FAQ About Sustainable Meetings in Grand Rapids

Yes! Fast Company magazine named Grand Rapids “America’s Greenest City” for our earth-friendly policies. It was ranked the nation’s most sustainable mid-size city by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It was the first U.S. city designated a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise on Sustainability Education. It has one of the highest per capita number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment) certified buildings in the country. And it is working to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030.

Grand Rapids is accessible by Amtrak train and Greyhound bus, both of which reduce traffic and emissions compared to individual vehicles. Energy-efficient carpooling is another option, as the city is within a day’s drive of half the U.S. population.

Air travelers can be assured that the city’s Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) has developed and is implementing a carbon management plan to reduce emissions from sources under its control. GRR has also been certified through the Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. Recent accomplishments include transitioning light fixtures to LEDs, adding light sensors in restrooms and passenger spaces, and redesigning the airport’s Concourse A to incorporate a 70% energy reduction goal.

Yes. DeVos Place is managed by ASM Global, which in 2024 signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all its properties by 2050. (ASM Global also manages Grand Rapids’ DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena.) It is one of the founding members of the Grand Rapids 2030 District, a city-wide initiative to reach zero carbon even sooner. DeVos Place has earned Green Venues Michigan Certification and was once named Green Generation Customer of the Year by Consumers Energy.

Waste management programs range from donating computers to non-profit organizations after office updates to working with its catering partner, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, to process food waste into compost for area farmers. Leftover catering meals are donated to local ministries and soup kitchens.

Anything that can be recycled, is recycled. DeVos Place works with local companies and City of Grand Rapids recycling programs to properly separate and handle all recyclable materials, ensuring reuse as their final destination.

Labeled containers throughout the facility direct guests to dispose of waste in their proper receptacles.

ASM Global insists that all utensils, serving pieces and packaging for catering and concessions are made from biodegradable plant-based materials whenever possible.

Recent attributes include:

• Energy Management Programming in building support systems to maximize efficiency
• Computer-controlled lighting and HVAC systems that minimize power usage
• Lighting fixtures that increase footcandles and reduce energy usage by 60%
• Automated faucets and flushing systems that reduce water and energy use by 40% compared to traditional fixtures
• A membrane-style roof that reflects heat away from the building

There are two charging stations in the facility’s onsite parking garage. Several downtown hotels and city parking facilities also offer charging stations.

No. Three hotels – the Amway Grand Plaza, JW Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott , with 1,200 rooms between them– are connected to DeVos Place via skywalk. Ten additional hotels (1,300+ rooms) are within a 10-minute walk. A free Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is an environmentally conscious alternative to foot power, as it uses compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel, which produces fewer emissions than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles.

There are also 300+ restaurants, shops and attractions within a 10-minute walk/free bus ride of DeVos Place and downtown hotels, a convenience that has helped Grand Rapids earn recognition as one of America’s Top 14 Walkable Cities.

The Rapid , Grand Rapids’ easy-to-use public transportation system, operates downtown’s DASH shuttle as well as a fleet of buses that circulate around the city and surrounding suburbs. More than 100 of The Rapid’s buses are equipped to use renewal natural gas (RNG) from the City of Grand Rapids’ biodigester, which breaks down organic waste and turns it into a carbon-negative vehicle fuel.

All 13 downtown hotels offer a wide range of sustainability features. The AC Hotel, Canopy by Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites, Hyatt Place, JW Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott incorporate the eco-friendly initiatives of their global brands.

Sustainability features at the Amway Grand Plaza, the city’s largest hotel, include LED lighting, low-flush toilets, occupancy sensors and multi-stream recycling. CityFlatsHotel, a 48-room boutique property, is certified LEED Gold thanks to such green features as energy-efficient lighting and plumbing, high-efficiency heating and cooling units, cork flooring, hypoallergenic bamboo linens, and locally manufactured furniture and décor.

Virtually all of the 80 additional hotels throughout Kent County also have sustainability programs in place.

EXGR offers many digital tools to help planners promote their event as well as apps and QR code systems that help attendees make the most of their time in Grand Rapids without carrying around a stack of paper.

We can recommend all sorts of them! Visit our Volunteer Projects that Focus on Sustainability page.