Eventex B2B Match Highlights: The importance of sustainability with Benoit Sauvage

Did you miss out on Eventex B2B Match 2024 earlier this year? In case you did, we’re bringing you essential insight from our live sessions to help you discover solutions and strategies to elevate your work. Our series of Eventex B2B Match Highlights continues with Benoit Sauvage, the founder and CEO of Connect DMC, who shares insight on how to empower the hospitality industry with sustainable practices. 

Compelling reasons why sustainability is vital in today’s world

Benoit’s presentation gives an understanding of the current sustainability landscape, along with information on ESG and DEBI, and insight on how to empower the hospitality industry through steps toward sustainable practices.

Understanding the current landscape 

Under the current landscape, the travel industry accounts for 10% of the world’s employment and GDP. In addition, between 25% and 30% of marketing budgets are spent on live events every year. 

As an industry, we have an opportunity to grow our audience and deliver exceptional experiences by making our events more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.

The current environmental landscape, however, also includes multiple alarming facts, such as: 

• 18 of the 31 vital signs of our planet being in danger 
• 70% of biodiversity loss due to food production, according to WWF data
• 1.3 billion tons of food wasted worldwide every year 
• 1% of freshwater currently under threat, with freshwater demand on track to exceed supply by 40% by 2030
• 8.3 billion tons of plastic since the 1950s, with only 9% recycled

… and many more. 

There is a massive environmental impact that we are having as a human species and in our industry. So, definitively, we have an opportunity to walk the talk and really make a difference. 

ESG and DEBI frameworks 

ESG, which stands for Environmental Social Governance, has emerged as key for cost savings on recruitment, training, and staff performance. 

Just to understand, the decreased productivity from disengaged employees costs $550 billion dollars annually just to the US economy. 

The new generations, including Millennials and Gen Z, meanwhile focus on companies that have vetted and approved ESG criteria. Data further shows that 90% of employees are more inspired, motivated, and loyal to companies that have implemented ESG criteria.

Then comes DEBI, the abbreviation behind Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion, also supported by newer generations, which impacts talent acquisition and collaboration. Data shows that as many as 75% of Millennials want a job with a sense of purpose towards people and the planet. 

There are four frameworks within DEBI: 

• Diversity promotion — recruitment, inclusive policies, community engagement, etc. 
• Equity enhancement — fair policies, representation, equitable treatment, and support, etc. 
• Belonging cultivation — inclusive culture, community building, empowerment and participation, etc. 
• Inclusion — accessible opportunities, representation, cultural competence, safe and supportive environment, leadership commitment, etc.

Empowering the hospitality industry 

How do we empower the hospitality industry? First, we need to show its business value. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about sustainability, such as that it costs more, it’s not a priority, and it does not add value. That, however, is not the case. 

Sustainability does make good business sense — it’s more than just being green, it’s about better performance, smarter business, growing shares and lower spend, enhance our brands’ value, build awareness, and walk the talk. 

To learn more about what steps the industry should take toward sustainable practices, watch the live session for free. 

About Benoit Sauvage 

Award-winning hospitality industry leader, Benoit Sauvage, DMCP, CMP Fellow, CITP is the founder and CEO of Connect DMC, a leading Destination Management Company in the Dominican Republic and Mexico as well as the founder and CEO of Hospitality Sustainability Revolution (HSR), a leading consulting firm for hospitality stakeholders worldwide. 

About Eventex B2B Match 

Eventex B2B Match lets event professionals network seamlessly with participants spanning the globe, attend live sessions by industry superstars, and discover solutions to elevate their work.