Meet – Swim – Cake
A new concept of conferences. One where mindfulness and wellbeing take centre stage. Meetings and conferences have long been the mainstay to kickstart and drive productivity when launching a new product or service. Getting the team together often constitutes the beginning of a strategy and the beginning of ideas to brainstorm with colleagues. This new concept of conferences breaks from tradition, starting with a meeting presentation, then wild swimming followed by cake.
Key factors to consider when organising a meeting or conference:
Choosing a venue
Location is key
A central venue with good road, rail and other transport access is often vital.
Capacity for the number of delegates
Conference rooms that can comfortably accommodate the delegate list. It is important to assess here the layout, whether a theatre style for AGM style meetings to cabaret which can be more interactive.
Priorities for the day
Often this starts with the client, and it is crucial to ensure this is at the heart of planning. This may include teambuilding activities, incorporating use of grounds and features within the setting. Engaging an external provider for outdoor pursuits, teambuilding exercises and bespoke events can often be the spark to stimulate ideas out of the traditional boardroom setting.
Ancillary services
Whether away day or training seminar, clients may often seek additional breakout rooms. This can be the catapult to hone in with a core team and drive focus on a specific area. The space can also be versatile to include an exhibition location if engaging partner suppliers or collaborators in delivering a successful event.
Breaking from the norm
Whilst a lot of the above factors and considerations are almost a given, what is often overlooked is how to ensure the conference is not the same as every other. The new concept of conferences is all about the wellbeing of the delegates, keeping mind and body refreshed with activities that make a difference.
Here we share first-hand experience of a client who came to us initially with a brief of a conference for 100 to 150 delegates. Being a national company in the sports, health, and leisure sector, their priorities were to incorporate some form of external sporting activity as part of their launch day.
Taking advantage of the natural and rural setting, the day flowed initially with a meeting and presentation in our Lakeside Pavilion. A healthy buffet lunch including many vegan options, swiftly followed by breakout into teams.
Approximately 80 delegates opted for open water swimming in the nearby West Lake operated by our neighbours, Whole Health. The remaining team undertook a smaller presentation before uniting together for an early evening boat cruise on the River Trent.
Senior delegates stayed overnight in our luxurious bedrooms at Colwick Hall.
The key success of the day was all about wellbeing and mindfulness. Combined with team activities, the rush of wild swimming was truly energising. It proved a perfect antidote to cleaning the mind and refreshing the body.
The overall consensus from all the delegates was that this conference clearly chartered new waters. Mindfulness and wellbeing remained a core objective throughout the day.