Meetings and events build meaningful connections, foster professional development and drive innovation. While all those sessions, meals and breaks can come with an environmental footprint, there are a number of ways your next event in Scottsdale can support the environment, community and local economy.
Find Volunteer Opportunities
Throughout the Scottsdale area, there are several organizations and nonprofits dedicated to serving vulnerable populations, protecting the natural environment, and caring for animals. For your next event, you and your attendees can give back to the community in meaningful ways, whether through volunteer opportunities or donations.
Plan Off-Site Activities
When you plan events and off-site activities at Scottsdale’s local businesses, you’ll support the local economy. According to the nonprofit Local First Arizona, for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $43 remains in the local economy — compared to $13 at a non-locally owned business. There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re planning a dine-around through Old Town Scottsdale with stops at local restaurants, a team-building activity with a company like Puzzle Rides, or a wellness break like a sound bath with Shanti Sound.
Consider LEED-Certified Venues
In Scottsdale, you can consider unique venues for your events that have the added bonus of being LEED certified — having proven the sustainability of their buildings and surrounding spaces. Certified off-site venues include Scottsdale Stadium, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Gold), Scottsdale Aviation Business Center (Gold), SkySong (Gold), Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (Gold), McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Gold) and Granite Reef Senior Center (Gold). LEED-certified hotels include Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town, AC Hotel Scottsdale North (Silver), Courtyard Scottsdale Salt River and Element Scottsdale at SkySong.
Reduce Waste
Companies in Scottsdale can help minimize waste for your next event in a number of ways. Hotels and resorts like Hotel Valley Ho, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and caterers like M Culinary partner with Waste Not, ensuring excess food is donated to nonprofits serving individuals and families in need. When possible, M Culinary also sources ingredients and materials from local suppliers, while using 100% compostable disposable service ware and packaging and donating food scraps and waste for composting. Properties like Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North have eliminated single-use plastic straws and cups and have a recycling program for plastic, cardboard and aluminum.
Book Need Periods
While Scottsdale’s triple-digit summer temperatures may seem daunting, booking your meeting during the summer months not only offers significant savings but also supports Scottsdale’s tourism businesses and workers during a need period. Your attendees will explore Scottsdale’s air conditioned venues and attractions and enjoy outdoor activities in the early morning or evening hours without the crowds that come with the high season.
Plan a Pedestrian-Friendly Meeting
Old Town Scottsdale contains everything you need for a sustainable conference packed into one square mile of easily walkable neighborhoods filled with top-notch hotels, museums, restaurants, shops, art galleries and attractions. If you don’t want to walk all of it, have your group hop on the golf carts with JoyRidesAZ, a certified Local First Arizona Green Business. These street-legal golf carts can be booked in advance for a single ride, or to take your group on a tour of the best Old Town has to offer.
Honor History and Culture
Scottsdale is located on the ancestral homeland of the O’Odham (known as the Pima) and the Piipaash (known as the Maricopa). Native peoples have inhabited this landscape for millennia, and the city remains spiritually connected to the O’Odham of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC) who live here today. There are a number of ways to honor Scottsdale’s Native roots during your event, whether with a land acknowledgement or through experiences that showcase Native American culture.
Take the Responsible Travel Pledge
When your attendees come to Scottsdale, they can take the Responsible Travel Pledge to help leave the destination better than when they first arrived. The pledge includes simple commitments for your attendees, like avoiding single-use items by bringing their own water bottles or coffee mugs or being conscious of their water usage at the hotel or resort.
Partner with a DMC
Want to host a more sustainable meeting in Scottsdale but need help with the legwork? Destination management companies like MC&A can nail down the details that reduce your event’s environmental footprint, from selecting venues and catering partners to donating floral arrangements and planning charitable team-building activities.
