Reflections from my onsite event experience
When I landed in Bogotá for the event, I expected a bustling Latin American capital filled with towering traffic, colorful chaos, and big ambitions. What surprised me most wasn’t just the energy of the city but the intentionality behind it. At the heart of that discovery was Ágora Bogotá, a convention center that shows how infrastructure and purpose can coexist. Over a few short days, I saw how one venue’s daily choices about energy, water, waste, and people reflect a city that is quietly redefining what sustainable operations can look like.
A Venue That Walks the Talk: Ágora Bogotá
Photo: Ágora Bogotá
Ágora Bogotá: A Venue Doing More Than Just Hosting Events
Walking into the venue, the first thing that struck me was how seamlessly the physical space, the team, and the city’s ambitions melded together. Ágora Bogotá is operated by Corferias and sits within the broader fair and convention district in Bogotá, so it isn’t just an isolated convention hall. It’s part of a strategic ecosystem of events, city renewal, and business tourism. From the moment I arrived, the passion of the team was unmistakable.
Ágora’s Team
First off, Ágora’s team demonstrated so much enthusiasm about the infrastructural and operational aspects of sustainability. They walked me through how they see their role in delivering environmental, social, and economic value, and how everyday operations matter regardless of the size of the client or the type of event. They said their goal is to maintain the highest standard of sustainability no matter who the event is for, because being one step ahead of regulations and customer expectations is part of their DNA. You could tell this wasn’t a checkbox exercise, but a small, gritty, deeply committed team refining their operations every day.
Experiencing the Convention Center
Walking into the convention center, I felt like I’d arrived somewhere modern but also somewhere that clearly respected its environment rather than dominated it. A few stand-out moments:
- The lobby’s ceiling and the translucent surfaces immediately hinted that daylight and natural ventilation were part of the design. I had read that the building uses a “breathing envelope” system: natural ventilation paired with carefully designed daylighting to optimize comfort and efficiency instead of relying solely on resource-intensive lighting and HVAC systems, and it was impressive to see and feel it in action. (mchap.co)
- I learned that rainwater is captured and reused as grey water throughout the venue, particularly for toilets, reducing reliance on potable water.
- In the public spaces (“front of house”), I noticed subtle sustainability touches everywhere: built-in digital signage to reduce printed materials, three-stream waste bins, hot beverages served without single-use lids, and easy access to floors via stairs, escalators, and elevators.
- Behind the scenes, the waste system is well organized. All waste goes through an initial sorting process before being sent to additional sorting facilities offsite. Organics recovery is a major priority, especially given that organics produce significantly more emissions when landfilled (I’ll double-check the exact percentage before publishing).
- Their sustainability policy highlights training and communication with stakeholders, responsible resource use, and effective management of infrastructure and space. (agora-bogota.com)
- Both Corferias and Ágora Bogotá have been certified as carbon-neutral organizations for consecutive years by Bureau Veritas under ISO 14064-1 and PAS 2060 standards. (coferias.com)
Why I Cared (and Why You Might If You’re Planning an Event)
If you’re bringing an international audience, your venue needs to reflect more than just great AV gear and impressive architecture. Ágora’s approach told me: “we do things with attention—to our city, our resources, and our people.” For attendees, that creates a subtle sense of trust and purpose. For planners, it means less firefighting around sustainability claims, because so many of those efforts are already built into how the venue operates.
As I left the venue on my final day, I kept thinking about the people behind it all. Ágora Bogotá’s team doesn’t treat sustainability as a showpiece; it treats it as part of who they are. What stayed with me wasn’t just the systems or certifications but their pride, their care, and their belief that the small things matter. It reminded me that progress doesn’t always come with fanfare– it often shows up in consistency, collaboration, and quiet conviction.
Photo: Marcela, Jhonatan, Lina, Brianna and Juan Pablo
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