Meetings & Incentives Worldwide Named Finalist for Ragan’s 2026 CSR Awards
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sara O’Neil or Veronica Ferguson
Marketing and Public Relations
soneil@meetings-incentives.com
vferguson@meetings-incentives.com
Caledonia, WI (June 8, 2025) — Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc. (M&IW), a global leader in event management, has been named a finalist for Ragan’s 2026 CSR Awards in the CSR or ESG Event category. The awards recognize the organizations and individuals creating meaningful, long-term impact for people, communities, and the planet.
M&IW is nominated for the company’s sustainability efforts around the 2025 M&IW Summit. The event demonstrated how thoughtful design and meaningful partnerships can reduce environmental impact while strengthening community connections.
“This recognition reflects the collective passion and commitment of our team to do business responsibly,” said Donna Collins, Sustainability Champion, M&IW. “We are proud to prove that sustainability and exceptional event experiences can go hand in hand, making our industry a powerful force for good.”
Collins led the sustainability efforts for the 2025 M&IW Summit. Her commitment to environmentally friendly practices previously earned her the 2025 Business Travel Sustainability Award for Sustainability Champion. In addition, M&IW maintains a Bronze Medal in Sustainability from EcoVadis, placing the company in the top 35% worldwide.
Winners of the 2026 CSR Awards will be announced on September 30 at the CSR Awards Luncheon in New York City. More information, including the full list of finalists, is available here.
About the 2025 M&IW Summit’s Sustainability Strategy
“Our strategy was simple yet powerful: lead by example,” said Collins. “We sought to reduce the environmental impact of the M&IW Summit and show our industry was a sustainable, community-minded event looks like in practice.”
Environmentally friendly choices were made throughout the event lifecycle, focusing on five key pillars:
- Travel and energy carbon footprint measurement: Travel and energy are the two largest sources of event emissions. These measurements represent the company’s most complete emissions data to date, creating a benchmark for future Summits.
- Food donations: Through M&IW’s partnership with Copia, the company donated 117 pounds of food, equating to 98 meals, to a local food rescue. This equates to more than 26,000 gallons of water saved and 350 pounds of CO2e averted.
- Waste reduction and recycling: Efforts included using biodegradable and recyclable name badges and lanyards; providing reusable and recyclable aluminum water bottles; implementing clutter-free meeting setups and venue-wide recycling; and using compostable utensils.
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Because many human trafficking incidents occur in spaces where event professionals work, M&IW Summit attendees learned the warning signs of human trafficking and heard stories from two courageous survivors before assembling care kits for other survivors.
- Partner sustainability engagement: Sponsors and exhibitors received guidance on creating eco-friendly trade show displays. A dedicated “Food Recovery TED Talk” session further educated partners on their role in event sustainability.
These pillars shaped a cohesive and replicable approach to sustainability, intentionally chosen to be scaled across future Summits and shared with customers seeking similar guidance.
The 2025 M&IW Summit proved that sustainable, community-centered events are not only possible but powerful, reflecting M&IW’s belief that every event is an opportunity to create lasting, positive change.
About Meetings & Incentives Worldwide
M&IW is a women-owned event agency specializing in planning meetings, conferences, and incentives of all scales worldwide. We have 350+ employees and operate events in over 90 countries.
We design event experiences rooted in human connection, elevated by human touch, and powered by smart technology. Our customizable event solutions range from end-to-end to a la carte, with a focus on integrating neuroscience and sustainability principles in events. We also develop strategies across events to provide visibility, efficiency, and savings.
M&IW is a third generation, privately held, certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) in business for more than 55 years. We serve industries such as life sciences, technology, financial services, manufacturing, insurance, and more.
To learn more, visit www.meetings-incentives.com.