Tips for incorporating wellness features into a corporate event as demonstrated at the Smart Meetings Wellness Experience include:
Creating a “lush green room” Zen space with plants and soft seating and lighting so people can escape when they need a minute.
Incorporating movement in the morning to awaken the senses and get people’s brains open to new ideas.
Hosting team building around a zero-proof soft cocktail making on a pool patio deck.
Incorporating a stretch break and me-time in the agenda to get blood circulating and time to process information.
Call on the power of play with art and clay-making exercises that help people focus together.
Cover mental health by bringing in speakers who have overcome adversity and can share their journey.
Set intentions with journaling, sound bath breaks, butterfly releases and postcards participants can address to themselves to remind them when they get home how they wanted to incorporate change in their lives.
Pick a partner venue that brings a sense of luxury and discovery. The awe of being in a beautiful space can open minds and hearts.
Smart Meetings Wellness Experience at The Monarch San Antonio, Curio Collection by Hilton defined what a conference that takes into account the physical and mental needs of participants could feel like. From registration to a vitamin D-fueled parting lunch, the emphasis was on belonging and rising together with intention.
The care started with a sense of discovery at a luxury property so new, Smart Meetings was the first pre-con. The Monarch San Antonio sits steps from Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and San Antonio River Walk. The Forbes-trained staff attended to guests with the authority of two Les Clefs d’Or concierge, a Michelin star chef and memorable spaces such as the 17th floor view terrace and butterfly sculpture patio for group dinners. The 200 guest room retreats are powered by intuitive technology to control curtains and comfort. The 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is conveniently compact and inspired by nature with subtle hints to the migrating butterflies in the property’s name.
Wellness in Action
The agenda checked the abundance of wellness options meeting professionals can incorporate into their events in 2026.
The Power of Play: Angela Minardi, founder of Fit City Adventures led a pre-education interactive workshop to demonstrate how having fun can reduce stress and bring people together. From data about reducing cortisol levels during an event to hands-on clay crafting, attendees experienced what a stress-free event can feel like.
A Framework for Unstoppable Momentum: Six-time American Ninja Warrior Angela Gargano shared her journey to achieve her dreams despite physical and mental obstacles. “Balance is a myth,” she said. The secret is integration and making progress in small steps that work for you. Setting up achievable deadlines, focusing on what you can control and having backup plans can help, but know that there may be dark times. “When one door closes, another opens, but there can be a long, dim hallway in between,” she said. The good news is that you don’t have to walk that corridor alone. Event professionals have a MeetSmart Community supporting them every step of the way.
A Sunrise Rave: The power of music and movement to focus and motivate was demonstrated by DJ Amani Roberts and Olympian Meeting co-founder David T. Stevens with a morning download that included singing bowls, quick square dancing and salsa lessons and a conga line. Participants didn’t just learn about the beneficial impacts of working with attendee circadian rhythms and endorphin releases from movement, they experienced the joys of doing a jig in the aisle.
Zero-proof Challenges: One of the worst-kept secrets in the events world is that meeting professionals are competitive, very competitive. A soft cocktail-making competition on The Monarch San Antonio pool deck pitted teams against each other to create libations that were balanced, creative and visually appealing. The winning team had their product featured at the evening reception at La Mariposa plaza.
Intentional Interactions: From coach-led journaling and paired accountability buddies to an intentional butterfly release, activities were designed to help everyone reach their personal goals.
Room for Zen: Cohera brought in soft seating, live plants, fuzzy blankets and sparkly lights to create a tranquil “lush green room” attendees could escape to whenever they needed a moment to breathe. Even the general session pods were furnished with a variety of residential seating styles so everyone could find their happy place thanks to Circa Destination Management.
White Space: A 7th-inning stretch with breathwork that could be done sitting or standing kept everyone focused. The introduction of me-time made the thought of looming email boxes easier to carry during the program.
An Ambitious Role Model: Sometimes the best inspiration comes from someone who has done it on a grand scale. Sean Hoess, co-founder of Wanderlust and the force behind the two-year-old Eudemonia Summit dedicated to Life Lived Well at Palm Beach County Convention Center shared his vision for building the largest wellness conference in the world. In year two, he attracted 5,000 people and top names in the health sector for a combination all-star podcast, multi-disciplinary exercise session and product demo trade show floor. He shared plans for expanding the programing into the evening in year-three and how he keeps the momentum going between conferences.
Everyone left with inspiration for new ways and places to meet, new friends and a network dedicated to lifting them up.
