Discover ten practical tips to help you plan your meeting in Vienna in an effective and future-oriented way.

• Organize your event sustainably and get certified
  Make a clear statement in support of the environment and get your meeting certified. A certification with the Austrian Ecolabel demonstrates to participants and partners that you, as the organizer, are thinking about sustainable, innovative concepts for your meeting and are contributing to environmental and climate protection. You can also choose to organize an ecologically friendly event according to the criteria of EcoEvent.
• Plan resource-efficiently
  Use resources efficiently: plan meetings in locations that are appropriate for the number of attendees to save energy on heating, cooling, and lighting, and ask if energy-efficient technology is available on the premises. Choose technical partners who prioritise energy-efficient equipment, shorter setup times and optimized rehearsal schedules.
• Go paperless
  Avoid using printed materials and use digital documents and tools instead. The city guide app "ivie" developed by the Vienna Tourist Board provides participants with excellent tips about Vienna.
• Reduce waste and  encourage recycling
  Integrate sustainability into your event design by opting for reusable solutions such as modular stage systems, rental options and durable branding materials. Ensure that clearly visible recycling stations are available throughout the meeting area and that proper waste separation is implemented. Promote the use of sustainable products, such reusable bottles to enjoy Vienna's outstanding drinking water.
• Work with certified local partners
  When sourcing suppliers, look for environmental certifications and eco-labels, and choose environmentally responsible hotels and venues. Curated venues and hotels that meet high sustainability standards can be found in the Venue Finder.
• Choose green catering options
  Select catering services that prioritize regional and seasonal products and ensure fair working conditions. Design your catering concept to be resource-efficient by offering vegetarian or vegan options as a standard. Minimize the use of disposable tableware and cutlery, plan quantities carefully and explore options for donating surplus food.
• Ensure accessibility for all
  Make your meeting accessible to as many people as possible. Consider barrier-free infrastructure, inclusive communication, clear wayfinding systems and appropriate technical solutions. Ensure diversity in programs, panels and moderation, and provide accessible formats such as plain language, subtitles or live captioning.
• Create impact for the destination
  Use your event as a platform to create social impact. Integrate collaborations with NGOs, social initiatives or educational projects - for example through side events, joint activities or volunteer programmes for participants.
• Make sustainability part of the program
  Spice up your event with fringe activities on the theme of ecological and social commitment, perhaps in the form of climate workshops, social city tours or community cooking classes.
• Promote climate-friendly mobility
  Provide participants with information about carbon-neutral travel options by train or how they can offset the CO₂️ emissions of their flights. Encourage participants to use Vienna's excellent public transport network, walk where possible, or even ride a rental bicycle through the city. When it comes to meetings, Vienna also offers customized solutions provided by sustainable mobility partners including Wiener Linien, the City Airport Train (CAT) and ÖBB.

If you have any questions or require further information about Green Meeting certification, the Vienna Convention Bureau is happy to assist you.