In today’s fast-paced world, prioritizing health and wellness has become a necessity rather than a luxury. This growing demand reflects a broader trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, where physical and mental well-being have become central to daily life. As such, it is no wonder employees keep wellness top of mind, even when on the road. Modern meeting attendees anticipate wellness elements woven into their meeting or conference schedules. Whether through personal wellness breaks or group sessions integrated into events, the demand is clear. By addressing these expectations, planners not only support attendee health but also boost overall satisfaction and productivity, aligning with the evolving priorities of today’s health-conscious professionals.
Healthy greetings
“When I think back about what has changed, wellness is at the forefront of consumer consciousness,” says Alice Land, director of sales and marketing for JW Marriott Miami Turnberry. “Self-care rituals are now part of everyday habit, and now more than ever we are seeing mindfulness shift into meeting and convention segments. Our goal is to incorporate a luxury wellness experience into meetings to help attendees thrive.” At JW Marriott Miami Turnberry, wellness practically begins at check-in, thanks to the thoughtful menu of options available to hotel guests, including groups, whether that be greeting attendees upon arrival with a refreshing hibiscus beverage or offering vitamin B shots at the registration desk, Land explains. “Or, it could be chair massages or an oxygen bar for attendees to enjoy after check-in, or even grab-and-go nut mixtures as a healthy snack,” Land adds.
Twilight tranquility
Instead of the traditional networking events, such as big opening receptions and networking happy hours, planners can consider hosting a wellness-themed event, which can foster those needed connections while also prioritizing health and wellness. JW Marriott Miami Turnberry partnered with a destination management company to offer groups “Tidal Cove After Dark,” a nighttime rental of the property’s renowned waterpark. The waterpark is transformed into a dimly lit wellness escape with a wide variety of stations, from cryotherapy and floating yoga to sound healing, silent disco yoga, vitamin shots, and herbal elixirs. “Groups can take over Tidal Cove for the evening and choose whatever they feel works best for their group from a health and wellness perspective,” Land says. “We can also mimic the experience in any of our other spaces outdoors or even inside a ballroom, if a group does not want to book Tidal Cove.”
Cutting-edge wellness
Amrit Ocean Resort on Singer Island in Palm Beach, Fla., provides a beachfront sanctuary with cutting-edge wellness technology, showcased at every turn of the waterfront oasis spanning seven acres of serene coastline. “That is what really sets us apart,” says Janae Gier, director of sales and marketing for Amrit Wellness & Spa.
Amrit offers a variety of wellness selections fusing eastern modalities and western technology, such as traditional Chinese medicine, sound and light therapy, and IV infusions. “The options are really endless, and we can do different protocols on longevity and focus,” Gier says. “There is also a hyperbaric chamber, pure oxygen, and an LED red-light bed, which has all kinds of health benefits. We can set up a circuit for groups where they can move through the space and experience all of these wonderful things.”
An added bonus at Amrit is Aayush, which is Sanskrit for longevity. The hydrothermal experience—the only indoor/outdoor hydrothermal experience in the state—includes a hydro-reflexology path, arctic-chill fountains, a salt inhalation chamber, an effusion shower, and steam and sauna, which all combine to improve circulation, combat mental lethargy, and decrease inflammation, Gier explains. “A great way for a group to utilize Aayush would be before they go to breakfast,” she adds. “The cold cleanse is great for mental clarity and focus, so it is a great way to start the day.”
Active engagement
For groups seeking more active engagement in their health and wellness options, incorporating dynamic activities can make a significant impact. Offerings like fitness classes, personal training sessions, and in-room on-demand wellness content keep attendees energized and focused throughout their stay and at their convenience.
The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va., offers in-room fitness kits, so guests can still partake in their fitness routine without hitting the 24-hour fitness center. The in-room fitness kits, which are available at the front desk, include stretch bands, mats, three-pound dumbbells, five-pound kettlebells, and stress balls.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Fla., recently debuted a collaboration with Future, a personal training platform, to provide guests with complimentary guided workouts developed by Future trainers. “With travelers continuing to seek ways to prioritize their well-being and find convenient and productive ways to exercise and maintain their routines while away from home, we understand the importance of seamlessly integrating this into the guest experience,” says Brian Kramer, general manager of Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. “The new collaboration with Future is just one example of how we are meeting the ever-changing needs of today’s travelers.”
Guests of the property have complimentary access to five guided workouts, all of which are custom designed to accommodate various fitness levels. All workouts were also designed with the property’s fitness center equipment in mind, from the 40-minute Coconut Point Strength and Cardio to the 15-minute Tropical Oasis Flexibility Flow. Numerous other Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts will begin offering the guided workouts later this year.
