Our SFSE events are designed to leverage best-in-class sustainable industry resources to guide and motivate event organizers towards a sustainable future. We invite you to join your peers to network and learn how the power of our industry can help save the world!
Event Calendar
Save the Date! The SFSE Start of the Year Event – January 9, 2025 at Chase Center
Join us for a day of connection, learning, and inspiration to build a healthier, more sustainable future—for the planet, our industry, and ourselves. Explore the vital connection between wellness and sustainability in event planning. Sustainability goes hand in hand with preserving the planet and caring for ourselves. By prioritizing our well-being, we strengthen our ability to drive meaningful change for the environment and our communities. As event professionals, let’s make time to prioritize both.
Choose Your Experience
Full Experience ($75)
3:30 PM: Start your journey with activities designed to refresh your mind and body (sign up in advance).
4:00 PM: Networking and Light bites.
4:30 PM: Exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Chase Center.
Discover how this iconic venue is setting new sustainability standards for event spaces.
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Panel Discussion & Reception in the stunning Above the Rim space.
Panel & Reception Only ($60):
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Join the main event!
Engage with industry leaders during the Panel Discussion & Reception as they share insights on integrating wellness and sustainability. Network with peers while enjoying breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay.
Let’s unite to redefine what it means to create sustainable, wellness-focused events in the new year!
Agenda Highlights:
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Check-in
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Wellness activities (optional, Full Experience Ticket)
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Networking with light bites
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Behind-the-Scenes Tour (Full Experience Ticket)
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Panel Discussion & Reception (Partial Experience Ticket)
Don’t miss this opportunity to prioritize your own wellness, gain actionable strategies, and connect with like-minded professionals to foster meaningful change in the industry.
Registration opening soon!
Past Event Highlights
Patio Perspectives Episode 7: (11/15/2023)
Topic: Shouldn’t We Be Choosing and Rewarding Responsible and Sustainable Venues?
In this episode of Patio Perspectives host Paul Salinger and guest speaker Lindsay Arell discuss how to select and reward responsible and sustainable venues, look at emerging trends for venues, how to ask better questions when working with destinations and venues and getting the right data so you can report on the good work you want to do for your sustainable event.
Patio Perspectives Episode 6: (10/18/2023)
Topic: Creating a Culture of Sustainability
Join host Paul Salinger and guest Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-Founder of GreenBiz Group, as they discuss how we can create a culture of sustainability within our organizations.
Patio Perspectives Episode 5: Is it Time to Ditch the Word Sustainability? (09/20/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 5 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Anna Abdelnoor
Topic: What would it be like if we removed the word sustainability and leaned into strategy and climate literacy to comprehend what we want to accomplish? In this far-reaching conversation Anna Abdelnour and Paul Salinger dig into what new skills may be required in a climate crisis world, what the right questions might be to develop a more strategic approach to event sustainability and the absolute need to measure your impact and how to better use the data you capture to make better decisions for ongoing improvement.
Patio Perspectives Episode 4: How IMEX Became a Leader in Sustainability (08/19/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 4 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Roger Lehner, IMEX
Patio Perspectives Episode 3: How to Travel Responsibly and Sustainably (06/23/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 3 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Shawna McKinley
Abstract:
Approximately 8% of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by travel and the travel industry is a significant contributor to climate change. This has enormous implications for the future of the event industry. Air travel, driving and other forms of transportation make up the largest part of an event’s carbon footprint. How you get to/from and around your destination makes a difference and is potentially a grave threat to the live event industry’s future. In this episode of Patio Perspectives we’ll explore some of the implications and some potential solutions to traveling more responsibly and sustainably. Shawna McKinley is a teacher, writer and consultant with over two decades of extensive experience in furthering discussion, learning and action on how to travel and plan events in a time of climate change.
Patio Perspectives Episode 2: Rethinking Food Choices as a Carbon Reduction Strategy (05/17/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 2
Patio Perspectives Episode 1: Looking at the big picture (04/19/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 1 and participated on the conversation about:
-How to reduce our overall emissions, both individually and within our organizations.
-Are we taking the appropriate actions, on a big enough scale, to do our part as an event industry and mitigate the effects of climate change?
-How do we take the first steps in reducing emissions and still execute effective and successful events?
