Cobo Center Awarded the Keep Michigan Beautiful President’s Plaque

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW:

SUBSCRIBE TO MAGAZINE

Exhibiting &
Event Topics

EXHIBITOR
Magazine

Find It
Marketplace

EXHIBITOR
LIVE

EXHIBITOR
Education Week

Venues
& Destinations

EXHIBITOR
News

trending

Sponsored Content
Aluvision: Modular & Sustainable Systems for Exhibits & Events

EXHIBITOR News
Victoria Conti, CTSM, Earns Diamond-level Certified Trade Show Marketer Credentials

International
BRC Imagination Arts Brings Immersive Storytelling and Experiences to the U.S.A. Pavilion at World Expo Osaka 2025

Associations/Press
The Future of Meetings and Events in 2025: Top Trends and Predictions by Global DMC Partners

Company News
Exhibitus to Acquire Sacks Exhibits

Company News
Moss Acquires Stretch Shapes, Expanding Production Capabilities in Live Event Experiences

Associations/Press
The Exhibitor Advocate and EVOLIO Marketing Release New Event Industry Research

Company News
Calzone Anvil Cases Acquires Kangaroo, Expanding Texas Business

Shows & Events
NKBA Global Connect Activations Ramp Up for KBIS 2025

submit your news

email newsletter

Awards, Venues & Destinations
Cobo Center Awarded the Keep Michigan Beautiful President’s Plaque

11/5/2015
Cobo Center has been awarded the Keep Michigan Beautiful (KMB) President’s plaque, their highest annual award. KMB was founded in 1965 by then Michigan Governor George Romney as a response to Lady Bird Johnson’s White House Conference on Beautification. The President’s Plaque is awarded for environmental improvement, beautification, site restoration and sustainability. Patrick Bero, CEO/CFO of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, the governing body of Cobo Center, was on hand to receive the award October 16, 2015, in Frankenmuth Michigan.

“In 2011, at the beginning of our 5-year $279 million renovation, we put together a Green Committee with members from every department and vendor company in Cobo Center,” said Claude Molinari, regional director of operations SMG and assistant general manager or Cobo Center. “That committee drives the momentum for improving sustainability and environmental stewardship of our facility and community.”

Since 2012, when Cobo Center was certified a Green Venues Michigan facility, it has received five sustainability recognitions, including the Detroit EcoWorks Sustainability Champion Award in 2014, the Detroit Free Press Michigan Green Leaders award in 2015, the GMIC APEX certification in 2015, and now the KMB award.

“We feel Cobo Center offers a unique package of Green Event support at little or no cost to customers, in a place not known for sustainability – Detroit! We aim to change that perception and show the world that Detroit is back and better than ever,” said Thom Connors, SMG regional vice president and general manager of Cobo Center.

Cobo recommends that customers who want to make their events more sustainable start with these 20 easy suggestions:
1. Investigate Cobo’s Green certifications. They outline the operational structure for sustainability 2. To save time in your RFP, simply mail your questions about Green Events in Cobo Center to greenevents@cobocenter.com
3. Use Cobo’s free app and website to find sustainable transportation options and walkable local attractions
4. Cobo Center has 180 recycling stations. Have some placed strategically throughout your event spaces, especially on the closing day
5. Cobo Center will supply a post-event sustainability report that meets the requirements of your Green Event sponsors
6. Use signage without dates to promote re-use
7. Use online event service order forms on the Cobo website to reduce paper waste
8. Distribute event information online or in digital format
9. Use the free facility app to notify attendees of event and facility features
10. Generate less paper waste by using Cobo’s digital signage to announce sponsors, direct attendees and announce agendas
11. Work with Cobo’s chef to source food locally and sustainably
12. Request un-served food from your event be donated to Forgotten Harvest, a local food redistribution agency (48.8 million pounds of food last year)
13. Publicize Cobo’s sustainability practices to your attendees and encourage participation
14. Cobo uses compostable food containers and utensils making food outlet waste 100% compostable or recyclable
15. Your sponsor can underwrite a coffee break with their logos on compostable cups
16. Include a sustainability slide show at the entrance and exit of your event and let attendees know how they can be a part of it
17. Recycle badge holders to local charities and declare to attendees with signage
18. Inclusivity is sustainability. Work with your event manager to insure attendees special needs are met during your event
19. Work with your event manager to create Detroit area walking tours for attendees to encourage walking as transportation
20. Cobo supports the use of bicycles as attendee transportation

About Cobo Center
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Cobo Center boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 17th largest convention center in the country. Visit online at www.cobocenter.com.

About SMG
Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 240 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers. Visit www.smgworld.com for more information.

About the DRCFA
On 9/15/09, operational control of Cobo Center transferred to the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, under a collaborative agreement by the Michigan State Legislature, the City of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Each of these entities has an appointed member on the DRCFA Board. Larry Alexander is Chairman the Board as the member appointed by the Governor of the State of Michigan. For more information, visit: www.drcfa.org.

Contact:
mklida@cobocenter.com

Related News
Cobo Center Achieves International Green Meeting Certification