Smart Meetings

HEALTHY MEETINGS: Take a Hike

Author: Julie Keller
August 2008

Columns

Meeting-goers come in all shapes, ages and sizes, so finding an active mid-meeting activity that appeals to attendees of all fitness levels can sometimes be tricky.

An excellent option is walking. Along with being good for the body, walking can serve as a wonderful way to allow meeting-goers to explore their venue city and socialize in a way that is healthy, fun and refreshing.

Unlike running, which can strain joints and may not be appropriate for all attendees, walking is a great exercise option for just about anyone—and the only equipment needed is a pair of comfortable shoes. “Walking is a form of cardiovascular exercise that provides many health benefits, including reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, weight loss and maintenance, and the prevention of osteoporosis,” says Sally Mertes-Stone, fitness supervisor at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (Calif.). Plus, walking is a wonderful way to provide attendees with a healthy, yet not-too-rigorous, break from their busy days. “Walking breaks help to facilitate a sense of place that is often a disconnect for meeting-goers who spend their time enclosed in air-conditioned meeting rooms,” she adds. “Despite locally authentic-themed decor and refreshments that are available indoors, there’s nothing like getting outside.”

There are several options for planning a group walk. First, research the site of your meeting. Many properties include well-marked on-site paths that are perfect for a mid-meeting stroll. Already part of the resort and easy to navigate, there’s no need to hire guides, making a short group walk a free—but still fun—option. Opening this month, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa (Avon, Colo.) is a great example of this alternative. The property is situated along a 40-mile riverfront hiking and biking trail that offers stunning views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. For a more tropical option, consider The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (Big Island), which has a well-marked, 2.5-mile walking/jogging path that loops the resort and meanders through scenic lava fields, golf courses, shops and tropical landscaping.

Be sure to also touch base with your host hotel to see if maps of local routes and trails are available. Often designed to accommodate the needs of runners, these maps, which often have mileage, terrain and other info, are also ideal for walkers. Westin hotels worldwide offer complimentary pocket-sized maps designed by the experts at Runner’s World magazine that offer short and long distance routes. Similar maps are also available at various W Hotels and several other multi-property hotel and resort chains. Check with your concierge and request such maps be left in the hotel rooms of your attendees if you don’t plan on offering a group walking experience.

Another excellent option is to sign up for a walking tour of your meeting city. Along with providing attendees with fresh air and a fitness-enhancing cardio boost, a guided tour is a great way to see some of a location’s off-the-beaten-path sites. The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii offers complimentary guided petroglyph hikes throughout the Petroglyph Fields of nearby Holoholokai Beach Park, and the hike leader brings the drawings to life by piecing together the life and history of long-ago Hawaiian travelers who carved their stories into the flat lava. At the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara (Calif.), in addition to providing maps of local hiking trails, shoes and workout gear for guests who may not have packed such items, they offer guides that can take groups on morning beach walks, selecting a different path each day to keep the experience interesting.

The concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco also provides several walking tour suggestions to allow attendees to get to know the City by the Bay. Fun options include the Victorian Home Walk, a tour of the colorful Victorian row houses, mansions and gardens in Pacific Heights; Foot! Comedy Walking Tours, treks that showcase the funniest routes through San Francisco’s quirky history and unique neighborhoods; and City Guide, a nonprofit organization that is made of up more than 200 trained volunteers who lead complimentary history and architectural walking tours in San Francisco.

Hotel Valley Ho (Scottsdale, Ariz.), meanwhile, offers architectural walking tours of the buildings and grounds. The twice-weekly tours explore the classic design elements of the hotel while sharing the history and legends associated with its famous guests. Looking for an affordable way to kick your next event into healthy high gear? Tell your attendees to take a hike, and walk your way to a wonderful meeting.