GDC VIP Behind the Scenes Sustainability Tour (03/23/2023) - Thanks to all who attended our VIP Behind the Scenes Sustainability Tour at GDC at Moscone
Leadership Series - Big Opportunities & The Pathway To Reimagine (6/2021-3/2022) - Thanks to all who joined for robust conversations about:
Going Green for Gold - Incorporating Sustainability into Tradeshows - Panel and interactive breakout session (8/18/2020)
Uplift and Be Uplifted - Virtual gathering and community discussion (3/24/2020)
Beyond Plastics - Straws - Movie viewing and discussion (11/13/2018)
A Day on the Farm @ Stemple Creek Ranch - Field trip and educational event (8/20/2018)
Dare to Go Meatless? It's Not Impossible! - Lunch and panel discussion (3/20/2018)
Topic: Shouldn’t We Be Choosing and Rewarding Responsible and Sustainable Venues?
In this episode of Patio Perspectives host Paul Salinger and guest speaker Lindsay Arell discuss how to select and reward responsible and sustainable venues, look at emerging trends for venues, how to ask better questions when working with destinations and venues and getting the right data so you can report on the good work you want to do for your sustainable event.
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 7
Patio Perspectives Episode 6: (10/18/2023)
Topic: Creating a Culture of Sustainability
Join host Paul Salinger and guest Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-Founder of GreenBiz Group, as they discuss how we can create a culture of sustainability within our organizations.
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 6
Patio Perspectives Episode 5: Is it Time to Ditch the Word Sustainability? (09/20/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 5 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Anna Abdelnoor
Topic: What would it be like if we removed the word sustainability and leaned into strategy and climate literacy to comprehend what we want to accomplish? In this far-reaching conversation Anna Abdelnour and Paul Salinger dig into what new skills may be required in a climate crisis world, what the right questions might be to develop a more strategic approach to event sustainability and the absolute need to measure your impact and how to better use the data you capture to make better decisions for ongoing improvement.
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 5
Patio Perspectives Episode 4: How IMEX Became a Leader in Sustainability (08/19/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 4 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Roger Lehner, IMEX
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 4
Patio Perspectives Episode 3: How to Travel Responsibly and Sustainably (06/23/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 3 Hosted by Paul Salinger with special guest Shawna McKinley
Abstract:
Approximately 8% of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by travel and the travel industry is a significant contributor to climate change. This has enormous implications for the future of the event industry. Air travel, driving and other forms of transportation make up the largest part of an event’s carbon footprint. How you get to/from and around your destination makes a difference and is potentially a grave threat to the live event industry’s future. In this episode of Patio Perspectives we’ll explore some of the implications and some potential solutions to traveling more responsibly and sustainably. Shawna McKinley is a teacher, writer and consultant with over two decades of extensive experience in furthering discussion, learning and action on how to travel and plan events in a time of climate change.
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 3
Patio Perspectives Episode 2: Rethinking Food Choices as a Carbon Reduction Strategy (05/17/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 2
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 2
Patio Perspectives Episode 1: Looking at the big picture (04/19/2023) - Thanks to all who joined for Patio Perspectives Episode 1 and participated on the conversation about:
-How to reduce our overall emissions, both individually and within our organizations.
-Are we taking the appropriate actions, on a big enough scale, to do our part as an event industry and mitigate the effects of climate change?
-How do we take the first steps in reducing emissions and still execute effective and successful events?
- Please click HERE to watch Patio Perspectives Episode 1
GDC VIP Behind the Scenes Sustainability Tour (03/23/2023) - Thanks to all who attended our VIP Behind the Scenes Sustainability Tour at GDC at Moscone
Leadership Series - Big Opportunities & The Pathway To Reimagine (6/2021-3/2022) - Thanks to all who joined for robust conversations about:
- Circularity
- Supply Chain: Building Equitable Partnerships and Destinations
- Carbon: Reduction vs. Offsetting
- Consumption: Closing Loops, Creating Zero Waste Partnerships
Going Green for Gold - Incorporating Sustainability into Tradeshows - Panel and interactive breakout session (8/18/2020)
Uplift and Be Uplifted - Virtual gathering and community discussion (3/24/2020)
Beyond Plastics - Straws - Movie viewing and discussion (11/13/2018)
A Day on the Farm @ Stemple Creek Ranch - Field trip and educational event (8/20/2018)
Dare to Go Meatless? It's Not Impossible! - Lunch and panel discussion (3/20/2018)
2023 Sponsors
Spring Fling Venue Sponsors
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