How mindfulness, movement, and mental clarity are reshaping event agendas
As meetings and events continue to evolve, so does attendee wellness. Attendees’ well-being is a key part of the event experience. With more planners embracing health-focused programming, wellness is showing up in everything from built-in fitness breaks to hydration stations and quiet zones. It’s all part of creating events that do more than inform and connect, but also restore. Across the Southeast, venues are meeting the moment with fresh, inspired offerings designed to help attendees feel balanced, focused, and fully present.
“Wellness should be woven into every gathering—not just as an amenity, but as an essential part of the agenda,” says Cindy Present, director of marketing and wellness at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas. “Whether groups are meeting for leadership retreats, incentive trips, or corporate strategy sessions, we curate experiences that support the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Wellness shouldn’t be a separate track; it should be the foundation of every successful gathering. Our goal is to send attendees home feeling better than when they arrived.”
Spa breaks > coffee breaks
For many attendees—and the planners who prioritize their experience—the first stop on the wellness journey is often the spa. It’s more than just a pampering perk; it’s a place to reset between sessions, ease travel fatigue, and carve out intentional moments of calm. “Spa services give attendees an opportunity to pause, reset, and emerge refocused,” says Derek Hofmann, senior director of the Orlando Spa Resort at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. “Optimal performance is trending—and this means we see requests for both physical and mental recharge services. Sleep inducing, energizing, mindfulness, jet-lag recovery, hydration, and immunity while traveling are just a few examples of the therapeutic sessions we see regularly requested.”
Wellness takes a high-tech turn at the Orlando Spa Resort with the Aescape massage, a modern treatment designed to fit even the busiest meeting schedules. Offered in 15-minute increments, the AI-powered experience delivers targeted relief without taking up a whole afternoon. “The Aescape massage is performed by warmed robotic arms, which pinpoint massage strokes based on a comprehensive body scan,” Hofmann explains. “There is no human touch in this massage, and guests have the ability to control pressure, focus areas, duration of movements, and even soundscape and visuals if they wish.”
At Henderson Beach Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla., the spa experience is a fully customizable retreat that meets groups where they are, whether that means offering a curated lunch-and-wellness escape between meetings or providing spa credits for spouses and VIPs, notes director of spa, recreation, and retail John VanEron. From quick refreshers like mini facials and chair massages to full-day experiences with body scrubs, scalp massages, and time to truly decompress, the team works with each group’s budget to tailor the perfect offerings. Organizers can even rename treatments, adjust music and décor, or collaborate on themed spa menus to match the vibe of the event, VanEron adds.
Tucked beneath the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa in Asheville, N.C., its subterranean spa is a destination in itself—an immersive retreat where nature and luxury intertwine. Designed around the four elements of fire, rock, water, and light, the 43,000-square-foot space, featuring cavernous rock walls, tunnels, and arches, instantly transports guests into a world of calm as they enjoy facials, massages, pedicures, and mind and body treatments. “Classic massages are very popular with our groups,” says Edd Karlan, director of sales at Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa. “Our most popular treat is our Fire, Rock, Water, Light Body Treatment. This signature treatment feels like an entire day at The Spa. Indulge in a rejuvenating full-body exfoliation, softening soak, healing body masque, and remarkable Vichy waterfall massage.”
The Ritz-Carlton Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas delivers wellness with purpose, with treatments designed for both peak performance and intentional recovery, says Courtney Morrow, director of marketing. Signature experiences like the Jet Lag Revival Ritual use lymphatic massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology to recharge weary travelers, while the Executive De-Stress Massage targets neck, shoulder, and back tension from long days at the laptop or in session chairs. For screen-weary attendees, the Digital Detox Facial restores glow and stimulates circulation. For those seeking a quick midday recharge, the spa’s Quick Reset Menu features 30-minute treatments, perfect for slipping in between meetings. “Our goal is to support a holistic experience that enhances focus, creativity, and overall attendee well-being,” Morrow adds.
Yoga breaks = better meetings
While spa treatments offer the ultimate in relaxation and pampering, yoga remains a timeless wellness activity. For many attendees, it’s the perfect way to start the day—moving, breathing, and reconnecting before diving into a full schedule. Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach in Clearwater Beach, Fla., offers complimentary poolside yoga every weekend from March through July, shares Taylor Eckard, senior marketing manager. For a more tailored experience, groups can also arrange private sessions with local yoga instructors through the resort. “Depending on their goals and group size, we can recommend the ideal instructor and format,” Eckard says. “Past examples include everything from a 200-person chair yoga session in the ballroom to a quick 20-minute stretch break between speakers, to a peaceful beach yoga class for a small group of 15.”
