In the spirit of National Stress Awareness Month in April, we checked in with mindfulness and stress-reduction experts Lee Papa and Holly Duckworth to get their perspectives on innovative ways to slay—or at least tame—the stress dragon in every planner. Both Papa and Duckworth work within the meetings industry as speakers and advisers.

It’s been scientifically proven that spending time in nature and breathing fresh air improves physical and emotional well-being. Whether it’s the swoosh of skis over powder-white snow, the push of a paddle over emerald-green water or the gentle mountain breeze while meditating amid towering pines, there’s nothing quite like Lake Tahoe to drive that point home.

The Inland Empire, nestled in the center of Southern California, is surrounded by mountains and vineyards, and olive and orange groves fill the valleys. Combine this bounty with its spas, resorts and cuisine that highlights this local produce, and there is a bumper crop of wellness options that can be harvested by groups.

Setting good habits and intentions is an excellent way to kick off spring. It’s also a great time to declutter your life to declutter your mind, as well as bring some fresh new daily rituals into your life to become more mindful, practice kindness, boost your energy and sustain it throughout the day. Lululemon Experiential Design Lead Deb Gee shared three daily spring ritual tips to motivate and inspire event planners.

Spring is in the air, along with the new beginnings that come with it. As we embark on one of the most beautiful and regenerative times of the year, we shake off the doldrums of winter and embrace the warmth of renewal. A great way to start anew is by designing mindful events inspired by the season as well as personal daily rituals of mindfulness for yourself and your attendees, according to Lululemon's Deb Gee.

Today’s meeting professionals are looking for creative ways to help meeting attendees experience enhanced wellness. From offering platters of tasty greens on the buffet, yoga on the beach, and motivational speakers and alternative medicine gurus talking about healthy living, wellness is a new and increasingly popular menu item for groups in destinations like Central West Florida.

Clear skies, abundant sunshine, dramatic mountains and lush landscapes have made Greater Palm Springs a popular escape for decades, with a sense of calm prevailing the minute you land. As a leading wellness tourism destination, Greater Palm Springs is taking it to new heights with recent initiatives that are also carrying over into the meetings realm.

As the spa director at Omni Barton Creek Resort’s Mokara Spa, Jackie Flory has the privilege of designing unique treatments that incorporate some of the most innovative product lines. One of her favorites for facials is Babor, which features a line of serum ampoules such as Hydra Plus, Stop Stress, Perfect Glow and Active Purifier. We asked Flory for her three top tips to keep skin in great shape.

Just outside of downtown Austin in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country are two group-friendly properties brimming with health and wellness programming: Miraval Austin, which debuted in February 2019, and Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, slated to reopen in May 2019 after a $150 million renovation. 

Along with roughly 22 other participants at the annual Senior Planners Industry Network (SPIN) event, held at The Don CeSar in St. Petersburg, I opted not to take a morning educational session indoors. Instead, I stepped outside my comfort zone for a new wellness program: “Go Outside to Go Inside: Higher Performance Through the Magic of Insight.”