Promoting wellness at an event can go well beyond serving healthy
food at lunch and adding a group yoga session in the morning.
Increasingly, planners are looking for ways to create a more
all-encompassing culture of well-being at gatherings that incorporates
elements focusing on the mind, the body and social responsibility.
Build a natural schedule
There's always a lot to
cover during an event, and it can be tempting for planners to start
breakfast a bit earlier and push dinner back a bit later, packing in
education and activities everywhere else. But attendees might find
themselves trying to answer emails late at night when they return home
and get barely enough sleep to function.
According to the "Global Wellness Trends Report," released last year
as part of the 2021 Global Wellness Summit, we can expect to see a
greater focus on "true circadian health," in which "more hotels,
wellness resorts and airlines will think beyond generic sleep offerings
to offer true circadian solutions for travellers based on their
circadian cycle, revolving around the timing of light”.
Bring nature into the venue
Plenty of studies
have found that exposure to nature or vegetation — even just looking at
photographs of plants — can have a positive impact on one's mental
health and well-being.
The better attendees are connected to nature, the better they'll
feel. "Studies support the breadth of health benefits of connecting all
five senses to nature — from reduced blood pressure, lower stress, and
improved cardiovascular and metabolic health, to better concentration,
memory and energy," write the authors of the Global Wellness Report.
Planners looking to enhance the sense of wellness in a meeting should
seek ways to incorporate outdoor time into the agenda. And if an
outdoor space is not an option, there are always creative ways to bring
the outside in.
Create a space for mindfulness
Psychologists
and health experts have long promoted the benefits of meditation, for
reducing anxiety as well as improving concentration and memory. Focusing
one's attention on the moment, with breathing exercises, guided mental
pictures and other methods, can be a valuable activity at a busy
business event.
Align CSR with the agenda
According to the 2022
Global Meetings & Events Forecast by American Express, corporate
organisations are increasingly considering sustainability as part of
their foundational planning for events and meetings. Globally, there is
consensus that sustainability must be a key factor in meeting
programmes. This makes it a priority for planners to incorporate
sustainability into their events.
To make it a more inclusive and purposeful for delegates, planners
should look at ways to align sustainability with CSR objectives and
event programming. For instance, a practical activity in food recycling
after lunchtime or tea breaks or packing leftover food for charities are
small, easy steps for attendees to take in walking the talk.