Business travelers are becoming increasingly health conscious, new research suggests. They value their routines and want to maintain their peace of mind while on the road. For event planners looking for ways to incorporate health and wellness into their meetings, suggestions at the Health and Wellness Forum held in Chicago earlier this year ranged from yoga breaks to diffused essential oils. One destination that’s committed to presenting such elements in its meeting spaces is Greater Palm Springs, California, where venues’ offerings include juicing sessions and aromatherapy stations.
Greater Palm Springs, nestled in a Southern California valley surrounded by four picturesque mountain ranges, offers attendees palm trees and blue skies — a chance to reconnect with nature, decompress, and leave refreshed and ready to incorporate what they learned.
Here are some of the health-focused meetings amenities Greater Palm Springs has to offer.
Relaxation Breaks
Meetings hotels like the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa make it easy for delegates to de-stress in between sessions. Westin Mission Hills offers a “Relaxation Station” featuring fruit-infused water, chilled towels, and a scrub-making bar. At the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, attendees can find chair massages, juicing sessions, and aromatherapy stations where they can blend essential oils that they can then apply to pulse points to boost energy levels.
At the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, the mind/body enhancement option can help delegates unwind during breaks. The program features four self-paced stations where attendees can listen to a meditation tape, follow yoga stretching and plyometrics videos, and enjoy fresh juices. Planners can also arrange for aromatherapy during these breaks to help delegates wake up and refocus.
Food & Beverage
Hotels and venues in Greater Palm Springs make healthy and thoughtful food and beverage a priority. For planners looking for fresh farm-to-table options, La Quinta Resort & Club offers a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. Plus, a lot of their items, like an egg white breakfast burrito, can be eaten on the go, as delegates explore the property’s lush 45-acre grounds. “Especially as meeting attendees spend hours inside of a boardroom, we value the importance of pairing fresh food with fresh air,” says Chris George, director of marketing at La Quinta Resort & Club. “This healthy ‘fast food’ approach maximizes busy schedules and allows attendees more time to enjoy the beautiful desert landscape.”
At the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, it’s all about balance. The luxury property provides attendees with plenty of options to suit individual needs and lifestyles like juice bars located throughout meeting spaces, poke bars offering customizable fresh seafood, and “street food” setups, incorporating a variety of authentic and unique flavors.
Get Outside
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, the destination allows attendees to spend as much time outdoors as they’d like. Options include exploring the more than 160 trails around Greater Palm Springs, including the many beautiful hiking trails of the Indian Canyons; riding more than 8,500 feet up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (a 10-minute trip); and hiking to the top of Mount San Jacinto. Also, the Coachella Valley Preserve features 20,000 acres of trails, wildlife, and desert wilderness to enjoy.
At Two Bunch Palms, delegates can enjoy yoga, meditate by the lake, walk a labyrinth, or soak in the resort’s mineral-rich hot spring. More active attendees can participate in The RunWestin program along the golf courses at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, which also partners with Animal Samaritans in a canine fostering program that allows delegates “to play with the dogs and take a mental break from their meeting,” says Mayra Cisneros, the resort’s former meeting and event manager.
For more information on finding a meeting oasis in Greater Palm Springs, check out the destination’s meetings deals, including discounts on everything from world-class restaurants and unique meeting spaces to team-building activities and group experiences.