Has Wellness Reached a Tipping Point?

As much as our industry has become consumed with promoting wellness at events, are meetings actually integrating these practices?

Kelly Bishop, founder of Wellevate Experiences, joins Skift Meetings editor Barbara Scofidio and executive editor Andrea Doyle to explore the gap between event wellness ideals and real-world applications.

Key Points  

• Wellness Washing: Many events incorporate wellness superficially (e.g., serving sugary smoothies branded as healthy drinks) without genuine attendee benefits.
• Intentional Wellness: Activities must be thoughtfully timed (e.g., not scheduling a group run in the early morning after a late night of partying).
• Evolution of Food and Beverage: A shift toward healthier, portion-controlled options, emphasizing sustainability and dietary variety and including collaborations with chefs.
• Healthier Planners, Healthier Meetings: Event organizers must prioritize their wellness; only then can they fully support healthy attendee experiences.
• Low-Cost: Simple elements like quiet rooms and gentle movement can enhance meetings at no cost.
• Fun = Healthy: Social wellness through shared activities (e.g., dance breaks, laughter, and yoga) can foster connection and engagement.

Episode Summary

Despite wellness gaining traction among planners, are meetings actually integrating these practices? And are they genuinely addressing their attendees’ well-being needs? This episode provides practical examples of intentional and effective activities and features ideas for healthier F&B that won’t break the budget.

Wellness isn’t just about participants; event planners need to prioritize their own self-care to avoid burnout. Planners who are well-rested and balanced can create richer experiences for attendees. They also need to consider the importance of mental health options for attendees. Here, quiet spaces, meditation breaks and diverse seating are some options worth considering.

Budget is often why companies don’t include more wellness in their events. The episode closes with actionable, low-cost strategies, like reaching out to attendees to find people to lead a yoga or breathwork session.