Luxury hotel brand, 1 Hotels, announced its proprietary Meaningful Meetings program will debut at 1 Hotel Central Park followed by 1 Hotel South Beach and the brand’s flagship, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.
Developed in partnership with Holstee, the Brooklyn-based mindful-living outfit, 1 Hotels Meaningful Meetings program was designed to offer a cohesive, mindful approach to meetings with features ranging from brain-fueling foods and beverages to smartphone check-in points and breathing exercises.
The root of the Meaningful Meetings program is based on mindfulness research—including a study from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School that attributes mindfulness to improved communication skills, innovative thinking and better reactions to stress.
“The launch of our Meaningful Meetings program will really transform the way we host group sessions at our hotels,” said Kane Sarhan, VP of brand for 1 Hotels. “Meaningful Meetings was born as a result of us observing the amazing way companies like Google, General Mills and Holstee conduct their internal meetings and the desire to develop a program that completely changes the meetings experience for our guests. This is just another example of how the 1 Hotels brand is providing [inspiration] for its guests.”
1 Hotel Central Park will launch the program with three categories of Meaningful Meetings: Zen, Creative and Focused. Each meeting style includes specific programming designed to support any clients’ desired results, as well as food and beverage options conceptualized by Chef Jonathan Waxman of Jams restaurant inside 1 Hotel Central Park. Updated catering menus feature ingredients that are proven to increase focus and general productivity, as well as sustain energy.
Meaningful Meetings are designed to help teams have the most present and productive meetings possible. Knowing that meetings take place for different reasons, within different contexts and with different goals, Holstee and 1 Hotels have curated tips that promote mindfulness and foster creativity.
At the start of every Meaningful Meeting, regardless of its category, attendees are asked to check-in their phone to a “phone booth” to prevent distraction. Participants are also encouraged to move around and stretch during breaks with custom designed safe stretching tips, to stay hydrated with Chia-infused water and other beverages, and enjoy healthy snacks such as walnuts, almonds and blueberries.
1 Hotels has also designed several tools to be used during the Meaningful Meetings, including custom notebooks, decision-making dice, coloring pencils and more. Additional tips and programming are tailored based on the type of Meaningful Meeting experience that is chosen.
As an added amenity for the program, nationally renowned meditation leader Biet Simkin has provided a digital “welcome” meditation and “gratitude” closing meditation for all Meaningful Meeting types.