IHG Hotels & Resorts recently made a major addition to its EVEN Hotels brand by adding in-room fitness options to provide guests more workout options. Guests can select from three different room types based on the fitness experience they prefer. Standard rooms include a lighter mix of fitness accessories for those still seeking to utilize the property’s 24/7 Athletic Studio and mainly seeking to do some light stretching, yoga, or guided meditation in their room. Standard Plus rooms offer a dedicated fitness zone and accompanying equipment for strength and resistance-based movements, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and yoga. Premium rooms feature an interactive spin bike, which has its own content library, and all of the same fitness components of the other room types. These three fitness guest room options are in addition to the fitness features already available in every EVEN Hotels guest room: a training zone, mounted fitness wall, stability wall, foam yoga mat, foam massage rollers, resistance bands, and complimentary access to numerous instructional fitness videos.
Amrit Ocean Resort also offers a full fitness center with six separate studios, with space and options for everything from spin classes and Pilates to circuit training. “We have up to 20 classes each day in our gym, and all are included in the room rate here at the resort,” Gier says. “If a group prefers, we can offer those classes as a private experience. For example, they can choose two different activities, perhaps beach yoga and a kickboxing class, and we can set up the private options in advance for them to enjoy one morning.”
For many, there is nothing more serene and refreshing than integrating spa time into the day. By scheduling dedicated spa breaks or optional spa sessions, planners give attendees the opportunity to recharge—improving their focus and productivity for the rest of the event.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, nestled along 13 miles of shoreline in Amelia Island., Fla., recently renovated its spa and added new wellness options for meeting and groups. In addition to 27,000 square feet of space and state-of-the-art fitness equipment available to guests 24 hours a day, the updated spa boasts more than 27 treatment rooms, notes Joseph Murphy, director of marketing for the property. “Our spa is one of the biggest spas in The Ritz-Carlton system, and we just introduced a roller massage that gets into deep tissue,” he says.
Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo., boasts the Cedar Creek Spa & Salon, a spacious 18,000-square-foot facility, where guests can select from massages, facials, body treatments, a grotto pool, and even an ice room. “The spa is an ideal spot for an evening wind-down,” says Madison Horner, public relations manager for Big Cedar Lodge. “After a productive day of meetings, groups can unwind and enjoy treatments.”
The Breakers, a 140-acre oceanfront property situated in the heart of Palm Beach, Fla., offers guests an indoor-outdoor spa experience at The Spa at The Breakers. Featuring a contemporary Italian-inspired design, the atmosphere was designed to engage the senses throughout its 17 treatment rooms, private courtyard, lounges, and salon, as well as its curated menu of treatments.
Better breakouts
As an alternative to the typical breakout sessions expected at meetings, planners can revitalize their agendas by incorporating health and wellness-focused breakouts. These sessions can include a variety of activities to invigorate participants and promote overall well-being.
In addition to daily yoga classes, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island offers private yoga sessions for groups to enjoy before, between, or after meetings. For an even more in-depth experience, guests can also include mindful meditation, which is based on Yoga Nidra, an ancient practice combining breathing and visualization techniques to induce deep relaxation, Murphy says. “We a have a resident master who lives on the island, and he can incorporate it into a breakout or an opening session, whatever the group would like. It is great because everyone has 3,000 things on their mind, and the beautiful thing about mindful meditation is it clears your mind.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island also offers guests breathing exercises, which are also ideal for break times too, Murphy adds. “Even if it is just for a short period as a break, breathing exercises allow attendees an opportunity to close their eyes and remove everyday stresses,” he says.
Best of all, Murphy shares, is most of these breakout opportunities can be set up on the beach for a unique experience. “We can do a mindful meditation walk where guests create a personal sand mandala, which is an ancient symbol of life and renewal,” Murphy says. “A series of options can be completely personalized for groups based on what their attendees would like to do.”
Big Cedar Lodge also offers groups health and wellness-focused breakout opportunities It could be a morning wellness kickoff with morning yoga on the summit or a fitness-focused class, Horner shares. “Groups could incorporate a stretch, roll, and release class as a midday break to help attendees refresh and refocus before resuming their meetings.”
Health and wellness breakouts do not have to be separated from the meeting content.
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry suggests setting up stations in or near meeting rooms to allow attendees to take advantage of the stations during a standard coffee break. “Perhaps in addition to grabbing coffee at a break, groups could visit the salt scrub station or an aromatherapy station, which leaves them with something they could utilize later or take home,” Land explains.
