Change of pace: 4 ways to infuse wellness into your next event

The bar for meeting outcomes is rising. While networking remains among the primary reasons for face-to-face meetings, how delegates feel during an event increasingly shapes engagement, retention and ROI. Case in point: a survey by market research firm YouGov found that a significant number of business travellers cite the inability to maintain healthy habits – from working out to eating well – as one of their chief frustrations on the road.

Wellness, in other words, is no longer a nice-to-have, but fast becoming a key pillar to attendee satisfaction at business events. For planners seeking a venue that can transform this philosophy into reality, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore makes a compelling case.

1. Head outside – or bring nature indoors

The hotel proves that it’s possible to find oases of tranquillity amid the skyscrapers of Marina Bay. Its 21-storey skylit atrium is home to over 2,400 indoor plants and a 13m-tall green wall. A double-glazed glass roof floods the interior with natural daylight – a factor widely linked to improved mood regulation and reduced jetlag. Guests will even hear nature’s melody thanks to the hotel’s songbirds, which are owned and cared for by a dedicated second-generation birdkeeper. 

Delegates can easily get some fresh air with a cocktail reception at Skyline Bar, the poolside terrace framing spectacular views of the Marina Bay while the city’s bustle is muted by lush greenery. But in keeping with PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay’s Garden-in-a-Hotel concept, even indoor meeting spaces come with touches of nature.

The Garden Ballroom, which seats up to 500 guests, features warm timber panelling and fibre-optic lights that can recreate the feeling of sitting under a twinkling night sky. For breakout sessions, planners can make use of flexible rooms on level 6 with full-height windows – giving a boost to energy levels with natural light.

2. Serve up creative, feel-good menus

Food is increasingly a differentiator, and a thoughtfully crafted menu goes a long way in making delegates feel like they are in good care. Few urban hotels can point to a 150sqm rooftop urban farm that supplies more than 60 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers. With its farm-to-table menus (as well as its farm-to-bar cocktails and mocktails), PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore is reducing its food miles while using fresher, more flavourful ingredients. 

“We’ve seen guests perk up in curiosity when we share that their drink is made with ingredients from our own urban farm,” shared General Manager Phil Smith. “We get to tell a unique story behind the recipe, which adds to their experience.”

In an effort to reduce food waste, the sustainability-focused hotel’s culinary team has also developed dishes that make innovative use of ingredients – think tempura borage leaves paired with Japanese unagi kabayaki (grilled eel), or watermelon rind repurposed as filling in kueh pie tee, a local snack. These elements turn coffee breaks and meals into conversation starters, extending engagement beyond formal sessions.

3. Programming wellness into the agenda

Rather than treating wellness as an add-on, planners can integrate it directly into the event flow.

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay’s spin bike studio, for instance, can be activated for group cycling sessions to kickstart the day, while its fruit juicer bikes allow delegates to pedal their way to a glass of customised fresh juice. In the afternoon – when energy levels typically dip after meals – structured social activities such as cocktail-making workshops at Portman’s Bar, led by the hotel’s resident mixologist, can help re-energise delegates and encourage more open interaction – along with a refreshing drink.

For those who need physical restoration, St. Gregory provides quick 15- to 30-minute spa treatments that can be incorporated into pre-scheduled wellness breaks. Access to wellness facilities is among the top accommodation priorities desired by business travellers, removing friction for delegates and turns such experiences into an intentional, shared highlight of your event.

4. Offer bespoke, unforgettable experiences

Memorable events often go beyond the meeting room. Even in a destination as well-trodden as Singapore, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore, enables planners to incorporate purpose-driven and destination-led experiences into their programmes.

The Sustainable Hotel Tour takes groups around the property to learn about how sustainability is incorporated into its design, operations and guest experience. Groups can even add on a fun cooking class with hotel chefs that also includes harvesting fresh produce from its urban farm. Groups can also dive into the city’s world-renowned culinary scene on a culinary trail through Chinatown, or add movement into the itinerary with scenic cycling trails using the hotel’s own bicycles. 

Events that do wellness, do well

For today’s businesses events, the imperative is clear: the experience of attending must justify the investment of being there. While planners focus on delivering value, a venue that enhances the delegate experience – through design, food, and experiences – can make all the difference.

Learn more about PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore’s meetings and events offerings.

This article is sponsored by PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore.