Believe it or not, where organizations choose to host their conventions and conferences makes a profound impact on attendees’ health and wellbeing, as we all know too well that our places matter to our overall productivity. 

Event organizers invest substantial funds in venue rentals, event coordination and marketing efforts, expecting a return on investment through attendee engagement and satisfaction. However, more often than we like, attendees are greeted with beige, uninspiring spaces that leave them to feel disengaged and dissatisfied. What should have been an opportunity for growth and connection turns into a struggle to stay engaged.

Imagine you’re arriving at a conference after hours of travel. You’re fighting through jet lag but eager to learn and meet interesting people to expand your professional network. Instead of entering a lively space with energizing vibes, you’re greeted with lackluster settings where the overall atmosphere lacks a personable touch. 

Presentations are held in windowless rooms lit by moderate-quality fluorescent light, making the speakers look sickly. The air is stuffy because of insufficient air flow in the space. You’re hungry and dehydrated because the food table was piled with sugary cookies and lacked more nutritious alternatives (worse if you have dietary restrictions as many people do), and there were no water stations available. 

You wind up struggling to stay awake, let alone engaged. What’s worse, if you’re a breastfeeding mom, there isn’t a lactation room in sight. It’s a far cry from the dynamic, collaborative experience you were hoping for.

This cycle of fatigue and disengagement takes its toll, leaving you feeling drained and unfulfilled, undermining the conference’s purpose! It’s time for conference organizers to shake things up and create spaces that electrify the experience for speakers and attendees. How?

Provide Ample Airflow for Health and Comfort: With concerns about illness transmission heightened in crowded settings, such as conferences, ensuring proper ventilation is paramount. Remember, we’re here to share ideas not coughs. Proper airflow reduces the risk of spreading diseases and fosters a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for productive engagement. In fact, studies show improved indoor air quality increases cognitive function by 61% to 101%.

Healthy Lighting for Cognitive Performance: Studies show that incorporating natural or dynamic lighting significantly influences mood and cognitive performance. Properly integrated lighting strategies focusing on health can keep attendees alert, engaged and focused throughout the event while enabling them to sleep better at night to recuperate.

Schedule More Energizing Opportunities for Engagement: Breaks are more than just pauses between sessions; they're opportunities for meaningful connections. Instead of cramming networking into one hour, let’s intersperse breaks like a quick stretch, a themed activity or a mindfulness session to keep attendees actively engaged and invested in the conference.

Mindful Food and Beverage Offerings: While sugary and salty breakfast options and alcohol-laden happy hours may seem appealing, they lead to energy crashes and fatigue, diminishing the conference experience. Instead, prioritize an offering of nourishing food options and beverage choices that sustain energy levels and support productivity while being mindful of dietary restrictions.

Relaxing Lactation Spaces for Breastfeeding Mothers: Let’s not overlook the needs of breastfeeding mothers. Providing dedicated lactation spaces ensures privacy and comfort for breastfeeding while promoting a supportive environment for all attendees. Plus, these spaces can double as meditation areas or prayer rooms to accommodate diverse needs and foster inclusion and wellbeing among conference participants.

It’s crucial to rethink how to leverage conference spaces as a vehicle to pamper attendee wellbeing and maximize engagement. By focusing on things like good air ventilation, proper lighting, energizing breaks, healthy refreshments and inclusive spaces for nursing mothers, conference organizers and operators can create events that leave everyone feeling refreshed and inspired.

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