Want More Engaged Attendees? Focus Less on Time, More on Energy
Event professionals are moving beyond traditional scheduling and focusing on energy management to design experiences that support how people process and retain information.
Want to keep attendees awake and engaged? Focus on energy, not the clock. That was a theme of "The Wellness Intersection," a Skift Meetings Backstage Briefing held on May 29.
'Attention, information retention, energy, and connection come from events designed with the attendee in mind,' said Samantha T. Marie, chief experience officer at OmniEra Events and Travel.
She was joined by Sepideh Eivazi, founder of Dawn of the Earth, a company that combines somatic breathwork with custom teas.
Create Events That Support Sustained Energy
To keep energy high at events, build in moments that actively engage attendees physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Start with a dynamic opener to set the tone. Then vary the session formats to avoid fatigue. Mix presentations with interactive discussions, short movement breaks, or mindfulness moments.
Offer energizing snacks and hydration stations. In addition, be intentional about natural light and room layout. Even small shifts like encouraging people to stand, stretch, or breathe deeply will reset attention and boost focus.
The goal isn't to fill every minute. It's to create space that supports sustained energy throughout the day.
'Wellness must be woven into the entire experience. From registration to session transitions. It should be intentional, relevant, and grounded in purpose, keeping energy in mind,' said Eivazi.
Keep Wellness Simple
It doesn't have to be complicated. Breaks between sessions and time to rest help attendees stay focused.
Eivazi, a member of the Breathe Initiative at the Global Wellness Institute, focuses on breathwork and nervous system regulation. She is also a featured practitioner in Caesars Entertainment's group wellness menu, which includes curated food, drinks, and activities like guided breathwork, sound healing, and yoga.
Wellness can extend beyond the meeting room. In-room touches like downloadable wellness e-books, aromatherapy oils, soy candles, and organic teas help reinforce the experience. In addition, by leaving a thoughtful amenity in your attendees' guestrooms will let them know they work for a company that cares for their well-being. That will go a long way.
These touches will also help alleviate the stress that is rampant in today's society.
As wellness becomes a greater priority for attendees, planners who incorporate it across the whole event experience, keeping energy levels in mind, may deliver stronger results.
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Media Contacts: Dan Pinkney (Boston) — Email: [email protected] Gary Duncan (London) — Email: [email protected] Ann Lee (Singapore) — Email: [email protected] About Bain & Company Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 65 cities in 40 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. 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