Northstar

23 NOV-DEC 2018 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM WORDS CATHARINE NICOL O nce upon a time, tea or coee breaks in the middle of morning and afternoon meetings were little more than excuses for delegates to escape and down as many white bread sandwiches, cookies and lter coees they could get their hands on, before trudging back into the function room. Not any more. Any self-respecting hotelier who wants to court today's MICE organisers knows that their menu of inventive break themes must not only refuel but also reduce stress, empower participants, promote productivity and care for the planet. No pressure! At Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong, its recent initiative Business Anywhere takes meetings out of function rooms to outdoor decks, an interactive food court, a co-working space and the 24/7 Base Camp Kerry Sports. This includes the breaks, which feature games and team building, networking, movement and wellness. A focus on health and activities is a current trend throughout the MICE industry. "By extending unique breaks in the meeting space, participants are immersed in an enhanced environment that highlights all the right conditions for productive meetings," says Usha Brockmann, director of communications for Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. "This supports meeting planners, ensuring participants leave a Mindful Meeting feeling refreshed, energised and ready to explore new ideas, information and connections." She reports that at the Mandarin Oriental, a renowned leader in global wellness, healthy breaks are currently one of the top trends. Tea breaks have evolved, offering inspiring journeys of taste, culture and wellness. "Guided by a wellness practitioner, healthy breaks care for and calm the mind, body and spirit, which is essential because of the fast-paced lifestyles we live. Participants can immerse in exercises like Hatha, Kundalini Yoga and more that go beyond treating the body, resulting in enhanced meetings." Alongside "healthy", "mindful" and "sustainable' are also current buzzwords in the MICE sector. At Hilton, its initiative Meet with Purpose introduces the three pillars Mindful Meeting, Mindful Being and Mindful Eating. Mindful and sustainable practices include paperless registration, energising well-being, and food that maximises on taste and minimises on food waste. Hilton Singapore, for example, makes sure to care for the environment with initiatives such as replacing water bottles and plastic dishware with glass or environmentally friendly materials, and recycling its Nespresso capsules. Fitness activities at Grand Hyatt Singapore

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