In pursuit of an environmentally friendly convention industry

Purpose This paper aims to systematically develop a sustainability framework and guidelines for the green convention industry to cover the entire process of hosting a convention. Design/methodology/approach The guidelines were designed in three phases: defining a sustainability framework for a green convention, conducting a three-round Delphi survey and developing comprehensive guidelines. The relative weights and/or importance were calculated and compared based on questionnaires and the analytic hierarchy process method. Findings This study summarized 153 sustainable practices and their relative importance (seven categories and 37 subcategories) to suggest future directions and managerial implications for academia and practitioners to cope with negative environmental impacts and to create an environmentally sustainable convention industry. Research limitations/implications Because the proposed framework and guidelines were developed in a particular environment, their applicability might be improved by further review prior to translating them into another context. Practical implications This study provides implications to help practitioners plan and execute events in more environmentally and socially responsible ways. Practitioners may use the proposed guidelines, either as a whole or in part, to select the areas that are most applicable or in need of attention. Additionally, the guidelines may be used as an evaluation framework after hosting a convention to indicate specific ways to reduce harmful environmental practices and the importance of each practice. Originality/value The proposed sustainability framework and guidelines consider all aspects of the convention industry, including all possible aspects of stakeholders that may affect convention organizers and participants, as well as related industries.