SA Climate Change Response expo managed by TDM

12 Dec 2011

Tourvest Destination Management (TDM) achieved silver status by the Green Leaf Environmental Standard in Johannesburg, while the group was also a runner up in the category of Best Overall Environmental Management System at the recent Imvelo Awards. This makes it entirely appropriate that TDM was awarded the project of managing the South Africa Climate Change Response Expo for COP17.

Global Conferences Africa (GCA), a business unit of TDM, was the overall project management company appointed to manage the expo on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as handling emergency services and taking special responsibility for the projects showcasing the work of municipalities.

"GCA is providing a full service, from start to finish," says Melanie Sillince, association conference director of Global Conferences Africa. "We are managing the exhibition space and the exhibitors, running programmes throughout the event and co-ordinating all activities to ensure a fantastic and memorable experience for both visitors and exhibitors. Exhibitors have been screened to ensure they have a serious greening purpose," says Sillince. "As trailblazers on this green path ourselves, we're excited to see so many major corporates - with the support of government - signaling their intentions to tackle climate change effectively."

Largest exhibition structure in Africa

The expo, the largest temporary exhibition structure ever held in Africa is currently on at Centrum Car Park, Bram Fischer Road, Durban. It profiles the efforts of corporate and government players within the green economy, and provides the public with an opportunity to see what is available so they can make effective climate change choices in their own homes and companies.

"This is not just another project for us - it aligns perfectly with our own environmental mission. TDM has made a real commitment to achieving, maintaining and improving our green standards, and we have made huge strides - the savings we've realized of 33% on electricity and 42% per person on printer paper are concrete evidence of this," says TDM's chief operating officer, Bryan Coetzee.