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VRS432 - What is in Your Swag Bag and Other Green Event Ideas with Bob Garner

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If you scroll to the foot of Bob Garner’s website featuring his stunning restored farmhouse in Italy, you’ll find an array of accolades for his efforts at promoting green tourism.

This includes an article in The Times voting the property the #1 Eco Place to Stay in Italy in 2020, a gold award from Green Tourism for environmental practice, and an award for Excellence in the Guest Experience from the Vacation Rental World Summit in 2019.

The website declares environmental sustainability is at the heart of Casal Dei Fichi and it’s apparent in their commitments on power, consumables, community, and the local environment.

From the simple acts of changing all light bulbs to LEDs and using refillable bottles for cleaning products, to using eco-friendly web hosting and a tree planting program, Bob clearly walks the talk – and now he's paying attention to all the events – conferences and workshops – that we attend as well.

Green VR Events is his new initiative to encourage organizers, sponsors and attendees of vacation rental events to pay attention to environmental sustainability, and has launched the Green Event Playbook, with 25 ideas to make an event more sustainable.

In this episode Bob talks about his fundamental approach to helping events go green with some very simple changes.  While the Playbook targets those planning a conference, the message is equally relevant for anyone planning to attend, as well as delivering some great ideas for homeowners and property managers interested in sustainability issues.

Bob talks about:

  • How we can make a commitment to sustainability
  • The reasons he is focusing on vacation rental events
  • The promotional items that get into swag bags then straight in the garbage can
  • How we can encourage event organizers to make changes
  • What owners and managers can do to effect similar changes in their properties
  • What ‘greenwashing’ is.
  • How to calculate a carbon footprint

Links Mentioned:

Who's featured in this episode?

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