Today marks the official launch of Venue Sustainalytics, the events industry’s first-ever sustainability benchmarking and data intelligence platform specifically designed for event venues and organizers.
This pioneering initiative, developed through a strategic partnership between the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Trade Show News Network (TSNN), and Honeycomb Strategies, aims to transform how the events industry
approaches and measures sustainability.
The partners unveiled a preview of the new website and presented the platform to venue management at the IAVM’s 100th VenueConnect, held July 29-31 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Revolutionizing Sustainability in the Events Industry
Venue Sustainalytics provides a comprehensive solution to a long-standing challenge in the events sector: the lack of consistent, reliable data for measuring and comparing sustainability efforts across different venues. The platform collects, aggregates, and analyzes environmental, social, and economic data from convention centers, stadiums, arenas, performing arts centers, and other live event spaces.
“Our industry is unique in that no two venues or events are alike and therefore Venue Sustainalytics solves two pressing challenges,” said Tim Trefzer, Vice President of Sports and Venue Sustainability for Honeycomb Strategies. “The first result is that the industry will now have a dashboard for the environmental and social performance of event venues to utilize for benchmarking. The second result of this new tool is that participating venues will be able to see how they compare against their peers. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Key Features and Data Collection
The platform is now accepting venue data for the 2024 calendar year through October 2025, with participation being free and secure. Venue Sustainalytics collects critical sustainability metrics including:
- Water usage and conservation efforts
- Energy consumption and renewable energy adoption
- Waste management and diversion rates
- Sustainable procurement practices
- Social responsibility initiatives
This data will be transformed into actionable insights through:
- Benchmarking: Interactive visualization tools allowing venues to compare their
performance against industry standards - Reporting: A public dashboard showcasing industry-wide sustainability impact
data and annual trend reports - Industry Growth: Educational resources, recognition programs, and partnership
opportunities to accelerate sustainable momentum
Trevor Mitchell, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CDP, President and CEO of IAVM shares that for IAVM members, a sustainability benchmarking tool
(From left to right) Honeycomb Strategies VP of Sports and Venue Sustainability Tim Trefzer, TSNN/Informa VP of Group Content Danica Tormohlen and IAVM CEO & President Trevor Mitchell unveiled the new Venue Sustainalytics website at IAVM’s VenueConnect on July 30 in New Orleans.
isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a catalyst for continuous improvement. “By delivering consistent, reliable data that helps venues track environmental impact, benchmark progress and make smarter decisions, it transforms sustainability from a buzzword into a measurable practice,” said Mitchell. “Ultimately, it empowers members with the insights they need to lead with purpose and transparency, raising the bar for environmental responsibility across the live events industry.”
Venue Sustainalytics prioritizes data security and confidentiality. While contributing to valuable industry benchmarks, individual venue data remains anonymous to public viewers. The platform ensures that no specific data point can be traced back to a particular venue, allowing for honest reporting and meaningful collective insights.
Industry Impact
The platform aims to establish annual benchmarks for sustainability data throughout the event industry to establish industry norms, identify leaders, and inspire the community to take meaningful action toward environmental goals.
“This platform represents a watershed moment for sustainability in the events industry,” said Danica Tormohlen, VP of Group Content, Meetings, Travel & Sports, for Informa Connect, which publishes TSNN. “For years, event organizers have been asking for
standardized sustainability metrics to make informed venue decisions. Venue Sustainalytics not only delivers this critical data but also creates a framework for continuous improvement across the entire events ecosystem. This will fundamentally change how sustainability factors into event planning decisions.”
How to Participate
Venue operators can participate by completing a survey available on the Venue Sustainalytics website. The platform will use this data to generate industry-wide insights while maintaining individual venue anonymity.
For more information about Venue Sustainalytics or to participate in this groundbreaking initiative, visit www.venuesustainalytics.com.
