Ottawa Tourism has released a Responsible Events Guide, a strategic framework designed to support event professionals in delivering more sustainable, inclusive, and locally engaged meetings in Canada’s capital.
The initiative shows Ottawa’s commitment to responsible destination stewardship and aligns with broader ESG objectives increasingly prioritised by associations and professional societies.
To be unveiled at IMEX Frankfurt (20–22 May), the guide offers a suite of adaptable tools aimed at integrating sustainability and social value across all phases of event planning. Notably, it includes:
- A decision-making framework to assess environmental and social impact throughout the event lifecycle.
- Inclusive design considerations, with practical accessibility guidelines informed by local partnerships such as Abilities Ottawa.
- Integration with Canada’s first destination-led food recovery programme, allowing organisers to embed legacy impact through surplus food redistribution.
- Templates and recommendations for transparent sustainability communications, including pre-event briefings and post-event reporting.
Developed as part of Ottawa Tourism’s ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, the guide responds to the growing demand from associations for practical mechanisms to demonstrate environmental and social responsibility not only to delegates, but to boards, funders, and the broader public.
“In a landscape where trust and impact matter more than ever, this guide equips organisers to embed purpose into their events in a way that is both operationally feasible and reputationally meaningful,” says Lesley Pincombe, Vice President, Business and Major Events at Ottawa Tourism.
The Responsible Events Guide is available to download here.