The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) shared the results of its first survey on the topic of wellness in the meetings and events industry as fielded in January 2017. The survey was distributed to the IRF database, select industry magazine subscribers and a research panel of planners and hoteliers.
Of the 143 survey respondents, 109 were meeting planners and 34 were hoteliers. According to the IRF research “hoteliers generally offered a more positive assessment of how healthy a typical meeting is … while meeting planners were more measured in their assessment.” 35% of hoteliers described the meetings they host as “very healthy,” whereas only 19% of planners described their meetings as such.
Budget boosts or restrictions tend to play a factor in whether a planner is able to add an element of wellness to their meeting, with 30% of planners saying they could plan a healthier meeting with more money. The majority of planners also felt they were personally invested in wellness and sustainability.
The IRF study goes on to ask specific questions related to healthy F&B options, wellness activities and emerging health inclusions, including mindfulness breaks and creative or artistic experiences.
For specifics on these and other issues, check out the full report at the IRF website.
