With the increasing demand for health and wellness activities during trade shows and conferences, it couldn’t be a better time for an industry event dedicated to helping planners learn how to incorporate these popular elements at their meetings, trade shows and conferences.

As a grassroots educational event focused on health and wellness in the meetings and events industry, the Health & Wellness Forum (HWF) offers industry education, networking and experiential learning to help corporate event planners, association executives and meeting professionals transform meetings and convention facilities with attendee wellness options. 

Launched Jan. 18-20 at the Hotel at Midtown in the Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago, the annual event is produced by MeetingHealthy, a company dedicated to educating the meetings and events industry on the benefits of incorporating health and wellness into face-to-face events. 

“Meeting professionals are more interested than ever in incorporating healthy options such as nutrition, yoga, fitness, corporate social responsibility, ergonomics and other wellness options onsite for meeting attendees and tired business travelers,” explained Kristina Tarantino with MeetingHealthy, who organizes HWF along with fellow event planners, Nikki Faul and Rachael Riggs.

She continued, “We have found that many (event) professionals are very interested in weaving health and wellness into meeting design but they may not know where to begin, thus, why HWF has become an interest of so many. We want to give inspiration, tips, tools and education so meeting professionals can feel confident when initially incorporating these ideas into the agendas.”

The second annual HWF, set to return Feb. 7-9 to the Hotel at Midtown, has plenty on tap for planners eager to implement healthy practices and options into their event programming, including morning “sweatworking” classes; educational sessions taught by industry leaders covering a variety of health-related topics; networking opportunities and an expo; professional and meditation breaks, as well as a hands-on dinner education session with Midtown Chef Amanda Barnes demonstrating how to create a sustainable menu and mock cocktails for events.  

While learning from the chefs, personal trainers and other health professionals, attendees will also have full access to the club during the event.

Sponsors already committed to HWF 2019 include Hotel at Midtown, EventDex, Profbox, Experient and Tourism Vancouver, one of the event’s founding sponsors. 

According to Tarantino, attendees will leave HWF feeling inspired and energized to tackle the new year, set career goals and intentions, and help attendees do the same. 

“The (event) industry’s latest trend is wellness in meetings, however, we believe it is more than a trend, it is a way of life – it is a movement,” Tarantino said.

She continued, “At the 2019 HWF, we will again bring education from inside and outside the industry to create an immersive environment for learning through knowledge-share and hands-on experiences. We want to disrupt, inspire and change the way we all meet!”

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