Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 7 and more immersive fan interactions. These modernizations showcase Caesars Entertainment's commitment to providing musical acts with a premier performance atmosphere while continuing to elevate the guest experience. "While we recognize The Colosseum is already top of its class, these changes will allow for more flexibility in our book- ing process and give us the opportunity to thrill fans with new and diverse offerings," said Gastwirth. "Our goal is that these modernizations will excite musical acts with an unparalleled stage experience and guests, whether dancing in the now available general admission section, enjoying a show in VIP booths with friends or taking in their favorite singer in a more traditional theater setting, will appreciate the attention to detail we have expanded on for the future of this beautiful venue." COBO CENTER OBTAINS 2019 RECERTIFICATION TO INTERNATIONAL GREEN MEETING STANDARD Sustainability Efforts at Cobo Center Attract Global Events Like Sustainable Brands C laude Molinar, general manager of SMG/Cobo Center, recently announced that Cobo Center has achieved recertification to the Event Industry Council's (EIC) Accepted Practices Exchange/American Society for Testing and Materials International (APEX/ASTM) Sustainable Meeting Standard for venues. The Cobo Center Green Committee is also in the process of attaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification with the U.S Green Buildings Council, a venue rating for design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings with environ- mental responsible practices that utilize resources efficiently. Cobo's sustainable operations gained the attention of the trade show industry and the facility was chosen as the site of this year's Sustainable Brands (SB'19) conference. Detroit's main convention and exhibition venue was the host site for Sustainable Brands'17 Detroit, and will again host the event June 4-6 this year. "Sustainable Brands is excited to continue to partner with suppliers and venues like Cobo who demonstrate a commit- ment to sustainable practices. Cobo's commitment to innova- tion and sustainability has demonstrated how leadership and teamwork can achieve very high goals," said David Fiss, CMP and director of business development and event strategy for Sustainable Brands. "Doing so helps our event meet our sus- tainability goals, educate our attendees, and encourage other suppliers to the meeting and events industry to do the same. A sustainable event is more thoughtful and creates a better participant experience." Fiss is the president of EIC Sustainability Initiative, Northern California Chapter and for- mer member of EIC Sustainability Leadership Council. A number of leading companies and organizations will be supporting the Sustainable Brands event, including Ford Motor Company, the Dow Chemical Company, BASF, General Motors, Nestle, NSF International, The Erb Institute for Global sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan and the Detroit Experience Factory. Claude Molinari, general manager of Cobo Center said , "We continue to make strides in improving the sustainability of our offerings, including a new post event donation pro- gram. Getting recertified to the APEX/ASTM Green Meeting Standard and hosting Sustainable Brands for the sec- ond time signals that our efforts are truly world class." During 2018, the Green Committee in Cobo Center organ- ized a group of local area agencies that can use materials often left behind by big events in the convention center. Materials like wood, metal, and carpet along with plants, clothing, food and various attendee giveaways are donated to local non- profits and schools. The re-use of these materials prevents them from going into the waste stream and contributes tons of materials annually to the local Detroit region goal of a more sustainable economy. Cobo Center was initially certified in 2015 to the APEX/ASTM Standard pertaining to the evaluation and selection of venues for environmentally sustainable meetings, events, trade shows, and conferences, and was the ninth U.S. facility to do so. The venues standard is one of the nine devel- oped by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifi- cations for producing events in a more sustainable manner. "2019 is shaping up to be a big year for our green team," Molinari said. "Each year we strengthen our green operations and our contribution to the greater Detroit sustainability action agenda."