Gothenburg has won the Eco Tourism Destination 2011 award for its work to make the city a green and sustainable meeting destination; 75 percent of hotel rooms are environmentally certified, meeting facilities, public transport and airports are at the forefront internationally in terms of sustainability.

The award is appointed annually by the magazine Business Destinations and nominations are voted for by business travelers.

"For congress delegates visiting Gothenburg, it’s obvious that we consciously work with sustainability. Your hotel is environmentally certified. If you take a taxi, it’s an environmentally-friendly vehicle. Plus you have the whole visual experience of how green Gothenburg really is, with its parks, closeness to the sea and the electric trams criss-crossing the city," said Lennart Johansson, manager for the Gothenburg Convention Bureau.

"As an eco-friendly destination, Gothenburg also has the advantage of being a small city. Meeting venues, hotels and entertainment lies within walking distance meaning natural meeting places are created. Delegates meet on the streets as well as in restaurants and cafés."

Gothenburg Convention Bureau has also identified the business sectors concerned with events and conferences in the city and gathered them together in an advisory board.

"The idea is that we can oversee development and work collaboratively to package Gothenburg as a sustainable city – Sustainable Gothenburg. Of the 16 CEO’s we invited, not a single person turned down the chance to participate, and it shows that this issue is at the top of everyone’s agendas," said Johansson.