Charlotte Frederick, corporate meeting and incentive industry expert, highlights her recent Joie de Vivre Retreat in Provence. She highlights what she learned from the trip, such as the importance of connection and what it means for meetings and business.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, we spend so much time focusing on productivity, balance and individual well-being that we often overlook one of the most powerful wellness tools available to us: human connection. I was reminded of this truth during my recent Joie de Vivre Retreat in Provence, where a group of women came together as strangers and left as friends. Over shared meals, laughter and stories, it became clear that connection itself is a form of wellness, one that sustains us, reduces stress and creates lasting impact long after the gathering is over.
Connection Is Wellness
When we talk about wellness, we often think of yoga, mindfulness, nutrition or fitness. These are powerful tools, but community is equally vital. Decades of research show that strong social ties reduce the risk of chronic disease, support mental health and even extend lifespan. Connection creates joy, reduces stress and reminds us we are not alone.
Read More: Building Connection in a Distracted World
At the retreat, I witnessed this firsthand. A group of women, each arriving for their own reasons; rest, adventure, or simply a pause from daily life, came together and found strength in community. Through bike rides, cooking classes and shared meals, bonds were formed. And even after full days and late dinners, we still gathered at night around the table or by the fire with cups of tea, to continue the conversation and laughter. More importantly, those bonds became the foundation for resilience, courage and clarity that each woman could carry home with her.
Why It Matters in Meetings and Business
As someone who has spent over 25 years in the corporate events industry, I’ve seen numerous examples of how connection drives results. Meetings and conferences are not just about content delivery they are about creating opportunities for authentic human interaction, something we all crave especially now.
When people feel connected, they are more engaged, more innovative and more committed to the goals of their organizations. Connection breaks down silos, sparks collaboration and helps teams weather challenges together. Without it, even the best strategies can fall flat.
The lesson from Provence applies just as much in the meeting room as it does in a vineyard: when we create space for people to connect, truly connect, everything changes.
Creating Connection with Intention
The good news is that connection doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires intention. In a retreat setting, intention looked like gathering women in a circle to share reflections or leaving time unscheduled so conversations could happen naturally. In a corporate meeting, it might look like building in pauses, structuring small-group discussions, or creating mindful moments without screens, or moments of conversation that allow people to see one another as humans, not just colleagues.
Connection is about presence, putting away distractions, listening fully and showing up for each other. Whether in a Provençal kitchen or a conference breakout room, that presence creates belonging.
The Call to Action
The Joie de Vivre Retreat reminded me and all of us who were there that connection isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential, it sustains us, strengthens us and helps us thrive in every part of life.
As meeting professionals, leaders and colleagues, we have the opportunity to design environments where connection can flourish. Because when people gather with intention, they don’t just learn, they transform. And in that transformation, they find resilience, clarity and joy.
Read More: ConferenceDirect CDX 2025 Led With Wellness and Insight
Connection is wellness. And in a world where stress and disconnection are epidemic, it might just be the most powerful wellness tool of all.
If we’re intentional about designing meetings that encourage genuine connection, we can transform not only our programs but the people who attend them. Take a moment to look at your next event agenda and ask: where are you making space for connection?
And if this message resonates, consider creating your own pause. Whether it’s a mindful moment during a meeting or a few days away at a women’s retreat, give yourself and your team the gift of connection. Learn more at discovermindfulmoments.com.
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Charlotte Frederick is a corporate meeting and incentive industry expert with over 25 years of experience. After overcoming personal battles with stress and burnout through mindfulness techniques, she founded Mindful Moments, a woman-led company dedicated to enhancing well-being in the corporate world. Charlotte believes in empowering organizations and individuals with the right tools and strategies.
By embracing mindfulness and self-care, individuals can show up as the best versions of themselves in every facet of their lives. Frederick’s commitment to sharing her knowledge and helping others is rooted in her own successes and the transformative power of wellness. She is a certified integrative health and mindset coach, a certified meditation teacher, a certified yoga instructor and a certified positive psychology coach.
Frederick encourages meeting professionals to reward themselves by taking a break from the hustle and letting someone else handle the details for a change.
