- September 2009
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- Supplier News
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- Government/Legislation
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Regional
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G-20 Summit coming to Pittsburgh
The G-20 Summit will be held in Pittsburgh, September 24-26, 2009, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Local and state governments expect an influx of visitors to the city, and for security reasons, have encouraged the closure of all non-essential businesses in the area around the convention location.
Organizations and their travelers should prepare accordingly to reduce the impact that the summit will have on their daily business operations. Travelers should anticipate that hotel rooms and flights into and out of Pittsburgh may be in high demand during the summit.
G-20 brings together important industrial and emerging-market countries from all regions of the world. Together, the G-20 member countries represent around 90 percent of global gross national product, 80 percent of world trade (including EU intra-trade), as well as two-thirds of the world's population.
Sources: CWT, pittsburghg20.org
Vancouver Olympics coming in 2010
The 2010 Olympic Games will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, February 12-28, and the Paralympic Games will take place March 12-21. Attendance is predicted to be high, and the impact on travel and business within Vancouver is expected to be significant on and around the days of the games.
Organizations and their travelers who have frequent travel to Vancouver and the surrounding areas, as well as those businesses based in Vancouver, should prepare accordingly to reduce the impact that the Olympics will have on their daily business operations. Travelers should anticipate that hotel rooms and flights into and out of Vancouver will be sold out during the games.
If possible, travelers may want to avoid scheduling any non-essential meetings in Vancouver during the Olympics. If business travel to the city must take place, flights and hotels should be booked well in advance to secure space. Travelers should also prepare to spend more than usual on hotel rooms and flights during the games, and should research transportation options for getting around the city.
Vancouver has public transportation offered by TransLink. Launched August 17, Vancouver now offers SkyTrain service between the Vancouver airport (YVR) and downtown Vancouver. See details here.
Details of the games are as follows:
- 2010 Olympic Games—February 12-28—Vancouver and Whistler
- 2010 Paralympic Games—March 12-21—Vancouver and Whistler
- Website— http://www.vancouver2010.com/
For information regarding passport and visa requirements for entry into Canada, travelers can refer to the following websites:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Sources: vancouver2010.com, www.olympic.org, www.translink.ca
Airports featured in Green Business Quarterly
Green Business Quarterly (GBQ) recently released its summer 2009 edition, featuring—and recognizing—various airports across the United States for their environmentally-friendly practices.
Below are a few of the airports that made the list, as well as some of their green initiatives:
- Bob Hope Airport in Burbank—Use of solar panels for electricity, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and overall sustainable building methods.
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport—Improved building standards, energy conservation initiatives with the use of electric windmill technology, and development of an overall strategic plan designed to positively affect the environment.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York—Reduction in its use of de-icing chemicals.
- Logan International Airport in Boston—Green construction practices such as a heat reflecting roof and windows. This international airport has been recognized as the nation’s first airport to receive a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification in 2006 for environmental sustainability by the U.S. Green Building Council.
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport—Implementation of smart construction practices, energy efficient initiatives as well as programs for preservation of local wetlands.
Through extensive research, GBQ reports on the techniques and trends used by today’s environmentally-friendly businesses.
Source: mspairport.com, greenforall.org, massport.com, dfwairport.com
