The latest guide from Destinations International (DI) aims to educate planners on how to reduce food waste and strengthen the host communities during meetings and events.
The “Destination Guide: Food Recovery and Redistribution at Events” guide was produced using DI’s Social Impact Framework.
Highlights of the guide include:
- A five-step process for applying food recovery into event design, from identifying outcomes to measuring and communicating impact.
- Tools to help destinations partner with local organizations to address hunger, advance stewardship and engage residents and visitors.
Don Welsh, president and CEO of DI, said in a press release that offering this resource moves past simply hosting events and explores catalyzing meaningful community impact.
DI partners and members can view the full guide online.
[Related: Destinations International Launches New Virtual Education Program]
Applying the Guide
At DI’s annual convention in Chicago this year, attendees participated in hands-on initiatives to fight food insecurity in Cook County. Foodbank network Feeding America reports that over 723,000 people in the county experience food insecurity.
After partnering with Choose Chicago, McCormick Place and Fight2Feed, convention goers packed 200 pantry bags to feed 800 Chicagoans. Their efforts to reduce food insecurity at one event diverted 1.41 tons of waste from landfill and conserved nearly 10,000 gallons of water.
“By connecting surplus food with those in need, we can directly address food insecurity while advancing responsible tourism and destination stewardship,” Welsh said in a press release.
