote presentation, “The Value of Sustainability Across Brands, Organizations and Sectors,” will address the big ideas around sustainability, while subsequent sessions will address specific challenges in hosting green meetings. Speakers include pioneers of sustainability within the fields of hospitality, tourism, social causes, food access, trade shows, and consulting.

2014 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
o   KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz | Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Sustainable Brands
o   Jenifer Willig | Founder, Whole WorldWater

San Francisco's role as a leading sustainable city will be highlighted on the final day of the conference, with the Sustainability in Action Tours and Learning Sessions. This is a unique hands-on learning opportunity for conference attendees to see and experience the innovative sustainability efforts of one of twelve different locations throughout the city. Tours will be facilitated by a moderator to guide the in-depth discussions, which will then be shared with fellow conference attendees in an afternoon session.

Event Details

The 2014 Sustainable Meetings Conference, hosted by the Green Meeting Industry Council, takes place April 15–17, 2014 at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel. Ticket and event information is available at http://gmicsmc2014.socialenterprises.net/. Early bird rates are in effect through February 21, 2014: $475.00 for GMIC members, $575.00 for non-members, $175.00 for students.

About the Sustainable Meetings Conference

The Sustainable Meetings Conference (SMC), hosted annually by the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), brings together professionals from all corners of the meetings and events industry — planners, suppliers, service providers, and destination representatives — around a single mission: transforming an industry by integrating sustainability into the entire life-cycle of event planning and execution. The event is an opportunity to gain new tools, share best practices and transferable lessons, network with peers and leaders in the industry, and get inspired to continue your efforts alongside like-minded professionals in the community.

About the Green Meeting Industry Council

The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is a global organization dedicated to furthering sustainability in the meetings industry. Our goal is to help create better meetings through increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact, all the while improving the attendee experience. The annual Sustainable Meetings Conference allows professionals within the meetings and events industry to gain insights and tools, explore and discover sustainable solutions and network with peers.