Today, attending a conference is not just a keynote speaker or web conference, but also a matter of how the attendees feel at the end. From food on the plate to air in the room, more events are prioritizing health.
“If I take the time to attend events, I hope it will keep it balanced and help me become stronger,” said Rachael Riggs, an environmental strategy and subject matter expert in Maritz.
Hotels and destinations are responding. Kelly Knowlen, vice president of sales participation, said attendees are coming with new preferences and the company is offering healthier food options and spaces to promote relaxation.
Hyatt has formed a welfare collective advisory board, which includes Deepak Chopra, Ally Love and Dr. John Scott.
The first ingredient: food
For many planners, food is at the heart of a healthy plan.
“What you eat during the day helps you want to be social and how your mind is open,” Riggs said. “Many planners don’t realize how important food options are for physical and mental health.”
Hyatt’s SVP Steve Enselein said the Hyatt’s “daily menu” features ingredients that are locally sourced. “In addition to protecting food waste, it also helps with dietary preference.”
Featured are entrees such as seasonal vegetables and fruits, chicken, fish and vegetarian and healthy desserts.
In MGM Greater Las Vegas, keeping a good menu is approved by nutritionists at Cleveland Clinic. A planner spoke at her lunch at the hotel.
“Many properties say they offer healthy options, but to have a chef take you through how to prepare food, bringing it to another level,” she said.
Caesar offers fruit, yogurt parfait, quinoa salad and kombucha. In addition to food, the healthy menu includes well-curated activities such as yoga, tai chi, guided hiking and bathing meditation.
Attention to conference design
Health is also shown in the way the meeting structure is structured.
Hyatt’s mindfulness meetings build guidance in reflection moments and pause points. Additionally, attendees can access content from the room and live from Headspace, Peloton and Masterclass.
At MGM Resort, keep a good meeting using the circadian lighting and air purification system designed in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic.
A company planner said she returned to MGM Greater Las Vegas for three consecutive years, based on the response from favorable attendees.
“Attendants love the air purification system in their rooms and meeting rooms and how to leave their health when they leave after three days. Having attended so many meetings in a large hotel, the situation is completely the opposite – the air can make you sick.”
Avoid health care cleaning
As more and more events add health elements, surface gestures such as mid-smooth rest may appear as “health wash”.
“It’s not about checking a box,” Riggs said. “You have to think about human behavior and design events from the very beginning.”
This means rethinking the structure: longer rest time, buffering between sessions, and short optional motion bursts throughout the day. Hotels and conference centers that incorporate health into their physical and programmatic design have advantages.
Action Health
Healthcare consulting firm Chartis devotes its in-house activities throughout the afternoon to health activities such as yoga, meditation, sound rehabilitation and bootcamp exercises.
“Health is something we have to do. We want our colleagues to find time to relax in our activities and make them feel energetic during the week.” “We also think it’s important to get colleagues up, connect with others and enjoy the shared experience together. We really try to strike a balance between content and connection.”
The annual Arts and Sciences Advancement Conference, led by the Global Health Institute’s Workplace Health Program, brings the entire health together. Participants start and end activities every day, from Tai Chi to meditation. Meals eliminate sugary soda and emphasize vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. There is a standing table in all rooms. The late night reception was completely out of the agenda.
“We don’t want attendees to procrastinate,” said Chairman Jessica Grossmeier. “They should stay energetic and not exhausted.”
