Sustainable Meetings: A Case of Marriott’s Connect Responsibly Program

Abstract

The MICE industry is increasingly focused on sustainability. In response, Marriott International launched the Connect Responsibly Program in October 2024, helping event planners reduce their events’ environmental impact at Marriott Bonvoy properties. The program provides Meeting Impact Reports detailing carbon and water footprints, food waste, and plastic reduction, and partners with South Pole to offer carbon offset options. However, challenges include the time and resources required for smaller hotels to track data, lack of standardized reporting guidelines, and uncertainty over whether organizers will invest in carbon offsets, given the need to balance sustainability with profitability.