Why the world needs Healthy Venues
In-person meetings resume, we encourage event organisers to use Healthy Venues for the wellbeing and health of their attendees and by following best practice as laid out here.
The Events Industry Council (EIC) states that face-to-face events make a significant contribution to the global economy. In fact, the Global Economic Significance of Business Events study, commissioned by the Events Industry Council and conducted by Oxford Economics, revealed some powerful statistics have a look here which includes as well a quarterly review called the “Global Business Events Barometer” providing key data points tracking the full global scope of the recovery.
Healthy meeting environments are proven to improve delegate productivity and leave them with a positive memory of the event. Healthy Venues are committed to providing healthy choices for all participants and are part of the solution for sustainable events. With the World Obesity Federation providing technical expertise in the development of the criteria around nutrition, physical activity and employee wellbeing, every accredited venue is committed to the wellbeing of its attendees and employees. The Healthy Venues accreditation is supporting the work that World Obesity does to reduce the global obesity epidemic.
All Healthy Venues stand out above their competitors because they care about the health and wellbeing of the world.
Our story
The Healthy Venue accreditation first arose out of our determination to improve the options available at events we were personally organising.
Find a Healthy Venue
Venues across the globe and of all different sizes are becoming Healthy Venues. Find the right one for your event.
Become a Healthy Venue
Gain the Healthy Venues advantage by registering your venue to gain accreditation and show your commitment to the health and well-being of your guests.
Are you an event organiser?
If you're an event organiser, you can do your part too! Learn and share your best practice for the health and well-being of your attendees.
“This accreditation is your new USP to let your stakeholders know that their wellbeing is more than a tick box to you.”
“We are proud to be recognized as a Healthy Venue, since healthy living is fundamental to what makes Vancouver a remarkable destination.”
Healthy venues are the new USP
We are currently at an interesting junction for the events industry, as a lot was learnt during our year of lockdown. One of the things that really jumped out (and I'm not talking digital) is the importance of health. Now, venues, we shouldn't brush that aside and solely focus on a new hybrid strategy. Definitely not, because health is your new USP!
Do you remember 'Healthy Venues'? it's a concept that was born out of the frustration of sitting in meetings or multiple day conferences. When you can get up, you have twenty minutes to fuel, and your options are sugary drinks or processed foods. That's not the way it should be and from that, a plan, an infrastructure, an initiative was born.
Healthy Venues is a transparent accreditation broken into three components
workplace health
healthy catering
promoting activity
You might notice how this idea fits into the landscape we currently find ourselves in, with even more emphasis and importance than it possibly did back in 2016. To avoid serious effects from outside contagions, living a healthy lifestyle is an important factor. As we spend a large portion of our lives in the workplace, and at meetings, this accreditation is your new USP to let your stakeholders know that their wellbeing is more than a tick box to you.
With Healthy Venues you are letting people know that they will have the option to choose healthier foods to fuel them throughout the day. You are telling guests that:
You support National Dietary Guidelines
All menus contain more than 25% 'healthier' options
Low-sugar or no-sugar drinks will always be served
Free drinking water will be provided at 'Hydration Stations' located around the venue
All vending machines contain more than 25% ‘healthier’ products
Visitor and delegate cardio movement is an important consideration, as you:
encourage physical activity through onsite challenges, information about ways to increase physical activity while on site, and by working with your event planners to introduce physical activity directly into their programs (for example, the employment of standing ovations during sessions).
utilise opportunities for physical activity around your venue and active travel (for example, bike schemes, walking paths, etc.)
consider joining other accredited Healthy Venues in offering exercise classes to complement client programs.
In this current climate, budgetary constraints are always a consideration. That's why the accreditation is awarded at three criteria levels:
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Offering everyone an opportunity to be part of a growing movement that not only places health at the forefront, but also serves as an umbrella for all of the other accreditations that could impact and add value to your organisation. Such as sustainability, green energy, wellbeing.
Healthy Venues isn't a quaint, niche scheme; it's a key part of a strategy, a call to action, a reassurance that health will no longer be relegated to an afterthought.
Join other venues promoting healthy choices for delegates and other people in the meetings and events industry. And remember, no matter how small or large your venue is, anyone can become a 'Healthy Venue'. Find out more at www.healthyvenues.org/becomeahv
In the news
Featured
The wellbeing of our attendees merits more than luck or chance, it is to be led by design
EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our event participants by following the Health Meeting steps for event organisers. We strongly encourage more venues to become Healthy Venues.
The wellbeing of our event attendees can no longer be left to luck or chance, we have to act now, we have to lead by design.
Sharon Ashton, Events Director, EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe
Health and wellbeing is extremely important
As responsible congress organiser, the health and wellbeing of our attendees is extremely important to Congrex Switzerland. At our conferences, we aim to help our clients to create an environment that supports attendees', members' and employees’ efforts to eat well and be physically active. Therefore we are happy to support Healthy Venues as part of our Request for Proposal (RfP) process. We encourage event venues to integrate best health and wellbeing practice and join Healthy Venues
Silvano Schär, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Congrex Switzerland
Meaningful, sustainable events
"There is more to our work than maximizing revenue. All of our activities, especially our events, should be meaningful and make a lasting impact!” says Silke Schlinnertz, award winning association and event professional.
“As a resource-efficient association, we want to hold sustainable and healthy events, while ensuring minimal environmental impact. Our programmes must be energising and this not only through the content provided. The health, comfort and well-being of our delegates is incredibly important.
The Healthy Venues family provides us with the tools enabling us to make the best and healthiest venue selection and hence an overall better event experience for all!"
Silke Schlinnertz was named one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry (2018) by Northstar Meetings Group, one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Event Industry (2019 and 2020) by Eventex and in 2021 she was one of the 21 Women Who Advance Associations.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
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