These days there isn’t an event professional in sight that doesn’t keep wellness in mind. Trends show that attendees seek overall unique experiences that spark joy and leave them aglow with a feeling of well-being (something we’ve written about before). The Global Wellness Institute projects a 21% annual growth rate for wellness tourism through 2025. The Incentive Research Foundation also found that 87 percent of planners consider wellness a vital part of meeting prep — and attendees are just as enthusiastic. Here are five pointers to make wellness an integral part of your next events.
Location, location, location
The choice of host venue is more than just selecting a room: it’s about the surrounding environment, too, and whether it invites exploration pre- and post-sessions. A great example is the Montréal Convention Centre, Palais des congrès de Montréal, located at the crossroads between modern Downtown Montréal and the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal. There’s a wealth of culture to explore not only within the area, but within the building itself, which ensures even busy attendees without much downtime get to experience some of the city’s unique attractions. Keeping attendees active and interested during breaks adds to their overall experience, keeping them both refreshed and recharged for the next presentation.
Food, glorious food
Food is one of the main things attendees will remember from an event. Healthier meal choices have proven to up happiness by boosting the natural production of dopamine, so swap out fatty pastry snacks for high-protein options like superfood smoothies to keep attendees energized throughout the day. Pick a catering company and offsite options that are sure to nourish and impress — guests love unique dining experiences that speak to the city they’re in and turn a simple meal into a forever-memory.
Wellness onsite
Montréal events like C2 Montréal and Startupfest know to include wellness within their very schedules or sites, either with programming like massage stations and meditation moments, or with chill-out zones that incorporate music, nature and a sense of space. At the latest Startupfest, held at the majestic Grand Quay of Montréal on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, attendees could gaze for miles from the Tower of the Old Port of Montréal or meet their Braindates on beanbags, lawn chairs or while lounging on the vast riverbank lawn, offering precious moments to recharge and remember.
Moving and grooving
To avoid the only exercise your attendees get being the mad dash from session to session, try offering morning yoga or fun runs before the presentations start. These free activities can be the best sites for offhand networking, and the friendly competition can have the cathartic effect of a good team-building activity. Runs also provide the opportunity for some sightseeing, especially if you get a local team like Business Events Montréal to help you map our different daily trajectories for every day. Make sure your attendees know what’s on-hand before filling their schedules, and create a snappy hashtag to get them enthused. If you build it, they will come.
Small details, big impact
Wellness can also be found in the details, such as demonstrating consideration through onsite recycling and composting or ensuring accessibility by keeping the lighting and temperature of meeting rooms comfortable for the whole range of neurodiversity. When planning presentations, stick with the Goldilocks rule: not too hot, not too cold, not too dark and not too bright. It’s also important to keep duration tolerably short for the average attention span — try scheduling your presentations for 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute window to allow attendees to get to their next appointment at a relaxed, easy pace.
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