The Breakers can work with groups to provide fitness trainers to roam the floor during breaks, offering recommendations or even hosting specialty classes, says Fernando Teixeira, senior director of conference services and event sales for The Breakers. For groups wanting to ensure attendees have health and wellness help anytime needed, they also suggest setting up a wellness lounge. “It is a dedicated venue for guided meditations or quiet space, if guests are unable to retreat to their guest rooms in between meetings,” Teixeira adds.
Healing waters
Mineral baths are a unique and rejuvenating health and wellness option to enhance a meeting or event.
The Omni Homestead Resort is renowned for its natural hot springs and warm springs, which provide medicinal benefits. Since the warm springs pools opened originally in 1761, the resort has hosted 24 U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, and business leaders who wanted to experience the waters, explains John Hess, director of sales and marketing for the property. “The water comes up naturally from the earth and, as it goes through the layers of limestone, picks up different minerals,” Hess explains. “When doing a 50-minute soak in these pools, your body absorbs 15 different minerals present in the warm springs.”
The Omni Homestead Resort’s focus on wellness continues at its 60,000-plus-square-foot spa, the Homestead Spa, and Serenity Garden, which is home to the resort’s original hot spring. “It is a little warmer than the warm springs pools, and it is more of a social environment, whereas the warm springs pool is more of a spa experience,” Hess explains. “The hot spring is a great spot for guests to enjoy a cocktail and conversation.”
Groups can incorporate the warm springs pools into their agenda through several options. One possibility, Hess says, is to give attendees an extended afternoon break with the option of going to either the hot spring or warm springs pools. “This gives them a chance to spread out and choose based on what they individually prefer,” he explains. Another option is to schedule a private soak at the warm springs pools. “Sometimes they include champagne or cocktails; we have even brought in a musician to create a different atmosphere,” Hess adds. “It is a lot of fun, and we’ve had some groups say it was the highlight of their trip.”
Natural immersion
Stepping away from traditional meeting spaces and embracing the natural environment can foster a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. Sunrise runs, bike excursions, and guided meditations on the beach are just a few of the outdoor activities at The Breakers, Teixeira says.
Outdoor activities are also a big part of Big Cedar Lodge, where guests can hike on the extensive trails, fish, and simply enjoy the natural beauty of the property. “One of the unique aspects of Big Cedar Lodge is its expansive 4,600-acre property, allowing guests to connect deeply with nature,” Horner says. “This vast natural setting provides a unique backdrop for health and wellness activities you will not find at many other properties. Tailored retreats leveraging this outdoor space through such activities as historical walks, nature trails, and outdoor fitness classes set Big Cedar Lodge apart.”
More than 40 different thoughtfully curated outdoor activities are available at The Omni Homestead Resort, notes Hess. “Being in a remote mountain location, we are very connected to the outdoors and natural world,” he says. Those activities include everything from sunrise yoga outside on the lawn, meditation hikes, and reflexology walks to archery, horseback riding, kayaking, and hiking Cascades Gorge Trail, which is only available through the resort. “Cascades Gorge Trail features 12 stunning waterfalls flowing within the deep gorge,” Hess explains. “We take guests there via shuttle, and guests get to see the very bottom of the gorge, following the trail along both sides of the river and a series of bridges. Guests have an unbelievable view of the waterfalls. It is really something to take in.”
Healthy food and beverage options
There is nothing like nutritious options to help foster an environment of well-being and productivity. The right food and beverage options can help attendees maintain steady energy levels, enhance concentration, and support overall health—enabling them to stay focused and engaged throughout the event. Fully understanding the critical role of food, Amrit Ocean Resort offers a dedicated wellness banquet menu and seeks to educate guests about nutritional value, ensuring planned menus are balanced, will sustain guests, and will provide the needed energy for the day. “In addition, if they are planning a group breakfast, we actually have an option for a cooking demonstration with our registered dietician,” Gier says. “We also have a partnership with
a tea company, the Art of Tea, and we can set up a station for guests to custom blend their own tea.”
Mocktails are a healthy alternative or addition to cocktails. JW Marriott Miami Turnberry works with planners to offer mocktails with all of the festive flair and social enjoyment of traditional cocktails, but without the negative effects of alcohol. “We are doing mocktails at least one or twice a week with groups,” Land says. “A group may still need a traditional bar, but more and more planners are requesting different options with mocktails; we can make them fun and exciting, such as a mojito mocktail or hibiscus flavored drink that speaks to Miami.”
