Northstar

Newsline Research PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES SOURCE: M&C RESEARCH SURVEY OF 121 MEETING PROFESSIONALS 5 JAN-FEB 2019 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM Who Cares About Wellness? WORDS LOREN G. EDELSTEIN It's more important than ever — but not to everyone O ne in four meeting professionals rarely or never considers health and wellness in the planning process, but for the rest it's relatively important — at least sometimes. Do attendees really want to practice good health habits? They might say so, "but the donuts always seem to be eaten quickly," notes one respondent to M&C's latest poll. 58% Meeting rooms with natural light 48% Good location for running/walking/ biking 48% Generally pleasant weather for outdoor activities 42% Outdoor meeting/ event spaces 39% Good air quality 38% Safe public drinking water 16% Health-focused guest rooms 13% Nearby hospital/ medical facility 3% Nearby farms/food sources 22% Other Which of the following do you consider important when choosing a venue? ARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AMONG YOUR CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PLANNING A MEETING OR EVENT? Which of these factors are extremely important to your F&B choices? How important are wellness initiatives to your attendees? Is wellness more important to your attendees today than in recent years? ■ 10% Extremely ■ 57% Somewhat ■ 22% Not very ■ 3% Not at all ■ 8% Don't know ■ 38% Absolutely ■ 40% Somewhat ■ 14% Not very ■ 4% Not at all ■ 4% Don't know 57% Allergy-friendly 34% Local/sustainable 12% Organic 89% Cost/budget 72% Taste 71% Health/nutrition 58% Visual appeal Which of these activities do you like to incorporate into meeting agendas? If wellness is not a signifi cant factor in your meeting planning, why not? 21% Group exercise/yoga classes 11% Venues not able to accommodate 15% Mindfulness/meditation sessions 9% Prefer to provide a decadent dining experience 48% Brief stretch breaks in meeting room 40% Budgetary restrictions 38% Active group team-building event 39% Attendees prefer to relax during downtime 33% Outdoor leisure activities (nature walks, bike tours) 30% Not important to client/management 29% Walk or bike to nearby venues/activities 25% We haven't given it much consideration Always 33% Sometimes 42% Rarely 18% Never 7% 7% 33% 42% 18% 3 7%

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