On Site at Meet Well: The Premier Conference on Wellness at Meetings

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Incentive Research Foundation President Melissa Van Dyke presents new research on wellness practices at meetings.

From Tai Chi to aromatherapy, attendees at the premier Meet Well conference, held last week in Las Vegas, experienced dozens of wellness touches that they could take back to their own events.

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The host hotel, MGM Grand, created this serene Zen lounge in its Stay Well conference center.

First impressions are everything, and the host hotel, MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, delivered for Meet Well with a serene Zen lounge, with cozy furniture, a dark wood screen and live orchids and succulents, lit by dozens of candles. Attendees had a chance to sample its Stay Well Meetings conference rooms, which feature touches such as circadian lighting and an air purification system that had everyone remarking at how fresh the air in the meeting space felt. The Stay Well menu features tasty yet nourishing F&B options, with healthy snacks such as vegetable ships and lunch items such as quinoa and farro salads. Guests also stayed in the hotel’s Stay Well rooms, which offer private check-in and feature such touches as citrus-infused showerheads and memory foam beds.

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A formal welcome to the opening reception at The Mansion

After a luncheon and afternoon of one-on-one appointments, the meeting planners had a chance to experience The Mansion at MGM Grand for the opening reception. The ultra-luxe property, which had been used exclusively for high roller guests and has more recently been made available for events, wowed everyone, as did the Citizen Eco watches they received. They were also able to choose between a robe or a set of brightly colored pajamas from the Punjammies PJ Bar—a brand-new amenity experience provided through a partnership between wet paint group and Sudara, a nonprofit focused on employing women in India who are victims of human trafficking. Among the special touches created by The Mansion were an elegant yet healthy hors d’oeuvres menu with nutritional signage displayed next to each item.

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Healthy and beautiful desserts at the opening reception at The Mansion

On the second day of the conference, Melissa Van Dyke, president of the Incentive Research Foundation, Prevue’s event partner, shared the first glimpse of its Wellness in Meetings and Incentive Travel survey. Other highlights included a session on energizing without caffeine by Hallie Sculler, founder of The Great Office Escape, and an energizing presentation by Dianne Devitt of DND Group on the impact of the senses on learning.

Even healthy events need a touch of indulgence, and the final evening dinearound certainly delivered, with appetizers served up by Fiamma Trattoria, entrees at Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak and topped off with flambeed chocolate desserts at Morimoto—all of which are located on property and adjacent to each other.

Many thanks to Meet Well’s sponsors: Barcelo Hotel Group, Caesars Entertainment, Ocean Reef Club and Windstar Cruises. For more information on Prevue’s 2017 Summit Series, visit our web site.

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Barbara Scofidio is Editor of Prevue and heads up the Visionary Summits, our exclusive conference series targeting senior-level meeting and incentive planners. In her 30 years in the industry, she has become known for her passion around greening meetings, growing awareness of human trafficking and promoting CSR activities as part of business events. She is currently a member of SITE's Women IN Leadership committee and the media liaison for FICP's Education Committee. She was the first member of the media ever to be invited to sit on a committee by GBTA, where she spent three years on the Groups and Meetings Committee. She has also been an active member of SITE for 30 years, chairing its Crystal Awards committee and acting as a judge. Before joining Prevue in 2014, she served as Editor of Corporate Meetings & Incentives (MeetingsNet) for more than 20 years. She has a BA in Literature/Rhetoric from Binghamton University. Barbara is based outside Boston, in Groton, Mass.