At $480 billion, the U.S. wellness market is growing at 5 to 10 percent annually, according to research by a global management consulting firm McKinsey & CompanyIn fact, 82% of American consumers consider wellness a priority in their daily lives.
As wellness trends increase on the consumer side, how can business events incorporate healthy activities, food and beverage into their busy conference, networking and trade show schedules?
To find out, more than 120 industry professionals, including meeting planners, journalists and Caesar Entertainment The company’s staff gathered for the inaugural Global Wellness Summit, held June 4-7 in Las Vegas. The event featured wellness experts on a variety of topics, from mindful meditation and somatic breathing to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping And Exercises for watering and extinguishing fire(Stay tuned for our article next week on five wellness speakers to consider for your next event.)
“The primary focus of this event was to showcase the new wellness elements of our Meeting Planner menu,” Caesars Entertainment said. Marketing Director Reina Herschdorfer. “This integration of wellness into our menu aims to provide our clients with more options to delight and engage their attendees by implementing trending wellness activations at their events.
Related: CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES WELLNESS MENU FOR MEETINGS
Want to know what to plan for your well-being? We have 20 ideas for you.
Heartwarming welcome. Transportation was provided from the airport to the hotel, with a driver waiting at baggage claim to take participants to the hotel. Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas. An airport welcome is a nice gesture, if you have the budget or can get it sponsored. If you don’t have the budget for transportation for all attendees, consider offering VIP transportation.
Garland. Prior to the event, attendees were sent a link and asked to select styles and sizes of t-shirts or tank tops and sweatshirts for the wellness activities. I selected a Lululemon Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve T-Shirt (nice, breathable, quick-drying fabric) and Ogio hoodie (super soft).
Lunch for early arrivals. Caesars offered light snacks (cold cuts, sandwiches and fruit) to those arriving before hotel check-in. Lunch and badge pickup were available in the Villa Nobua penthouse suite that features 10,300 square feet, a rooftop terrace and impressive views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Spa treatments. Massages and facials were offered to participants. Qua Baths and Spa at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. With 56 treatment rooms, Qua offers a luxury spa experience for the perfect group or incentive meeting. I opted for the facial and my esthetician told me he has been with the company for over 10 years because they are so good to him.
Reception on the roof. The opening reception and dinner took place at Villa Nobu. Sushi chefs prepared fresh sushi for guests who dined in the villa’s spacious indoor and outdoor spaces. Some fun wellness activities during the opening reception: Design your own diffuser station by Scentexaura readings and crystal selection. These activities were good icebreakers with other participants while they waited in line.
Morning meeting. Participants met at 6:45 a.m. to fill reusable cups with coffee and water before departing at 7 a.m. by bus to Mount Charleston, about an hour from the Strip. Some participants got to know the person sitting next to them on the shuttle, while others exchanged emails or caught up on the news before losing cell service in the mountains.
Yoga in the spring mountains. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Springs Mountains National Recreation Area provided a beautiful setting for yin yoga, led by Christine Frazzitta, founder of Zeeta Body. Yoga mats with fresh flowers, eye masks and bandages were set up in a parking lot, offering views of snow on the mountaintops and towering pines nearby. Despite record-breaking heat in Las Vegas, temperatures were about 20 degrees cooler in the mountains.
Breakfast in nature. After yoga, attendees chatted over breakfast in one of two picnic areas. Caesars provided reusable lunch bags containing a Naked smoothie, a breakfast burrito, homemade granola bars and cashew yogurt with fresh fruit.
Hiking. Prior to the event, participants were asked if they would like to participate in a easy, moderate or difficult hike, and colored stickers on the badges indicated which group participants should join on designated buses. With over 50 miles of groomed trails winding through the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Each group was guided by an experienced ranger. Some listened to the guide talk about local history, flora and fauna while others networked with other organizers who shared similar interests. Our challenging hike was indeed a 3km challenge – downhill and then uphill.
Healthy lunch menu. One of the standout dishes on Caesar’s wellness menu was the chopped Mediterranean salad with romaine lettuce, feta, red onion, cucumber, Castelvetrano olives, pepperoncini, parsley and heirloom tomatoes. For dessert, Caesars Executive Pastry Chef Dorothée Pace She made crispy clouds with fresh berries and meringues made with half the sugar. She shared the recipe with the participants.
Breaks with healthy snacks. During a break, Caesars served immunity shots made with lemon-cayenne, honey-orange, turmeric, black pepper, pomegranate and vinegar-ginger. Attendees could also create their own trail mix with a selection of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and granola.
Unique meeting spaces and seating. One afternoon, sessions were held at Mr. Chowa restaurant that features sleek, modern white decor with unique design elements including a kinetic moon sculpture hanging above the main dining area. After all the seating was removed from the main dining area, the plush blue carpet provided ample room for meditation chairs.
Water drop bar. Caesars provided attendees with refillable insulated water bottles and a mobile water bar, sponsored by paintingoffered still and sparkling water on tap throughout the event.
Dinner not in a ballroom. After the afternoon sessions at MR CHOW, the space was cleared for dinner. The MR CHOW sculpture hangs from a domed ceiling in the centre of the room and comes to life every 20 minutes, slowly transforming into different shapes. Attendees sampled some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including chicken satay, green shrimp, noodles and Peking duck.
Helicopter ride. Where to find the best view of the Las Vegas Strip? From the sky, of course. Maverick Helicopters greeted attendees at its headquarters next to Harry Reid International Airport. During the 15-minute flight over the Strip, our group of five was treated to views of the Sphere and the Stratosphere. Maverick provided a framed and mounted photo of our group upon our exit.
Rafting. On Day 2, participants arrived at 6:45am to enjoy a packed breakfast for a 7am departure with Hoover Dam RaftingWaivers were emailed prior to the event for a quick and smooth on-site process. Participants enjoyed a unique and impressive half-day excursion aboard a motorized inflatable raft through the spectacular Black Canyon – the natural gorge of the Colorado River just below Hoover Dam.
Lunch not in a ballroom. After the rafting adventures, participants gathered for lunch at Brasserie B by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Across the street from the Nobu Hotel, the restaurant, which can be booked for groups of up to 300, offers delicious and distinctive French-inspired brunch and dinner dishes at Caesars Palace. The family-style lunch menu included Chopped Nice Salad, Green Salad, Slow-Roasted Salmon, Chicken Paillard, Sautéed Spinach, Apple Puree and Roasted Asparagus with profiteroles, crème brûlée and a thin apple tart for dessert.
Comfortable seats for sessions. The afternoon sessions of the second day took place in the Milano I ballroom. With furniture provided by AFRThe ballroom was equipped with a variety of seating options – from comfortable sofas to plush chairs.
Wellness dinner menu. Some of the highlights of Caesar’s wellness menu included gazpacho with diced tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, hard-boiled eggs, avocado and chunks of lobster; a marinated tomato and mozzarella salad; and a microfruit plate with pineapple, cantaloupe, berries, pomegranate and Madagascar vanilla syrup.
Sound bath. Under the new moon in Gemini, attendees practiced breathwork and sound healing with a guided meditation by Dani Kilpatrick in the Garden of the Gods pool oasis. With music and mood lighting, some attendees floated in the pool on oversized mattresses while others lounged on yoga mats on the pool deck.
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