TSE趋势报告：会展活动中的身心健康实践

MCLEAN, Va. — With mental health issues increasing in recent years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) wanted to address the need to make health and wellness a priority in the workplace — and decided to lead by example.

The result was a menu of wellness activities that was unveiled at the IFDA Solutions Conference in 2025. In the show’s Wellness Lounge, attendees could participate in meditative coloring, aromatherapy, zero-gravity relaxation, sound baths and stretching exercises, getting time away from the hustle and bustle of the event so they could recharge their batteries and feel refreshed.

“The idea was to create a wellness room where attendees could go and find respite during the show,” IFDA’s Senior Director of Meetings & Events Andrea Streat, PMP, said. “What we wanted to do more than that was to convey a message to those in attendance, and to those who lead people, that it’s important to place an emphasis on supporting your employees’ mental health.”

Andrea Streat, PMP, Senior Director of Meetings & Events at IFDA

In addition to using these activities to convey an important message, Streat says IFDA also wanted to create experiences that would have long-lasting effects after attendees returned home.

“What I wanted to do, and what I thought would resonate most with our attendees, was to really stay keenly focused on mental health in particular, and create experiences that could be replicated at home, in your car or in the workplace when you just need to de-stress for a few minutes,” Streat said. “That was really the goal.”

IFDA brought the Wellness Lounge back to its 2026 conference, which was on Sept. 13-15 at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio.

Anyone thinking about making wellness a part of their events can also meet their goals by focusing on their stakeholders’ needs, says Streat.

“It’s not just an idea for idea’s sake,” Streat said. “It always starts with your audience, and really understanding what it is that you’re trying to deliver and how the audience is going to receive it. I wouldn’t want to come up with a wellness plan and solution for the conference and not be able to visualize how attendees will receive it.”

Rest and Relaxation Boost Productivity on the Show Floor

IMEX America’s Resilience Room is an immersive space that has been designed according to the restorative patterns of nature, which results in an immersive experience that leaves attendees feeling regulated, re-energized and restored.

Through the use of living greenery, natural textures, ambient soundscapes and intentional moments of discovery, the space supports people’s well-being by reducing the overstimulation they may feel on the show floor and rebuilding the mental clarity they need to be productive.

“It gives attendees permission and space to pause,” Kate Walsh, Chief Business Officer at Hello! Destination Management, which powers the experience, said. “The goal is not simply relaxation, but helping attendees show up more fully for the experiences and connections that matter most throughout the event.”

Similarly, the Circadian Cove Rx — which was created by the wellness-first corporate events agency Olympian Meeting at IMEX America — is designed to help participants get the most out of the event through evidence-based modalities that are tailored to people’s energy levels throughout the show.

It offers activities like guided visualizations, red light therapy and cryotherapy.

The ACS bases its wellness activities on a meeting’s location or specific time of year.

“Our big thing is we’re not there to help people survive IMEX. We’re there to help people thrive during IMEX. Our space is not a passive relaxation zone. Our space is an active recovery area where people are resetting so they can get back to it,” Olympian Meeting Co-Founder David T. Stevens, PMED, WITT-AP, explained. “Just like during a tough workout, you get a break, you get to recover, you pause, you catch your breath and then you get back to work.”

Location, Location, Location

Since 2023, the attendees of meetings organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) have enjoyed its Wellness & Serenity Lounge, which includes curated spaces offering amenities like prayer rugs, yoga mats, guided mindfulness activities and neurodivergent-friendly fidgets.

According to Elizabeth Huh, CAE, CMP Fellow, DES, Vice President of Events, Meetings and Expositions at ACS, its wellness activities are created based on a meeting’s location or specific time of year.

Whether it’s an oxygen bar in Denver, prayer spaces during Ramadan or basketball for March Madness, ACS strives to offer a variety of features.

“Our goal is to offer wellness experiences that are diverse, inclusive and representative of each host city. We work with local partners to identify activities that provide an opportunity to relax, recharge and connect with one another,” Huh said. “The variety helps ensure there is something for everyone, whether people are looking for relaxation, movement, reflection or social engagement.”

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