According to a recent study from IBTM World, 79% of meetings industry professionals say their job is more stressful now than it was prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 61% saying they have taken on additional responsibilities since. With higher stress levels comes the risk of employee burnout, which, according to the Harvard Business Review, might be relieved by prioritizing well-being and connecting with others. In the state of New York, two organizations provide extensive opportunities for groups to do just that.
Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa in New York’s Finger Lakes region has an expansive group experiences menu with options ranging from wellness to culinary to outdoor adventures. Wellness-based options include an Introduction to Ayurveda class with Ayurveda Yoga Specialist and Director of Serenity Laura Coburn, where attendees explore techniques to support their health through the lens of nature. The Sky Sound Journey Meditation session allows attendees to relax with yoga props and blankets as a practitioner uses gongs, singing bowls, and koshi chimes to create transformative sounds and vibrations. Yoga classes also are available.
On the culinary side, Inns of Aurora offers group activities like an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting, featuring products from New York-based F. Oliver’s. Attendees might also enjoy the resort’s gnocchi workshop, where they can savor a glass of regionally produced wine while being guided through the gnocchi-making process by the hotel’s chef. (The fruits of their labor are enjoyed afterward!) Outdoor activities at the resort include morning nature hikes, archery, and survival skills workshops.
TeamBonding, based in Boston, has been facilitating corporate team-building activities for more than 25 years and serves many New York markets, including Albany, Armonk, Buffalo, Lake Success, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers. The company offers many charitable group events, such as the Charity Guitar Build, where participants build electric guitars along with custom straps to be donated to a music school in the area. Or groups can hop aboard the Do Good Bus, where they will be transported to a mystery location for a surprise group volunteer activity—TeamBonding works with planners to select the location and type of service that fits best with their team. Beyond philanthropy, the organization also can put together group experiences like museum scavenger hunts, “Jeopardy!”-style game shows, and drumming sessions.
