Wellness at Meetings is Here to Stay

June 21, 2023

An underlying theme of the the Incentive Research Foundation’s Education Invitational in Las Vegas had to do with nurturing attendee wellness in this new, lightning-fast post-pandemic reality.

Here are 5 ways the IRF meeting incorporated wellness—and you can, too.

Set the Tone at Registration

At registration, the IRF created a Zen Den with massages and a singing bowl meditation. They also had a giveaway for Citizen smart watches that track and predict your circadian rhythms. Immediately, attendees knew that this organization respects their personal wellbeing and that they could look forward to other wellness opportunities throughout the event.

Allow Free Time

The IRF also re-arranged the agenda from previous years, replacing a full day of education with two half days. Of course, many meetings might not be able to do this to this extent, but it’s no longer uncommon to build in substantial breaks and wellbeing activations.

Rethink the Dress Code

It’s no longer uncommon to see people wearing sneakers with business clothing at trade shows, or Lilly Pulitzer dresses at meetings. In many settings, it’s fine for attendees to dress comfortably—whatever that means for them—and that was also the case here.

Integrate Plant-based Menu Items for Wellness

Plant-based food is no longer the exception, it’s the rule. The IRF host hotel, the Conrad Hotel at Resorts World in Las Vegas, was on top of this, with dishes like ube pancakes at lunch (ube is a purple yam, Japanese in origin) and Beyond meat “corned beef hash,” placed right alongside the real deal at breakfast.

Add a Morning Wellness Class

The IRF included two morning wellness classes, both of which were well-attended: Soul Cycle and Bodyweight Bootcamp. You can also include less-strenuous options, like a guided beach walk or gentle yoga. But attendees have come to expect something at every meeting—and that no longer means a fun run for the best in shape of the group.