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2002/10/2 - Oceans Blue Foundation Finalist in Western Canada E-Business Awards
October 4, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oceans Blue Foundation Finalist in Western Canada E-Business Leadership Awards for Green Meetings Web Tool
Vancouver - - Oceans Blue Foundation has been recognized by the Canadian E-Business Leadership Awards for the development of http://www.bluegreenmeetings.org/, a Web-based interactive tool for planning environmentally responsible meetings.
Oceans Blue Foundation was a finalist in the Not-for-Profit category in the Western region at an awards ceremony in Vancouver yesterday. The Canadian E-Business Leadership Awards honour those who have demonstrated leadership and success in some aspect of electronic commerce, learning or business over the Internet.
The Web site provides resources for hosts, suppliers and those who plan meetings and events with tips on choosing environment-friendly cities, green accommodations, meeting facilities, transportation and food and beverage services, as well as implementing environmentally responsible communication and office procedures. It features tools such as planning guides, sample environmental policies, case studies, a Green Meeting quiz, and questionnaires to send destination cities and hotels about how they reduce impacts from meetings.
"The development of a Web tool to promote a more environmentally responsible meetings industry was a natural," states Kitty Ratcliffe, Chair of Oceans Blue Foundation's BlueGreen Meetings Advisory Committee. "Seventy percent of meeting planners have never considered making a point of using properties with environmentally responsible programs, but would consider environmental initiatives if the information were readily available."
The Web tool is part of the BlueGreen Meetings initiative, which was launched in 1998 by Vancouver-based charitable organization Oceans Blue Foundation. The overall goal of the initiative is to create tools and incentives for meetings professionals to ensure their business practices are environmentally responsible.
The Web site was developed with support from The Bullitt Foundation, Canadian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaux, Canadian Pacific Charitable Foundation, Canadian Tourism Commission, International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, Tourism BC, Tourism Vancouver, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Vancouver Foundation.
Oceans Blue Foundation is an environmental charitable organization created in 1996 to help conserve coastal environments through environmentally responsible tourism. With offices in Vancouver, Canada and Seattle, USA, it is the first in North America to focus on developing environmental best standards for all sectors of the tourism industry.
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For more information:
Shawna McKinley, Program Manager
Tel: 604.684.2583 ext. 4
Email: bluegreenmeetings@oceansblue.org
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