Top 3 sustainable cities for meetings and events

Oslo has made huge strides in sustainability over the past few years, jumping from 30th on the GDS-Index to 10th place in 2022, and 2nd in 2023. Already named the European Green Capital in 2019, the Norwegian capital has set a target to cut emissions by 95% by 2030 (compared to 2009) and to be entirely carbon compensated by 2050, according to Kristin Guttormsen Overvaag, Director of Conventions and Events at VisitOSLO.

 

“The majority (95%) of our hotels are eco-certified and we have very efficient and green public transportation systems so event attendees can explore the city in an eco-friendly way,” she says. “We have created a VisitOSLO Responsibly section on our website that provides resources to help visitors and event planners make responsible choices as well as a legacy program that helps associations have a positive impact on the city when they hold their congresses here.”

 

With many hotels in Oslo, including Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Oslo, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo and Radisson RED Oslo Økern, we are doing our bit to contribute to Oslo’s green ambitions.

 

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo, takes pride in its sustainable practices and has been recognized with the 2023 Sustainability Award by Luxury Lifestyle Awards as testament to its unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible practices. Radisson RED Oslo Økern is part of a large sustainability-focused business area, which includes Northern Europe’s biggest rooftop garden where herbs and vegetables are grown and used by the hotel and wider area’s restaurants. The hotel has also been certified with an Excellent rating from BREEAM, one of the world’s leading science-based systems to determine the sustainability of buildings.

 

At Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Oslo, General Manager Reinout Engel had a vision to put bees on the rooftop, and last summer the hotel installed two hives, each of which houses 50,000 bees. Bees are crucial to the biodiversity and future of our planet and populations have been declining in recent years.

“We plan to double the number of hives this summer, so we will have four hives and 200,000 bees on our roof, which will help with pollinating plants and trees and is good for the city environment. It will also create honey for the hotel, which we plan to gift to our VIP guests for them to use with a selection of teas during their stay or take home with them,” he explains.

Denmark’s cool capital is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and has positioned itself as a leading destination for environmentally conscious meetings and events. “Sustainability is integrated in the Copenhagen way of life. From growing up with recycling, taking the bike instead of the car and a great work/life balance. It’s simply part of our DNA,” explains Lene Corgan, Head of Business Development- Business Events Copenhagen Convention Bureau. “We have consistently been in the top three of the GDS-Index and we want to retain this position.”

 

Copenhagen aims to become the world's first carbon-neutral capital, with initiatives like clean waterways and high rates of waste recycling contributing to its environmental goals. Almost 70% of hotels are green certified and around a third of Copenhagen’s hotel rooms – more than 8,000 - are being cooled by water from Copenhagen Harbor, according to Danish energy company Hofor (2022), representing a CO2 reduction of up to 70% compared to standard air conditioners.

 

Both Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen and Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen are Green Key-certified hotels and focus on energy efficiency by using LED lighting, smart heating and cooling systems, and energy-saving appliances to reduce electricity consumption. They are also committed to responsible sourcing through purchasing policies, managing their waste, and recycling, and like all Radisson hotels, they automatically offset the carbon footprint of every single meeting and event taking place at the hotels at no cost to the client. 

 

Elsewhere in the city, the iconic Tivoli Gardens amusement park has been certified a “Green attraction” and there are plenty of sustainable experiences, with bikes, solar-powered boats and green kayaks for exploring what all that Copenhagen has to offer groups.

 

The Copenhagen Convention Bureau also offers several sustainability resources for planners, including a Meeting Planner Guide, which shares sustainable initiatives from suppliers across the city, and The Copenhagen Sustainability Guide. “This is a very hands-on guide which gives planners concrete examples of what they can do to make their events more sustainable and includes a carbon emission calculator so they can measure their impact. We have also launched the Copenhagen Legacy Lab, ideal for large international association congresses, which seeks to ensure events held in Copenhagen leaves a long-term positive impact on both delegates and the destination,” says Corgan.