Yoga is always a popular choice for groups at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, according to Shane Kelly, spa director. The resort’s pergola overlooking the 18th green of its famous course, TPC Antonio, is a prime location for yoga. “In addition to the beautiful backdrop, a fountain behind the pergola allows guests to enjoy the beauty of nature all around them and also the relaxing sounds of the water,” Kelly says. “It’s also off the beaten path, so it’s almost like a little escape.”
Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa’s yoga offerings go beyond the typical mat-and-pose routine. Sunrise yoga on the Mountain View Terrace invites guests to greet the day with intention and clarity while soaking in one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the region. For those looking to blend mindfulness with playful fun, puppy and goat yoga on the terrace adds a unique twist to traditional yoga, Karlan says.
Mindful breaks = focused minds
Yoga is not the only way to help attendees recharge. From sound baths and Zen lounges to guided journaling sessions and quiet corners for digital detox, mindful activities are becoming essential tools in the event wellness toolkit. These moments of intentional stillness give attendees a chance to reset mentally and emotionally, so they can return to the conversation refreshed, focused, and ready to connect. “We have had groups in the past with agendas so tightly scheduled that they wanted to incorporate movement or breathwork into their sessions—where their attendees don’t even leave the room,” Hofmann shares. The resort’s fitness instructor or spa team visited the meeting room at a designated time, leading attendees through stretches and mobility exercises from their seats and, in some instances, hosting meditation and sound baths.
At JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, mindfulness activities are designed to help guests reset and refocus, particularly with the immersive sound bowl meditations, which can be enjoyed indoors or out. “The vibration of the sound bowls is more conducive to being indoors, where the sound can reflect off the surroundings; outdoors, you’re surrounded by birds, deer, and the natural beauty of Hill Country,” Kelly says. “So, it really depends on the group’s preference.” For a different kind of recharge, the resort also sets up Zen lounges, hidden nooks tucked just off the main meeting space. These wellness corners offer everything from chair massages and hydration stations to compression recovery boots. “We try to give opportunities for them to breathe, rest, and re-energize—without ever having to leave the event footprint,” Kelly adds.
Fitness + focus = mental clarity
While mindfulness lays the groundwork, movement brings wellness to life. At Henderson Beach Resort & Spa, movement is one of the most effective ways of supporting attendee well-being. Through a partnership with Natalie Leon of Loving Me Fitness & Wellness, the resort offers guests and groups a mind-body approach that goes far beyond typical programming. Leon leads retreats, fitness classes, and workshops on topics like nutrition, stress management, and personal growth, all grounded in the principles of her book, Loving Me: The 5 Connections to Loving Yourself. Whether it’s yoga on the beach, strength training in the ballroom, or guided reflection by the spa pool, sessions are designed to help attendees reconnect with their bodies, thoughts, emotions, and purpose. “Fitness is a vehicle to total wellness, which includes physical wellness, mental health, and emotional wellness,” Leon states.
Miraval Austin Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, offers a range of fitness-centered options on property, from cardio drumming to country line dancing and samba. “These offerings encourage guests to explore new ways of movement with intention and fun—an active way to bond with your teammates,” says Kim Rossi, general manager.
Planners can take advantage of fitness retreats at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, offered in partnership with 1Team Fitness. Besides the daily retreat options of four hours of fitness and a healthy breakfast, groups can book the Corporate Kickstart Retreat, a fully customizable option based on the group’s fitness level, preferred timing, and size. “Whether a single energizing session or a more immersive wellness experience built into the itinerary, it’s a unique way for teams to prioritize health and connection during their stay,” Eckard says.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando’s fitness center can be enjoyed by attendees on their own schedule, or groups can arrange private fitness classes in the studio or out on the lawn, such as spin classes or boot camps, Hofmann says.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa also offers boot camps for groups. The boot camps are typically held outdoors, with multiple stations for guests to move through during the experience. “The different stations keep the activity from feeling stagnant and guests from becoming bored with doing the same thing for too long,” Kelly explains. “In addition to breaking it up, it also allows guests to work on different parts of the body. We like to work in the boot camps before or after events, and even between meetings. Sunrise and sunset are always great times to try to incorporate a boot camp.”
