How agile talent solutions create more sustainable events
Sustainability doesn’t just mean reducing carbon emissions. While it’s an important component, the United Nations outlines 17 Sustainability Development Goals that contribute to a holistic ‘blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future’. Many companies are adopting these initiatives to fulfill a greater calling of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS); a call to have a conscious, positive impact on the environmental, social, and economic aspects of society.
When it comes to planning and executing meetings and events, organizations can support several sustainability initiatives and contribute to the overall success of an event and its community by leveraging local talent. Read on for three ways to do this.
Reduce carbon emissions
Flights account for about 90% of total business travel carbon emissions. According to a recent study, a three-day international conference would have a carbon footprint of 455 metric tons of CO2. For scale, it would take about 17,000 trees to absorb all that CO2!
Let’s break this down with an example from a recent customer:
Based on a calculation by myclimate.org, a roundtrip flight from Chicago, IL to London, England (approx. 8 hours non-stop) in economy class omits about 2.1 tons of C02. By hiring six local event experts instead of sourcing from the U.S., we helped save about 12.6 total tons of C02 from unnecessary travel – it would take 475 trees to absorb that much C02!
“By 2050, commercial aircraft emissions could triple given the projected growth of passenger air travel and freight.” – EESI
2. Support local economy
Hiring local talent for events provides jobs, ultimately building the local economy of your event destination. This is a growing trend in the industry, as exemplified in Hyatt’s World of Care initiative.
Through partnerships with our global customers and partners, like Global DMC Partners, that share our values and commitment to responsible business practices, we have been expanding our talent community globally to support local communities.
“Hiring from your local talent pool signals to your customers and clients that you’re a true citizen of your area. You’re invested in its growth, the well-being of its citizens, and the health of the local economy.” – Forbes
3. Encourage cultural alignment
Local talent knows their community best. They possess an inherent understanding of the local culture, language, and market dynamics, as well as relationships that can benefit your event. This knowledge can be invaluable when working on projects that require specific cultural nuances and can contribute to better-targeted marketing campaigns and content creation.
“Local staff bring unique perspectives and skills to the business, and they can foster community partnerships and improve community engagement and representation.” – SecureCheck360
Interested in hiring local talent? Get matched with one of our 2300+ event and marketing experts. Let’s connect!
