Meditation, relaxation, exercise, and nutrition. These are just a few of the elements that make up wellness. While these are things that many of us may think about in our personal lives, it’s not always something that we consider incorporating into our professional lives. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. Including aspects that enhance your attendees’ well-being can show your franchisees that you want them comfortable and cared for. Not only will health and wellness practices at your next event make your guests happier, but it can also humanize your franchise organization while making you stand out from the competition.
Quick Links
- What Is Wellness and Well-Being?
- Why Wellness and Well-Being Matter at Your Franchise Show?
- How to Include Wellness and Well-Being at Your Franchise Show
What Is Wellness and Well-Being?
Wellness and well-being encompasses the physical, mental, and emotional health of individuals. When it comes to physical well-being, that can entail healthy practices, exercise, and nutrition. Ensuring good mental and emotional health can include stress management, relaxation, and coping skills, among various other practices.
Why Wellness and Well-Being Matter at Your Franchise Show?
There’s no doubt that you will want to cover multiple topics during your franchise convention, along with what you’ve planned for your attendees to learn, share, and experience. For example, you may want to implement information on balancing the goals of franchisors and the needs of the franchisee. But have you considered your attendees’ health may be just as important as the health of your business? Balancing all the essential elements of a business with their personal lives requires enough sleep, proper nutrition, and attention to well-being. Unfortunately, these topics are ones many people seldom consider.
Additionally, a focus on health can show your guests you care about their lives outside of the franchise business. While it’s important to distribute the knowledge you want your attendees to gain from your event, it’s also critical to show them that their well-being matters to you as well.
Why Wellness and Well-Being Matters for Franchise Organizations
While the primary goals of the franchise convention may be to learn and network, your attendees also deserve time to rest, reflect, and relax. Providing that opportunity for them fosters community, builds loyalty, and demonstrates your understanding of the issues they are dealing with in their lives. It can also differentiate you in a fairly competitive market. While entrepreneurs and franchisees are typically ambitious and motivated, demonstrating that you recognize the need to take care of oneself sets your organization apart from those who are solely focused on achieving business goals.
Further, occupational wellness is becoming an important focus for those in the health and wellness space. We spend a large portion of our time at work, especially when running a business, and occupational wellness looks at:
- Attitudes about going to work
- Building relationships
- Handling stress at work
- Work/life balance
- Attitudes about developing and using our skills
What better way is there to demonstrate to your franchisees that you value wellness and well-being than to include it in your own franchise conference?
Why Wellness and Well-Being Matters for Franchisees
Starting a business can be daunting with the various tasks that must be accomplished to ensure success. But attending conventions, trade shows, and conferences doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you’re mindful of your attendees’ well-being.
Though it’s easy to get caught up in all the “to-do’s” without prioritizing one’s health and wellness, building wellness activities into your event can encourage your franchisees to schedule these sorts of practices into their personal lives as well.
Further, while your franchisees are attending to learn and network, they also want to build relationships. A relaxation lounge can provide the right atmosphere to do just that. Research shows how important informal conversations are to the relationship-building process. Those conversations are only possible when your attendees aren’t racing from session to session, feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Taking the time to build a space devoted to wellness at your next conference shows that you value this important aspect of the franchise business.
How to Include Wellness and Well-Being at Your Franchise Show
Including health and wellness at your franchise convention doesn’t have to interrupt your schedule or impede your goals. In fact, there are opportunities to include activities that reflect your goals and even your brand!
1. Food and drink
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to incorporate wellness and well-being into your event is to ensure there are healthy choices for attendees (not just at meal times, but also throughout the day). Food and drink options are essential due to the various dietary needs and restrictions of your attendees, so providing them is a great way to demonstrate your understanding of the diverse needs of your franchisees.
Smoothie and steep stations (for tea) are a great addition, as well as nutritious and colorful bowls at mealtime. And for restaurant franchises, this is a perfect opportunity to highlight existing healthy menu options or to introduce new ones!
2. Active, off-site activities
While thrill-seeking, off-site activities are popular and have their place, adrenaline pumping isn’t always the route to go. But that doesn’t mean other options have to be sedentary. Off-site activities can still get your attendees moving while providing relaxation, combining two wellness actions into one! Consider any of the following to boost endorphins and get guests moving:
- Walking tours of a city
- Hiking or bird watching
- Kayaking on calm waters
- Swimming or beach activities
- Golfing excursions
- Team-building rope courses
Again, off-site activities can coordinate with your goals. Consider team challenges for steps, scavenger hunts, and more. Plus, if you’re in a new city, consider including franchise locations as part of a tour or hunt!
3. Wellness stations
From screenings to health information, wellness stations can be creative. If you’ve ever seen a fitness trail, you can even create a wellness trail throughout your venue that features yoga poses, reminds your attendees to breathe, and helps them relax–think headphones with nature sounds, massaging recliners, and more. Further, relaxation stations don’t have to be focused on stagnant meditation. In fact, meditation practitioners will tell you that moving meditation and focused movement can be incredibly beneficial!
4. Develop their skills
Remember occupational wellness? To allow your franchisees to feel part of the planning process for the future of the business, consider franchise challenges. Have individuals, teams, or mentor/mentee partners develop new products, programs, or offers, giving them the opportunity to voice their opinions and flex their creative muscles. This is a win-win for both parties, as attendees get to showcase their ideas and hosts get to hear new, creative concepts.
5. Exercise opportunities
For your active franchisees who run, cycle, swim, lift, or more, you’ll want to provide opportunities for movement. But trying to find time for these important activities can be tough, especially if your franchise event is overscheduled. Consider adding in exercise opportunities like bike tours, 5k runs, and more. For many, exercise is an important part of their health routines while acting as a means of stress management. This is a perfect opportunity to include health and well-being into your event while demonstrating an understanding of your audience.
With the right franchise event planning partner, creating opportunities to highlight guests’ wellness can be made easy. Perhaps more importantly, well-being opportunities at your franchise event communicate to your attendees that you value not just wellness but their wellness.
Thankfully, health, wellness, and well-being has been on trend for over a decade and appears to be evergreen. Due to this, including these activities and options ensures you’re delivering the kind of event guests want to attend and the kind of event they’ll talk about long after it’s over.
Ready to talk to our team of franchise experts about how we can help you with your next franchise conference? To delight your guests, attract new franchisees, build and nurture relationships, and ensure their (and your) success, reach out to the Bishop-McCann team today to get started!