Recreation + connection
Sometimes the best opportunity for groups to experience wellness is simply to play. Whether it’s a spontaneous game of beach volleyball, a group hike through scenic trails, or paddleboarding in the sunshine, recreational activities invite attendees to move, connect, recharge, and blend teambuilding with well-being. Henderson Beach Resort & Spa offers seasonal recreation activities, VanEron notes—from beach and lawn Olympics to volleyball and cornhole.
A popular activity at Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa is hiking along Sunset Trail, an on-property trail along Sunset Mountain. The resort offers other recreational group activities through its in-house DMO, Accents on Asheville—from guided waterfall hikes, horseback riding, and zipline courses to flyfishing excursions and whitewater rafting trips.
Miraval Austin Resort & Spa’s location on 220 acres in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve provides a beautiful backdrop for recreational group activities. According to Rossi, nature walks, archery, standup paddleboarding, kayaking, and hatchet throwing are all sought-after group activities. In addition, the property’s Blue Heron Challenge Course includes ropes courses, ziplining, and rock climbing.
Luxe touches = lasting impact
While movement and mindfulness remain wellness mainstays, today’s events are also embracing innovative touches. Out-of-the-box offerings elevate the guest experience and show attendees how wellness can be personalized and luxurious.
Wellness gets a high-end upgrade at Fontainebleau Miami Beach with the opening of NutriDrip’s luxury IV drip lounge inside the hotel’s Lapis Spa. Designed for both solo rejuvenation and group wellness experiences, this new addition brings a curated menu of personalized IV drip therapies—administered by licensed medical professionals—directly to meeting attendees and guests. NutriDrip’s offerings range from fast-acting Wellness Drips designed to support immunity, stamina, and skin health to Recovery Drips to combat dehydration, jet lag, and fatigue.
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas offers the Biohack Wellness Break, designed with the modern conference-goer in mind, Morrow says. “We wanted to provide a solution that didn’t just offer a break—but a reset,” she explains. Designed to combat the fatigue and mental fog often resulting from long days of sitting and absorbing information, the break blends science-backed techniques to enhance energy, focus, and recovery. Attendees rotate through a thoughtfully curated lineup—movement and mobility workshops, stretch release led by a coach, guided breathwork, oxygen therapy, and a nutrient-rich snack bar. Flexible by design, it can be customized to fit into session transitions, serve as a morning energizer, or stand alone as an immersive experience. “One of our clients saw a 20- percent increase in session attendance post-lunch after integrating the Biohack Wellness Break, compared to prior years without it,” Morrow says. “Another event’s post-conference survey reported more than 90-percent attendee satisfaction with the addition of wellness programming. These results have encouraged several clients to make wellness integration a permanent feature of their annual events.”
Some activities aren’t quite as innovative, but are just as pleasing, such as puppy breaks. Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa invites groups to play with puppies in between meeting sessions or during coffee breaks. Other properties are adding more skincare sessions. Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach offers breakout sessions with chilled aromatherapy toilettes and eye treatment patches for attendees who want a skincare break, says Lindsey Sappenfield, spa director of the resort’s Pallavi Spa. “We can also do an aromatherapy blending bar, where attendees customize mists to take home with them,” she adds.
Scrub bars have grown in popularity at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The breakout allows guests to make their own body scrub, which they can use in their rooms or take home, Kelly says.
Mindful menus > midday slumps
Food goes well beyond fuel and is a core part of the wellness equation. For events today, what’s on the plate matters just as much as what’s on the agenda, especially when it comes to helping attendees feel their best. The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach dedicates an entire section of its banquet menu to healthy options, Sappenfield says, including the offering of a morning wellness buffet complete with seasonal fruits, yogurts, granola, and a smoothie bar.
Henderson Beach Resort & Spa works with planners to meet requests for health-conscious offerings, VanEron says, such as providing a vegetarian or plant-based menu, smoothies, juices, and mocktail options.
The culinary team at Lake Austin Spa Resort ensures its menus are crafted to be both pleasing to the palette and health-conscious, using locally sourced ingredients and food and beverage options designed to enhance focus and clarity, Present says. “Many groups also choose interactive culinary demonstrations, helping attendees discover that nutrition is at the heart of everything we do,” she adds.
At JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, food is part of the comprehensive wellness experience. From customized parfait bars to cold-pressed juices and smoothie stations with ingredients tailored to guest preferences, everything is designed with nourishment in mind. “Our goal is to create an environment where wellness is at the forefront of people’s minds, and food is part of that,” Kelly says. “Our banquet team looks to customize what guests want in food and beverage. We’re constantly evolving and seeking to create new offerings that will create wellness experiences that groups and guests want.”
