The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced that the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) has earned Gold Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards. This recognition underscores the MBCC’s leadership in advancing sustainable practices across the meetings and events industry. The MBCC is the first OVG-managed property within the current portfolio to achieve Gold Level Certification as part of a partnership between OVG and EIC to certify its 60 venues in a phased approach.
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards provide a globally recognized framework for collaboration, guidance, and measurement to help venues and event professionals implement and track sustainability goals. Developed with input from hundreds of experts worldwide, the standards ensure that facilities like the MBCC have clear, measurable pathways to reduce environmental impact while supporting community and industry needs.
“We are truly honored to receive Gold Certification from the Events Industry Council—just one year after achieving Silver,” said Freddie Peterson, OVG’s General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center, owned by the City of Miami Beach. “This rapid progress is a true reflection of our team’s sense of pride, dedication and strong collaboration with the City of Miami Beach, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), and our clients and venue partners. Together, we’ve proven what’s possible when sustainability is embedded and championed across every part of our operation. We remain committed to raising the bar even higher for the future of our industry.”
The MBCC’s certification as Gold reflects years of investment in green building, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible sourcing. The center worked closely with venue partners to meet the rigorous benchmarks set by EIC. This milestone affirms the MBCC’s role as a premier destination for sustainable meetings and exhibitions, and a model for how large venues can meaningfully contribute to a greener future. Key pillars of the MBCC’s sustainability efforts include energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, food waste reduction, food donation and composting, onsite herb & vegetable garden, community involvement and volunteering.
“This achievement highlights the Miami Beach Convention Center’s exemplary commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “By implementing these standards, the Miami Beach Convention Center is paving the way for the global hospitality industry, demonstrating how venues can create meaningful impact through sustainable operations while delivering exceptional experiences for their guests and event planners.”
The EIC standard specifies performance criteria in the areas of organizational management, marketing, communications and engagement, climate action, water management, materials and circularity, supply chain management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, accessibility, and social impact. The Alliance for Audited Media, a not-for-profit auditing organization, performed the independent third-party certification of the MBCC’s compliance with the Integrated Property standard. The MBCC engaged sustainability consultant Astrapto to guide onsite sustainability process improvements.
Following a $640-million-dollar reimagination in 2020, the award-winning Miami Beach Convention Center has been recognized as a top tier convention center, and with 1.4 million square feet of event space, it is the second largest in Florida. The venue’s strong commitment to sustainable business practices, social impact, and green building features sets a new standard for meetings and conventions. The MBCC also holds a 4 Green Keys rating through the Green Key Meetings program, an industry respected sustainability verification for hotels, meeting rooms and convention facilities, and the US Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification.
