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Resetting Events with Wellness
In 2020, many activities and in-person events came to an abrupt halt. It was no longer safe to gather, and no matter the power of technology and the gratitude we all felt for our Wi-Fi, we hungered for personal interactions. The economic impact of these event cancellations has been estimated at $22 billion, the pandemic paradigm shifted everything. Several conflicting issues converged in the world of meetings and events: a pent-up desire to travel; the still-spreading coronavirus; the uptick in virtual technologies; coupled with the unending human desire and need for connection. While gatherings were cancelled, the strong evolutionary drive to be social was evident.
The silver lining: A new trend that will forever change meetings and events was born, with wellness at the core. Hybrid events (in-person and virtual) sprouted as technology companies raced to be the hosting platform. Within months of the pandemic shutting down in-person gatherings, a new world was emerging, reinforcing topics like health, safety and immunity and new protocols and technologies to mitigate risk. In 2021 and beyond, creativity is driving connection, and how we gather is taking on new, and healthier, meanings!
“With much of our group engagement shifting to virtual, Hilton is working to create unique experiences for our guests from a digital wellness perspective. This includes purely virtual activities such as streaming meditation content or mindfulness talks to key guests. It also includes hybrid experiences such as digital fitness classes that can be projected in a hotel’s physically distanced studio space, while at the same time being streamed to others in their guestrooms.”
Jessica Shea,Senior DirectorSpa & Fitness Operations, Americas,Hilton Resorts
www.hilton.com
