Eventisimo, with its headquarters in Seville, is one of Spain's leading event agencies, also recognized internationally for its operational volume, use of technology, and implementation of sustainability protocols in event organization.
Recently, Eventisimo achieved the Eventsost certification as a sustainable event organizer, which led us to interview their General Director, Tim Ott, to gain insights into how sustainability plays a role in event production, particularly in the realm of professional congress organizers.
EVENTSOST: Tim, what motivated you to implement sustainability criteria in your events?
TIM OTT (TIM): It has reassured us that the path we've embarked on is the right one. Having an entity like Eventsost certify that our sustainability practices and the changes we've made to our production model are correct gives us confidence to continue improving in this area. Additionally, it's a way to deepen our understanding of sustainability in event operations.
In a structure like Eventisimo, where we have all production departments in-house, meaning that we produce all elements and services involved in event organization ourselves, the key to becoming more sustainable lies in refining coordination between our departments. It's something we've always prided ourselves on, but now, with the sustainability challenge, coordination is even more crucial, especially in the reuse and optimization of resources.
EVENTSOST: How do you think clients perceive working with a more sustainable event provider? Could it become a competitive advantage?
TIM: Undoubtedly, it offers a strong advantage. Companies want to work with agencies that add value to their proposals, and sustainability is one of those values, which is increasingly considered. This is even more relevant when, like us, you have a high percentage of foreign clients, particularly from Europe, where sustainability is a more established concept.
Obviously, this perception has evolved over the years. When sustainability first became a topic in our industry, it was mainly about new materials and their better use, waste management, and reuse. Today, many more aspects of sustainability are recognized, such as the choice of sustainable venues, the legacy an event leaves in the host community, the carbon footprint, and many others.
EVENTSOST: How do you view the Spanish event sector regarding sustainability?
TIM: As with many things, sustainability has gained traction in Spain a bit later than in other countries, where both the event industry and the concept of sustainability have a longer history. But it is becoming more important, and several agencies and specific projects have now obtained sustainable practice certifications.
However, there are other important factors for applying sustainable practices that don't directly depend on agencies like ours. For instance, clean points: many of our constructions are temporary (stands, sets, etc.), and the materials are single-use. Therefore, having easy and nearby access to a clean point is essential to ensure proper waste management.
Then there's the ongoing debate about whether being more sustainable is more expensive. I believe it's difficult to quantify offhand whether sustainability is more costly or not. It involves a different way of managing materials, finishes, and efficiency, and within this different approach, different values come into play.
About Eventisimo:
Founded in 2001 and with over 100 employees, Eventisimo is an agency specializing in conventions, congresses, product launches, presentations, and incentive trips.
With extensive experience in international events, their clients include companies such as Lidl, BMW, Airbus, Altadis, Oriflame, and L’Oreal. Eventisimo's offices are located internationally across Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The agency is a member of AEVEA, SpainDMC’s, and the convention bureaux of Seville, Tenerife, and Madrid.
