• Engaging participants outside the meetings Food and beverage will always be a pillar of great meetings and events, but these offerings don’t need to remain relegated to traditional dining times. Consider the opportunities your meeting breaks can deliver, from water bars to s’mores building stations and much more. Surprise attendees with seasonal or out of season offerings to change it up. Take your coffee and water break to new levels with a few of these ideas. We introduced readers to the H2O Mixology Bar in our Fall 2017 issue. The ‘water bar’ gives attendees an array of options for flavoring their water, from strawberry jalepeno to orange blueberry. Radisson Blue Mall of America supplies meeting participants with branded infuser bottles and fresh ingredients to make their breaks both health conscious and interactive, with a ‘Water Doctor’ serving personalized concoctions. Read more at www.MWMeet.com/H2OToGo . |
Meeting guests have enjoyed a taste of the apple orchard at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, WI. Groups are treated to apple pies, ciders, tarts, apples dipped in caramel, and apple as candy during a morning snack break. This locally curated experience is part of Executive Chef Brian Frakes' creative dining mind. Watch a video from Chef Frakes at
www.MWMeet.com/AppleOrchardBreak .
Does your group of participants need time to move, and possibly stretch? JW Marriott Chicago introduced the “7th Inning Stretch Breakout Session” this year to help alleviate this need. Jason Raynor designed the session to connect with local baseball history and allow for movements which can be accomplished while wearing business attire. “Think of this wellness break and stretches as a mental and physical rejuvenation,” said Raynor, “When we sit all day there is a cascading effect of physical deterioration.” Learn the elements of this session at G .
Other movement breaks could include yoga and guided meditation, or good old fashioned music! A good beat can go straight to the soul and get people bopping without thought.
Senior Professionals Industry Network (SPIN), with the help of Great Wolf Lodge, offered SPINCON 2017 participants a variety of break experiences. From mini desserts to create your own trail mix and vegetable juices, and our Editor’s favorite, The S’mores Bar, SPIN kept attendees guessing and delighted.
The S’mores Bar consisted of beautifully arranged steno burners, skewers, marshmallows, crushed nuts, crushed candy cane, caramel sauce, and more, allowing each individual not only the fun of roasting a marshmallow, but the ability to create their own one-of-a-kind s’more. “My s’mores life is forever changed with the addition of candy cane pieces,” said Charmaine Houck, Editor of Midwest Meetings. “You get to know a little about a person watching them roast a marshmallow too, some are more patient than others,” she quipped with a laugh.
Since “change is always in,” work to change up your break routines in 2018. The added surprise will help foster positive learning and create lasting memories.