Elevate Your Event

Sustainability. It’s a matter of relevance.

Being mindful of the stewardship of our resources in all the ways we plan events is good for business, according to Forbes: “Being green earns more green. Sustainability-focused companies have better financial results relative to their peers ... Sustainability has proven to be essential, not a luxury, and investors are doubling down on sustainability investments.”

Put simply, sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance. Event planning that embraces sustainable practices and social justice lends to more meaningful events with higher yields on return.

One of the first steps that company planners recommend is to begin researching facilities with sustainable features set into their operations. Richmond Hill City Center is leading the way for you!

Richmond Hill City Center is the first commercial venue in Bryan County to be LEED-certified.

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). As a sustainable building, we are dedicated to energy and resource efficiencies:

• Enjoy open rooms with dividers, natural sunlight, and shades and light dimmers; plus covered patios and outdoor spaces;
• LED lighting throughout meeting room areas saves more on energy;
• Onsite herb garden is tended by chef and staff, reducing buying and transportation costs;
• Foods are sourced locally as much as possible.

Tip No. 1: Send Digital Invites.

Send digital invitations to your guests versus printed paper. In today’s world, even high-level events are handled online. Eventbrite.com, Events.com, GreenEnvelope.com, and Evite.com are several of many excellent resources (free and upgraded) to begin designing ticketed events and digital invitations you can customize from creative templates. It is fun to track trends on open and engagement rates, and to see who is saying yes on the RSVP.

Tip No. 2: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Repurpose.

If you are designing wayfinding signage, or signage that can be universally re-used, consider it an investment for all your upcoming events. If it can’t be re-used and it’s a one-time sign, consider having a chalkboard or whiteboard as part of your events.

Clearly set up recycling and food composting stations. Separate items that go into different streams – glass, aluminum, plastic – or that go all together, depending on your region. Every person participates when they approach the station and deposit their items responsibly.

Tip No. 3: Locally Source Menus.

Excellent, healthy cuisine is the center of all our gatherings and people remember the experience. The catering staff at Richmond Hill City Center works with seasonal menus and sources most of its ingredients from local purveyors and farmers.

• Seasonal Produce
  Visit UGA Extension to learn what produce is growing each month from Georgia’s farms to the table. As you read this article this spring, you can expect to see cabbage more often, as collards take a break in the hottest months. Cucumbers, okra, peaches, snap beans and sweet corn are coming in.
• Sustainable Seafood
  Visit SeaFoodWatch.org to choose more sustainably caught seafood. Many of the fish we enjoy are in trouble due to destructive fishing and farming practices. You can make a difference for our ocean by making responsible seafood choices.

Food is a driver of climate change, so reducing the amount of meat served and having more plant-based options can help to make the event more sustainable.

Estimate the catering so that food is not wasted. If to-go containers are needed, more eco-friendly options than Styrofoam are available, and affordable. Use water pitchers on the tables instead of single-use plastic water bottles.

Tip No. 4: Encourage vanpooling, carpooling to Richmond Hill City Center

Your hotels can help with transportation options to events. Encourage attendees at any event – wherever you plan – to consider public transportation, ridesharing, even walking or cycling if those options are valid.

Tip No. 5: Find a certification program that helps you.

Our global events industry – like any industry – needs to embrace actions that tackle the climate crisis. We have the responsibility to drive meaningful change, to create welcoming communities, and to improve society through our actions.

• Recognizing the importance of accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices, the Events Industry Council (EIC) launched the Centre for Sustainable Events to serve as the nexus for sustainability resources and research specific to the events industry. The EIC has an interactive Sustainable Event Professional Certificate program for professionals to accelerate sustainability and social impact in their organizations and business events.


• Meeting Professionals International provides a Sustainable Event Strategist Certification. Learn best practices for reducing the environmental impact of events and explore how to create a culture of sustainable decision-making throughout your planning process.

When you work with Richmond Hill City Center, you get to work with a team that understands your goals and is here to help you with planning your corporate holiday party, Great Aunt’s 100th birthday party, or even a white-tie military ball.

To chat with one of our meeting planners, call us at (912) 445-0043 and email us at sales@thewildermangroup.com.