The ROI of Wellness: Caesars Entertainment’s Playbook for More Engaging Meetings

Attendees come to meetings and events with varying goals, but most share one common objective: a meaningful return on their investment. One increasingly effective way to deliver this value is through wellness programming that sustains energy, enhances concentration, and supports full engagement throughout the event. 

Wellness is already a focus for most attendees. According to research from McKinsey, 84 percent of U.S. adults say wellness is a top or important priority for them, and they’re actively investing in it. The wellness industry has grown steadily for years, reaching $6.3 trillion in 2024 and projected to climb to $9.8 trillion by 2029.

Meeting planners are taking note, recognizing that integrating wellness into the event environment helps attendees stay aligned with their personal health goals while traveling. Research shows that a health-conscious program isn’t simply for an individual’s benefit. Done well, they can be the secret ingredient that fuels a new level of engagement for the entire group. 

From taking a guided nature walk at an executive retreat to serving a detox menu during the afternoon break at a corporate sales meeting, wellness-inspired programming can help attendees stay focused, reduce stress, and engage in more meaningful conversations. 

Kelly Gleeson Smith, senior vice president of sales at Caesars Entertainment, has seen how wellness-focused event design can foster a sense of community and create organic connections. Caesars Entertainment has been leading the charge for wellness in the events industry with the launch of a wellness catering menu featuring options such as non-alcoholic botanical drinks, chia pudding bars, and lean proteins. Earlier this year, the company embarked on a six-city roadshow with thought leaders and wellness practitioners to demonstrate the possibilities that wellness can unlock for meeting planners. 

The company recently introduced a new Wellness Guide, offering an entry point for meeting planners looking to incorporate wellness into their events without breaking their budget. With a sample agenda, recommendations for low-cost, high-impact activities, and tips on meeting the needs of an emerging generation of participants, Caesars Wellness Guide can help unlock new possibilities for better meetings – where attendees feel better, too. SkiftX spoke with Gleeson Smith about the evolution of wellness at meetings, the enhanced ROI it can deliver, and the thinking that drives Caesars Entertainment’s curation of wellness-focused programming.

SkiftX: Why is wellness such an important part of Caesars Entertainment’s strategy going into 2026?

Kelly Gleeson Smith: As we look toward 2026, we see wellness as a driver of engagement, learning, and community. When attendees feel energized, balanced, and cared for, they’re more present in sessions, more open to networking, and more likely to leave with a sense of value from the event. For Caesars Entertainment, embedding wellness into our meetings and events strategy ensures that our clients see a stronger return on investment and that their guests leave feeling both inspired and rejuvenated.

We’re seeing a shift toward holistic wellness experiences that go beyond physical fitness. Planners are requesting mindfulness activations, nutrition-forward menus, and opportunities for social connection that reduce stress and promote a sense of belonging. Guests are gravitating toward plant-forward dining, functional beverages or botanicals, and short, purposeful wellness breaks that seamlessly fit into the event's flow. Incorporating neat wellness activations can be a real conversation starter for participants, laying the groundwork for relationship building.

How does Caesars Entertainment make wellness an integral part of event planning, instead of leaving it as an afterthought?

We’ve built wellness into easily implantable activations for our clients' planning process. In fact, we have introduced our Wellness Guide, which serves as a turnkey resource and provides data on the ROI of implementing such activations and includes a sample agenda for clients who are new to wellness. This ensures that wellness isn’t something added at the last minute, but rather a thread woven throughout the event design. Our team collaborates with planners to align wellness activations with their event goals and company culture, whether that’s boosting focus during learning sessions, encouraging networking, or simply creating memorable moments.

How has this focus on wellness shaped the Caesars Entertainment catering menu?

Gleeson Smith: Our culinary teams have certainly embraced wellness. They have taken their culinary expertise and created a scrumptious wellness menu that features nutrient-rich options, customizable dietary accommodations, and creative presentations that make healthy eating an exciting experience. We have expanded our offerings to include plant-based proteins, globally inspired superfoods, and hydration stations featuring functional beverages. The goal is to ensure that every meal not only delights but also sustains attendees, keeping them energized throughout the day.

How does Caesars Entertainment curate wellness-focused activities, beyond just adding a yoga session to a full day of meetings?

Wellness is about variety and intentionality. While yoga is wonderful, we curate experiences that cater to diverse needs, such as guided meditation, breathwork sessions, nature bathing opportunities, creative art breaks, and insightful keynotes that offer wellness professional tips. These can be great, helping to foster a sense of community and even providing challenges that encourage team bonding. We also design activations that can be scaled, ranging from intimate breakout sessions to large group energizers, allowing planners to tailor the experience to their audience.

How does the Wellness Guide specifically support planners in achieving their event goals?

The Wellness Guide is a practical toolkit. It provides planners with data, FAQs, and an example agenda that demonstrates ready-to-implement activations, food and beverage pairings, and scheduling suggestions that can align with different event objectives. For example, if a planner wants to amplify learning, we can offer wellness breaks that improve focus. If the goal is community-building, there is a myriad of activities that foster connection. The guide provides a starting point, taking the guesswork out of wellness integration and making it easy to deliver meaningful experiences.

What should event and meeting planners know about partnering with Caesars Entertainment to design events that center on wellness?

They should know that wellness is not just an add-on for us — it’s part of our DNA. Partnering with Caesars Entertainment means having access to a team that understands how wellness enhances every aspect of an event. We bring creativity, resources, and turnkey solutions that make it simple for planners to elevate their programs. Most importantly, we listen. Every event is unique, and we tailor wellness offerings to ensure they resonate with the audience and amplify the client’s goals.

Read Caesars Entertainment’s “Wellness Guide for Event Planners” here.

This content was created collaboratively by Caesars Entertainment and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.