... small steps big effect
Plan your sustainable event
For event planners looking to consider topics such as resource use, mobility and regional offerings, Lübeck and Travemünde provide a wide range of options. Alongside its unique historical backdrop, the Hanseatic City offers a wide range of initiatives and projects focusing on topics such as mobility, regional products and resource conservation. Numerous collaborations, partners, hosts, and projects demonstrate that here in Lübeck, we take responsibility for people and the environment – also when it comes to meetings and events.
For example, with the Deutschen Bahn event-ticket you can travel to and from your event in Lübeck or Travemünde in a climate-friendly manner at special rates. Lübeck offers numerous opportunities to integrate sustainability into everyday life and to find out about sustainable projects and measures.
Since 2023, not only the Tourist Office but also the destinations of Lübeck and Travemünde have been sustainably certified by TourCert. In July 2026, we successfully completed the TourCert recertification process and are continuing the associated development process in collaboration with our partners. Since the beginning of 2024, we have also been part of the Excellence Initiative for Sustainable Destinations.
Frau liest Zeitung im Innenhof des Glandorps Gang in Lübeck
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LTMSustainable meetings:
tips for planning and hosting sustainable events
Use the Convention Lübeck Venue Finder! Filter for "sustainably certified" locations under features. This way, you know that these venues adhere to the certification specifications.
Use our Deutsche Bahn event ticket for your events or create incentives for carpooling.
Avoid disposable items and use reusable or compostable alternatives instead.
Offer participants the opportunity to recycle or donate paper and pens. You, as the organizer, can also donate banners or other promotional materials that are no longer needed, leftover food, and trade show supplies, for example.
Offer purely vegetarian or vegan menus and use regional and seasonal foods. Do you have any questions about this? We can help you choose the right caterer.
Avoid using disposable water bottles and provide reusable water bottles instead.
When choosing Giveaways and goodie bags, consider the materials used and opt for durable or reusable products. Where possible, source them from local and regional suppliers.
Avoid printed materials. Use digital options wherever possible.
Recycle waste. Also, place trash cans at or in the meeting or conference space where attendees can dispose of their waste separately and explicitly indicate this. Avoid regular garbage cans into which everything is thrown unsorted.
Use less decoration and opt for natural elements such as plants or decorations made from recycled materials to conserve resources.
Good to know
Sustainability is an important topic for Lübeck and Travemünde, which the Hanseatic City addresses through various initiatives and concrete measures: For example, it has set up a climate protection office to coordinate measures to save energy and protect the climate. Lübeck has also been a member of the Climate Alliance of European Cities since 1992 and a Fairtrade City for the past 10 years.
In October 2020, Lübeck’s Mayor Jan Lindenau signed the declaration “2030 Agenda – Shaping Sustainability at the Municipal Level”. In doing so, the city recognised the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and committed to supporting them. The involvement of residents and businesses also plays an important role.
With its Climate Action Master Plan, Lübeck has established a concrete roadmap for climate action. It covers measures relating to energy and buildings as well as the development of public transport, cycling and resource conservation. Progress is documented through regular greenhouse gas inventories and monitoring. The Hanseatic City’s current target is to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2035.
Through Klima Pro Lübeck, organisations, associations and other local stakeholders have also been working together on climate action in Lübeck since 2013.
Blumenbeete am Malerwinkel in Lübeck mit Domtürmen im Hintergrund
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LTMImportant players in Lübeck's economy shaping the conference destination
The Music and Congress Hall Lübeck – our congress centre, affectionately known as the “MUK” – is a centrally located and versatile venue for events. In 2024, the MuK was awarded Platinum status under the Green Globe certification for the first time. Its ongoing commitment is reflected in published sustainability reports and practical measures across its operations, including a green roof. Professional technology for hybrid meetings and event streaming provides additional flexibility for a wide range of event formats.
The MuK is part of a wider network: Through the Sustainability Initiative for Lübeck and Travemünde, businesses and institutions come together to share their experience and expertise. This network includes several Convention Bureau Lübeck partner hotels whose certifications cover different areas of hotel operations. These include, amongst others, the Radisson Blu Senator Hotel and the Park Inn by Radisson (both Green Key-certified), the ATLANTIC Hotel Lübeck (GreenSign-certified), the Holiday Inn Lübeck (Green Key, DEHOGA Environmental Check Silver and BREEAM.DE-certified) and the A-ROSA Travemünde (GreenSign-certified). The partners have introduced various measures across their operations, with some also holding relevant certifications. These include measures relating to energy and water use, waste management and regional sourcing, which can also be taken into account when planning and delivering events.
Sustainability is practised holistically in Lübeck, even beyond the conference hotel sector. As part of the ‘Sustainable Travel Finland’ programme, Finnlines is committed to climate-conscious travel and sustainable maritime mobility. As a member of the ‘Feinheimisch’ initiative, the Fangfrisch restaurant focuses on regional, seasonal produce and short supply chains. The University of Lübeck and CASINO Lübeck promote an open, respectful and non-discriminatory working environment as part of the Diversity Charter, thereby strengthening the social dimension of sustainable events.
Together, these partners form a growing network that combines environmental, social and economic responsibility – and consistently further develops Lübeck as a sustainable conference and congress destination.
Next milestones on the way to becoming a sustainable meeting destination
The "Tourism Development Concept 2030 for the Hanseatic City of Lübeck" anchors the "Green Meetings" segment, reflecting the continued focus on this area in the development of Lübeck and Travemünde as meeting and event destinations. Sustainability and climate protection remain important topics that are continuously addressed and further developed.
The highlights of 2023 included the award of the TourCert certificate for sustainable travel to Lübeck und Travemünde Marketing GmbH, as well as the recognition of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck and the seaside resort of Travemünde as sustainable travel destinations. In addition, the Hanseatic City of Lübeck’s municipal action plan for climate protection is being updated in the Climate Protection Master Plan (MAKS). The aim is to initiate and promote independent, climate-conscious action both within the local government and throughout the city. In 2024, the Go.Grøøn – Fair and Sustainable Trade Fair – was successfully held for the second time from 26 to 28 April 2024. Since 2024, Lübeck und Travemünder Marketing GmbH has also been part of the Excellence Initiative for Sustainable Destinations.
Since March 2025, the Convention Bureau supports the fairpflichtet initiative. fairpflichtet supporters are all players in the event industry who are committed to ecological, social and economic sustainability and texchange views on this matter.
In July 2026, we successfully completed the TourCert recertification process, both as a certified organisation and for Lübeck and Travemünde as a ‘Sustainable Destination’. This builds on our initial certification in 2023, and we are continuing the associated development process in collaboration with our partners. The TourCert certification provides a binding framework for reviewing and further developing measures, as well as for providing new impetus for the Hanseatic city and the seaside resort.