Event planners in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne face a unique opportunity (and a growing responsibility) to make transportation a key part of their sustainable event strategy. This guide empowers you to reduce your event's carbon footprint, save costs, and enhance the attendee experience through thoughtful transportation choices.

The Challenge: Event Transportation and Its Impact

While events bring people together, traditional modes of travel create significant emissions. As awareness grows, attendees and stakeholders alike are seeking greener solutions. By being proactive and addressing transportation, you'll not only reduce environmental harm but also boost your event's reputation as a responsible and forward-thinking organisation. And it isn’t as hard as you might think.

Smart Strategies for Eco-Friendly Attendee Travel

1. Carpooling & Ridesharing: Harness the Power of Community

Make traveling to your event fun and social! Carpooling and ride-sharing reduce emissions, but they also offer benefits to your attendees:

• Cost Savings: Splitting gas and parking costs lightens the financial load.

• Networking Opportunities: Carpools provide time to connect with colleagues and peers.

• Reduced Stress: Sharing the driving eases the pressure of navigating an unfamiliar city.

• Tools & Resources: Promote carpooling platforms like Moovl, Uber Pool or DiDi to connect attendees.

Pro Tips:

• Offer premium parking for carpoolers or rideshare participants.

• Feature carpooling prominently on your event website and communications.

2. Public Transport: Your Event's Sustainable Backbone

Take the hassle out of getting to your event while shrinking its carbon footprint. Public transport is a smart choice, and here's what makes it attractive for attendees:

• Relax & Recharge: Attendees can use travel time to catch up on emails, unwind, or simply enjoy the ride.

• Avoiding Traffic & Parking Woes: No battling congestion or expensive parking fees.

• Potential for Exploration: Public transport may introduce attendees to new areas of the city.

Pro Tips:

• Partner with Authorities: Collaborate with local transport agencies (TransLink in Brisbane, Transport for NSW in Sydney, Public Transport Victoria in Melbourne, Transperth in Perth and Adelaide Metro) for discounted passes, dedicated event shuttles, routes and timetables.

• Ease of Access: Provide crystal-clear directions and links to Google Maps, highlighting routes from transit hubs to the venue.

• Market the Benefits: Emphasise the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and reduced stress of public transport for attendees.

3. Electric Vehicles: Attract & Support EV Drivers

Show your commitment to innovation and sustainability by catering to electric vehicle drivers. This offers them:

• Convenient Charging: Eliminates the range anxiety of attending your event.

• Environmental Alignment: Shows attendees that you share their eco-conscious values.

• Potential Networking: Charging stations can become hubs for like-minded EV owners to connect.

Pro Tips:

• Charging Stations: If your venue allows Partner with charging companies like Chargefox, Evie Networks, or Jolt Charge to set up temporary stations.

• Promotion is Key: Highlight this amenity to appeal to EV owners. They’re an ever-increasing population you can’t afford to overlook.

4. Active Travel: Embrace Bikes and Walking

Transform the commute into an opportunity for well-being and a unique city experience. The benefits for attendees include:

• Boosting Health & Energy: Fresh air and exercise increase focus and reduce conference fatigue.

• Local Discovery: Plan walking and cycling routes that showcase neighbourhoods, hidden gems and city must-sees.

• Fun & Camaraderie: Group bike rides build a real sense of community and team comradery before the event begins.

Pro Tips:

• Bike-Friendly Events: Partner with local bike-share schemes and offer secure bike parking and even discounts for cyclists.

• The Benefits of Walking: For central locations, design walking route maps from nearby parking, hotels, and transit stops. A little fresh air can enhance attendee focus and energy.

5. Smart Shuttles: Close the Gaps Responsibly

When public transport or active travel aren't suitable, shuttles provide an eco-conscious and convenient solution. Here's why attendees will appreciate them:

• Stress Reduction: No navigation worries or searching for parking.

• Time Management: Reliable shuttles help with staying on schedule.

• Comfort Factor: A relaxed ride, especially after a long day of sessions.

Pro Tips:

• Eco-Conscious Partners: Seek out shuttle companies prioritising fuel-efficient or electric vehicles. Both Sydney Airport and Melbourne have electric bus services.

• Convenience Factor: Underscore how shuttles beat traffic and parking hassles.

6. The Offset Option: For Unavoidable Emissions

Even with the best planning, some emissions are inevitable. Offer attendees the choice to take responsibility for their travel impact. The benefits:

• Ease of Contribution: Simple way to support environmental projects.

• Positive Branding: Positions your event as genuinely committed to sustainability.

• Peace of Mind: Offsets address the eco-anxiety some attendees may feel.

Pro Tips:

• Trusted Programs: Recommend reputable Australian offset programs like Greenfleet or Bush Heritage Australia.

• Offer the Choice: Provide attendees with the option to offset their travel emissions at the point of registration or through event communications.

• Measure Your Impact: Use carbon footprint calculators (like ClimateHero or Terrapass) to track progress year-over-year and share success stories.

• Attendee Engagement: Make sustainable transportation a selling point. Provide clear information in advance and consider a dedicated event website/app page. In fact, Terra Tags include the option to have a QR code on the back of attendee name badges, which makes sharing information much easier.

• The Venue Factor: When selecting venues, prioritise locations well-served by public transport, bike paths, and walkable infrastructure.

The Power of Example

Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide – let's show the world how to host events that are both impactful and responsible. By embracing these strategies, you'll set a standard for sustainable event planning and create experiences that resonate positively with attendees and our planet.

Let's keep the conversation flowing! Share your success stories and best practices to inspire others.