Underscoring the importance of employee well-being, the Global Wellness Institute has formed its new Meetings and Events Initiative, a global effort on the cusp of Global Meetings Industry Day to apply wellness as an evidence-based performance driver through practical, measurable event design strategies.
The action is being led by chair David T. Stevens, PMED, WITT-AP, cofounder of Olympian Meeting, and vice chair Reina Herschdorfer, director of marketing and public relations for Caesars Entertainment Meetings & Events. They will be joined by the following industry leaders, who will contribute their expertise and guidance to the initiative:
- Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association
- Stephanie Harris, president of the Incentive Research Foundation
- Tahira Endean, MSc, CITP, CMP, CED, head of program for IMEX
- Dena Lowery, president of the Opus Agency
- Rachel Benedick, chief revenue officer for Meeting Professionals International
"Meetings and events already shape human well-being, whether we mean to or not," said Stevens. "This initiative is about helping our industry take that responsibility seriously and turn it into action. Wellness must become practical, credible, measurable and operational."
Meetings affect organizational performance
As recognition grows that meetings and events directly influence organizational performance, the aim of the initiative is to help integrate wellness into event design, supporting stronger business outcomes, higher attendee satisfaction, increased engagement, improved content retention, a greater sense of belonging and enhanced overall well-being.
The Meetings and Events Initiative is focused on advancing practical, evidence-based strategies that deliver these results consistently across the industry.
The global wellness economy is valued at $6.8 trillion, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing sectors. This initiative will serve the full meetings and events ecosystem, including corporate and association planners, trade show organizers, event marketers, agencies, destination management companies, hoteliers, executives and international event leaders.
Its work will be guided by a practical framework built around the 4 M's: Mindfulness, Movement, Meals and Meaning, with a first-year focus on developing a best-practices playbook for application across markets and event types.
"This initiative creates an opportunity for the meetings and events industry to move forward with greater clarity, stronger standards, and a more intentional approach to designing experiences that support both people and performance," said Herschdorfer. "I am honored to help shape this work alongside the distinguished industry professionals contributing to this effort. Their leadership and influence are instrumental in driving meaningful change. Together with the broader global wellness community, we have the potential to significantly advance the future landscape of meetings and events."
