Carbon Neutral Meetings

Carbon Neutral Meetings are events where CO₂ emissions associated with their organization are estimated and then offset through investments in certified environmental projects. In practice, this means organizing meetings that measurably support ESG and sustainability goals while reducing their overall environmental impact.

At Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport, in collaboration with the global Hilton network, the carbon footprint of an event is estimated using LightStay Hilton’s proprietary reporting platform.
Based on operational data such as energy and water consumption, as well as waste generation, and aligned with recognized external standards and benchmarks, it enables the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a specific event.

No, carbon neutrality does not mean that a conference generates no CO₂ emissions. In practice, every event—due to energy use, catering, and participant transport—results in greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon neutrality means that these emissions are first carefully measured based on actual operational data, then reduced where possible already at the planning stage, and finally offset through the purchase of certified carbon credits supporting environmental projects (such as renewable energy or forest conservation).

The principle of carbon offsetting is to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be fully avoided due to the nature of an activity. Emissions that cannot be operationally eliminated are balanced elsewhere through the purchase of certified carbon credits supporting responsible environmental projects (such as renewable energy development or forest conservation).

CO₂ offsetting under the Carbon Neutral Meetings program for events held at the Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport Conference Center in Balice does not involve any additional costs for the event organizer.

Yes, emissions associated with an event can be reduced already at the planning stage, thereby lowering the need for later offsetting. This includes measures such as minimizing printed materials, choosing local products (shorter supply chains), precise catering planning, and optimizing energy use.

Not every event automatically qualifies for the Carbon Neutral Meetings program. Currently, the program applies to events that meet specific operational criteria (such as a combination of meeting space and accommodation services). Each event must also be registered and analyzed using Hilton’s LightStay platform. For detailed information, please contact the hotel’s event coordinator during the planning stage.

Yes, after the event, organizers receive a comprehensive report covering key data such as CO₂ emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste generated.
These insights can be used for ESG reporting as well as for monitoring and reducing the environmental impact of future events. It is valuable, comparable data that allows you to track progress over time.

Yes, the data included in the Carbon Neutral Meetings report can support ESG reporting, particularly in the area of environmental impact (CO₂ emissions, resource consumption). It also enables monitoring and comparing the performance of future events.
The carbon neutrality certificate for your event can serve as a valuable element of your company’s internal procurement policies, non-financial reporting, and environmental responsibility communication. It’s a potential worth leveraging.

Because in practice, it’s not declarations that matter, but the ability to demonstrate data, processes, and credible partnerships. Hilton builds its approach on the proprietary LightStay platform, event impact reporting, the global Travel with Purpose strategy, and a transparently defined offset model in partnership with ClimeCo.

The most important ESG elements for event organizers today focus on measurability and credibility. A key priority is the ability to accurately assess an event’s environmental impact and obtain a report with concrete data—such as CO₂ emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste generation.
Equally important are operational actions, including reducing emissions and waste, choosing more responsible F&B solutions, and ensuring alignment with the organizer’s sustainable procurement policies. Increasing emphasis is also placed on transparency and high-quality documentation, enabling actions to be verified in a credible and auditable way. Hilton’s solutions, based on the LightStay platform and the Meet with Purpose program, are designed around these principles—combining data, process, and reporting into a consistent support model for business clients.

Hilton, as part of the Carbon Neutral Meetings program, partners with ClimeCo, which provides carbon credits used to offset event emissions. The offset projects supported by ClimeCo are verified by independent third parties and registered under recognized international standards such as Climate Action Reserve and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
These standards ensure that projects are real, additional, and permanent, and that emission reductions are not double-counted. The Verified Carbon Standard, in particular, is one of the most widely used global certification systems, based on transparent data and independent verification—significantly strengthening the credibility of the offsetting process.