QMDI Wins Green Event Category at Middle East Event Awards 2009

Qatar gains recognition in leading initiatives to deliver green meetings by managing change process and technology solutions for events.

28th April 2009 - Doha, Qatar - Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI), a joint venture company with Qatar Foundation won 'Green Event' category at the Middle East Event Awards 2009 which took place on 27th April 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Matthew Meredith, CEO, QMDI said: "We are extremely proud that after only 18 months of existence, QMDI has won this award against strong regional competition. We hope there will be many more awards to come over the coming years. This is a first for Qatar and an important step in raising awareness about the events industry in Qatar and the region."

Khalifa Al Mannai, PR & Government Liaison Manager, QMDI, said: "The accolade was presented to QMDI, the appointed event management company for UNEP (United Nations Environment Protection Agency) Ozone Protection Conferences hosted by the Qatar's Ministry of Environment, for the turnkey event management and special project management to 'reduce paper usage' at an event". MEEZA, the Managed IT Services and Solutions provider, was the contracted technology supplier for the event. MEEZA developed a paperless document management solution, an event portal, web-site and wireless network for the event.

Speaking at the Middle East Event Awards, Fiona Simon, QMDI Event Director who project-led the UNEP Ozone Protection Conferences' event delivery said: "It is an honour to receive this Award. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to our clients the Ministry of Environment, Qatar, the UN Multilateral Fund Secreteriat and Ozone Secreteriat for the opportunity to work on the UNEP Ozone Protection Meetings which took place in Doha last November. This prestigious Award is not only a win for QMDI, but also gives Qatar significant recognition within the event industry as a leader in driving forward 'green meetings' initiatives."

Appointed by Qatar's Ministry of Environment, QMDI event management brief included reducing the use of paper by 80% during the 5 day meeting for 700 delegates from over 150 nations. In developing the initial scope of work and presenting a practical working solution with the appointed technology suppliers MEEZA, the introduction of a new method to manage meeting proceedings also had to be communicated to event participants from UNEP.

Waleed Al-Emadi, Director of International Cooperation Departments and a senior ozone expert at the Qatar Ministry of the Environment said: "The UNEP Ozone Protection Conferences was an important series of events which addressed the effect of CO2, the principle greenhouse gas, has on the environment globally. In the United States alone there have been estimates that a 10 per cent reduction in the use of paper in offices could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1.6 billion tons."
Al-Emadi furthered: "To put into practice a solution to reduce paper usage; in the form of documents and publications, whilst still achieving the complex proceedings needed to review and contribute to policies at such meetings was deemed a great success. It was a privilege for Qatar to host such an important event and be able to contribute to organizing 'more effective' events."

The result saw that paper usage being reduced by 86%, where a typical meeting for UNEP Ozone Protection Conferences would use 300,000 sheets of paper. This equates to a saving of 9,000km of paper or just over 31 trees*.
Second to this, the first global UN paperless event was delivered here in Qatar. The success of the pilot scheme will have a positive environmental impact on how UN can manage their future events. The pilot paperless program is now being implemented at a meeting of the world's environment ministers at UNEP's headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Commenting on QMDI's event management services, the United Nations Multilateral Fund Secretariat said: "Holding meetings away from our usual workplace and in a different environment was an extremely pleasant experience thanks to QMDI. The 56th Meeting of the Executive Committee in Doha was successful, both in the planning stage as well as during the meeting which was particularly challenging due to organizing the first paperless international meeting."

The Middle East Event Awards is an annual gala event which celebrates the achievements of the events industry in the region. This is the first time that Qatar has won an event award, as well as come runners up in another category, namely 'Best Trade Exhibition' for DIMDEX, Doha Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference.

[*Source: http://www.conservatree.com/learn/EnviroIssues/TreeStats.shtml