The days of needing to “rise and grind” to succeed in business are fading. According to a McKinsey & Co. report on global wellness trends, 82% of consumers believe wellness is a top or important priority in their everyday lives. Today, more and more companies are seeing the importance of wellness practices in the lives of team members to increase productivity, focus, and a positive outlook on the job. Planners can help companies achieve wellness benefits during a meeting by holding it at a spa resort where attendees’ well-being takes center stage.
“Hosting a meeting at a spa resort offers the convenience of on-site relaxation and rejuvenation,” says Jonathan Falloon, director of group sales at La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio. “With already existing wellness programs in place, this allows for easy planning and execution.”
Options in Texas range from elegant indoor spa retreats to scenic outdoor getaways where fresh air and wide-open spaces are key to mental and physical well-being. A meeting at a spa isn’t just an opportunity to get a massage or seaweed wrap, it’s also for activities like fitness classes, outdoor excursions, and cryotherapy—just a few of the myriad programs available to attendees at various locations.
When considering a spa resort for your meeting, keep in mind attendees and their preferences. While some might enjoy being pampered in an exclusive spa environment, others might seek well-being and a clear mind through rigorous physical activity. Take the opportunity to be inclusive and arrange for programs that suit varying abilities, needs, and philosophies.
Slow Down
Many have been to conferences where you barely get time to breathe as you rush from one session to the next and spend most of your networking during mealtimes. The day is extended, and the sleep is anything but sound. While attendees can gain a lot from these types of on-the-go events, there is room for a more relaxed pace that allows people to create lasting memories.
Slowing the pace of a meeting also gives time for attendees to bond during a class or a leisurely outdoor meal. “The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa presents preprogrammed experiences for groups that express how Texans like to eat, drink, and play,” says General Manager Steve Fronterhouse. The resort offers activities “from tasting and toasting Southeast Texas cuisine and spirits to live-fire cooking, wellness activities, and team building focused on fresh air and friendship. The resort offers 33,890 square feet of indoor meeting space and 87,349 square feet of outdoor meeting space.”
Outdoor experiences like yoga on the meadow or morning stretching are customizable for different levels of involvement. The resort offers perks to extend the good vibes. “Planners can add custom yoga mats, water bottles, and chilled face towels, and finish with fresh-squeezed juices in The Meadow’s gazebo,” says Fronterhouse.
While in the past, planners might have given vouchers for spa treatments or excursions for attendees’ downtime on either side of a meeting, today these wellness activities are scheduled right into the day’s agenda. Attendees arrive with the expectation of a restful and invigorating experience all around.
Planners also guide events staff at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, where spa experiences are adjusted for the attendees’ comfort levels. “For example, are they envisioning something interactive such as a group yoga or meditation session, or do they envision more individual spa opportunities where each attendee can book their preferred treatment during the visit?” says Michael Hrabovsky, director of sales, marketing, and events at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa. “We also have arranged countless wellness-inspired activities on our stunning spa porch, which features daybed swings hanging from giant oak trees, a private heated lagoon-style pool, and a tranquil koi pond overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country setting.”
The resort, which completed a full meeting space and guest room renovation last year, offers 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, multiple breakout rooms filled with natural light, plus 502 guest rooms and suites.
Travel north toward Austin and you will discover the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, with 300,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor conference and meeting space. With Texas Hill Country scenery along the Colorado River, Lost Pines provides an oasis just outside the bustle of downtown Austin. The spa features 18 treatment rooms, or attendees can relax in the hot tub or the heated outdoor pool. Slow down with Lost Pines’ innovative wellness activities like forest immersion with journaling and grounding meditation with medicinal herbs.
Gear Up
Of course, slowing down isn’t the only way to feel refreshed. Hopping on a bike and spending the afternoon on a scenic trail lets attendees leave worries behind while working up a sweat. In Texas, attendees will not only find resort amenities like tennis and golf, but they also can get the opportunity to commune with nature in a Western way—from the back of a horse.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa offers horseback riding along Hill Country trails, steer-roping lessons, fishing in a stocked pond, and an outdoor shooting range. Attendees can take a guided all-terrain vehicle tour to get the thrill of speeding down bumpy roads, or slow down with a craft workshop. Groups will enjoy lawn games and courts for tennis, pickleball, and basketball, and attendees can unwind with their families in the property’s water park complete with a water slide and lazy river. A highlight of the resort is the Lost Pines Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 course set among rolling hills and oak trees.
In San Antonio, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa hosts golf tournaments
on the property’s 27-hole championship course. It also offers rodeo Olympics team building, surfing competition in the FlowRider wave-simulation machine, and beach volleyball under the setting sun.
La Cantera Resort & Spa, also in San Antonio, is home to an 18-hole championship course that has been a PGA tour stop for 15 years. Attendees have access to tennis, pickleball, and scenic walking trails, as well as the Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness. “Essentially, La Cantera is an oasis within the city that’s easily accessible and in reach of a plethora of activities, entertainment, and dining,” says Falloon. “We also have been voted the No.1 Resort in Texas and the Southwest by Condé Nast Traveler.” Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness was voted among the top five spas in the country in a USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll.
Fitness classes can be a fun part of wellness programs for attendees. At The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, attendees have an all-access pass to The Houstonian Club with 200 weekly group fitness classes, racquet sports, a fitness center with over 300 pieces of equipment, turfed fitness zone, Pilates, and yoga studios—all with no resort fees.
Take Care
Of course, for many attendees, the word “spa” will conjure images of pampering treatments and afternoons spent in fluffy robes sipping mimosas. Fortunately, Texas isn’t all trail rides and gatherings on the lawn.
“Trellis Spa, located on the 27-acre property of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa resembles a magnificent European Villa, and at 26,500 square feet, is the largest luxury spa in the state of Texas,” says Fronterhouse. “An outdoor contrast bathing experience is offered for groups of up to 12 guests with a how-to video; a semiprivate poolside cabana; and a complimentary bottle of prosecco, water, an appetizer plate, a travel-sized Coola Sunscreen, and Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Splash Spray for the ultimate getaway.”
Smaller groups can gather at the private holistic facility, The Covery by The Houstonian Club. “The first of its kind in Texas, The Covery is an immersive wellness studio that focuses on health and productivity through various services for the mind and body,” says Fronterhouse. Services are overseen by medical staff and include a cryotherapy chamber, hyperbaric oxygen treatments, and NAD+ IV infusion therapy.
Attendees at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa have access to the Windflower Spa, which is set among 300 acres of wildflower meadows. Attendees can enjoy experiences like the eucalyptus steam room and Beyond Bliss CBD facial. “Planners work directly with our spa team to curate wellness-focused experiences that fit the needs and preferences of their group,” says Hrabovsky.
For coastal spa experiences, planners can book the San Luis Resort, Spa, and Conference Center in Galveston, offering direct access to the Galveston Island Convention Center. The beachfront property wows with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico that extend into pre-function areas with floor-to-ceiling windows. Breakout rooms, a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, 43,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, and 700 guest rooms make the resort an ideal spot for conventions and gatherings of all sizes.
At Spa San Luis, attendees will relax among the scent of beach oleander and enjoy treatments that range from practical to luxurious. The sports pedicure and de-stress massage help attendees feel groomed and ready for the next day’s events, while the DermaFlash facial treatment and hydrating body wrap will pamper attendees who want a youthful glow.
Planning a meeting at a spa resort in Texas will delight attendees and give everyone a much-needed opportunity to recharge.
houstonian.com
hyatt.com
lacanteraresort.com
lostpinesresortandspa.com
sanluisresort.com
