When it comes to being net-zero carbon by 2030 community-wide and a premier sustainable destination, Park City, UT, is on the right trail. There are many ways and things planners and attendees can do to have a green meeting in America’s favorite mountain town.
Here’s a list of our top 10!
1. Know What a Meeting Needs to Be/Have to Be Sustainable?
Organizing a sustainable meeting is a process that starts long before the event takes place and continues after its conclusion - make sure you start early and develop your strategy well in advance. If you’re looking to plan or attend a green meeting, here’s what you should know first.
A sustainable event balances the three P’s — People (social responsibilities), Planet (environmental responsibilities) and Prosperity (economic responsibilities).
The event should be an accessible and inclusive setting; have a safe and secure atmosphere; have minimal negative impacts on the environment and the community; encourage healthy living; promote responsible sources; leave a positive legacy; and encourage more sustainable behavior.
Research, Communication & Collaboration are Key
Get familiar with Park City's goals and sustainability standards to help inspire your green meeting. Park City and Summit County are committed to destination stewardship, and our Sustainable Tourism Plan features efforts that go beyond being green.
Other preparatory items could include:
- Developing a pre-event guide or factsheet and post it on your website and include it in your conference material
- Provide advice via email to participants on “sustainable behavior,” explaining what attendees could do before and during the meeting
- Incorporate sustainability concepts into event topics
2. Choose Eco-Friendly Lodging & Event Spaces
When booking a meeting hotel or event space, consider your group’s carbon footprint and research accommodations that support Park City’s initiative for net-zero. Luckily, our destination is home to numerous green, sustainable lodging options, unique venues and expansive outdoor settings that range from budget-friendly to luxury.
It’s important to know and see how local accommodations are supporting the city’s sustainable efforts and showcasing these best green practices, so don’t be afraid to ask hotels about their sustainability initiatives. For example, you should find accommodations that are supplied with green electricity, have green building standards, and are equipped with energy-efficient lighting and water-saving devices.
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3. Eco-Friendly Transportation Options
Park City offers a variety of sustainable, eco-friendly transportation options for groups. Our transit system is free with our Electric Xpress buses. We currently run 13 e-buses year-round, and the rest of our buses run on a biodiesel blend — all able to take attendees around the town.
During the summer months, groups can explore on foot or on an electric bike. Options for electric bikes include utilizing the Summit Bike Share program or renting from Pedego Park City.
Other elements to consider include:
- Proximity to public transport connections when selecting the venue and hotels
- If public transport is not available, organize a shuttle service or ride-share for travel between the hotel, venue and/or point of arrival and departure
- Provide walking options by creating safe walking routes with maps between the venue and the hotels
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4. Catering Considerations: Keep it Fresh & Local
When it comes to sourcing food and beverage providers best suited for your sustainable event, consider using a local catering company or find a vendor that has an environmental policy and action plan already in place, or one that will be willing to follow your green meetings criteria.
Other things could include:
- Request reusable service ware for all meals
- Avoid bottled water, opt-in for large dispensers for refills or canned water if dispensers are not appropriate — and make it easy for participants by setting up several water points throughout the venue
- Provide information to staff and participants about the green aspects of the menu to raise awareness of the origin of food and the disposal of leftovers
- Provide two of the following menu options: local/regional, certified organic, seasonal, fairly traded, plant-based, vegan and vegetarian
- Donate or compost any leftover food from the event
5. Preserving a Local Legacy with Environmental Stewardship
Park City has a long history of environmental responsibility and sustainability. With nearly 10,000 acres of protected open space, we have a firm stance on safeguarding local wildlife, trails and other natural settings — plus, local heritage sites and a legacy that is widely celebrated throughout the destination.
Here, you’ll find sample group itineraries filled with outdoor activities and ways to explore the land while maintaining best practices for preserving the trails and surrounding nature.
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- Visit The Swaner Nature Preserve and Learn About Environmental Stewardship in Park City
- Spiro Tunnel - A Restoration and Dedication
- Take a Walk into Park City’s Past with this Half-Day Mining History Walking Tour
- Park City Museum: Where Education and Fun Meet
6. Recycle & Reducing Waste
In Park City, reducing waste has become a part of the daily lifestyle. Plan and ensure there is recycling at the meeting hotel and/or venue space to help minimize your event’s impact on the environment.
Some other simple eco-conscious strategies you can integrate include:
- All waste should be collected separately (e.g., paper, plastic, metal, organic), and sufficiently well-marked bins provided in all areas
- Eliminate single-use bottled water and provide recyclable bottles for participants to refill with drinking water instead
- Bring hard-to-recycle materials to Recycle Utah for proper disposal
7. Event Materials
Given the scale of goods and services needed for larger events, it is important to include sustainable procurement considerations in all purchasing activities throughout the planning process.
Skip the paper
- REDUCE, REUSE & RETHINK printed materials and signage
- Send relevant documentation to participants by email beforehand and have only a small number of spare printed copies of docs at registration available for participants at the venue on a request-only basis.
Say goodbye to swag bags
- Request that conference swag be eliminated, minimized or sustainably sourced
- Substitute gifts with donations for local environmental and/or social causes
Donate recovered event materials that cannot be reused at future conferences to local businesses or non-profit organizations.
8. Corporate Social {& Sustainable} Responsibility Opportunities
Organize group activities that are all about giving back in Park City. Corporate Social Responsibility programs allow attendees to work with local non-profits, thus involving the community and acknowledging the importance of their work in society.
- Recycle Utah provides an avenue for people to participate in supporting Park City’s sustainable initiatives. Residents and visitors regularly volunteer at the recycling center.
- Park City Community Foundation brings together local nonprofits, caring donors, and community leaders to contribute financial resources and innovative ideas to benefit all the people of Park City— and provide opportunities for everyone to give in both personal and collaborative ways.
- Mountain Trails Foundation is dedicated to building, maintaining and preserving 400+ miles of trail access for visitors to Summit County and Park City.
9. Take Advantage of Tech
When selecting a venue, it is extremely important to assess the commitment to the sustainability of the venue management beforehand. If a “sustainable venue” is not available, work with site managers to make possible improvements and/or request they provide a hybrid attendance option.
Other tech-focused items to consider include:
- Ensuring that the energy-saving features of all electronic equipment are enabled
- Set up an electronic registration system that allows participants to register
- Provide digital schedules and information to participants
10. Social Considerations & Accessibility
There are plenty of ways to incorporate equity and inclusion into events, along with health and wellness opportunities for attendees. These could include:
- Find out about the unique needs of participants during the registration process and consider them in the organization of the event
- Consider the representation of diversity in event literature and among the hosts and speakers to reflect that of the target audience
- Try to ensure your event runs on time and schedule plenty of breaks
- Promote local attractions and amenities to your delegates to benefit the local economy and educate participants
Support our local businesses certified by Recycle Utah's Green Business Program.
For more ways on how to plan or attend a sustainable meeting in Park City, check out our Sustainable Meetings Checklist — which has everything you need to host and attend an event sustainably and responsibly — or download our Guide to Sustainable Meetings & Events.
Park City Gives the Green Light to Meet Sustainably
Learn more about planning meetings and events in a premier sustainable destination on track to be net-zero carbon by 2030 community-wide.