At the halfway point of 2025, we asked some experts to weigh in on the current state of wellness initiatives at events. Here’s what these experts—all speakers who are also involved with Caesars Entertainment’s wellness menu—had to say when we ask them to “Tell about a promising (or discouraging) event wellness trend you’ve witnessed or participated in this year.” They discuss integrating wellness into core event programming, the importance of recharging and building stronger communities.

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One of the most promising trends in corporate and incentive events this year is the intentional integration of wellness—not just as a feel-good extra, but as a strategic part of the attendee experience. More than 80% of planners now say wellness is a priority, and we’re seeing that reflected in programming: guided breathwork before general sessions, immersive wellness rooms and even wellness team building. These aren’t trends—they’re transformations. When wellness is thoughtfully designed, it enhances connection, retention and performance.

Kristine Iverson
Founder, CROW Practice
Mental Fitness Speaker

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I’m seeing more organizations open to incorporating mindfulness into their conferences—and it’s a shift that’s long overdue. People can only absorb so much information before they become overwhelmed and disengaged. At an event I spoke at in Las Vegas earlier this year, I was asked to lead four mindfulness workshops following my keynote so that attendees—many of whom were in leadership roles—could participate in a 20-minute session to reset, recharge and refocus.

It’s encouraging to see organizers recognizing that just like any smart device needs its batteries recharged, so does the human mind. It’s truly a breath of fresh air to see attendee wellness becoming a meaningful part of the conference experience.

Pandit Dasa
Keynote Speaker and Author
Leadership, Workplace Culture & Mindfulness Expert

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Wellness is more of a priority for meetings and events than ever before, and it’s at a real inflection point. Attendees are craving more personalized tracks, less burnout during the event and experiences that help them feel better, not just smarter. What's promising is that events are shifting towards intentional, integrated wellness that goes beyond a sparsely attended 6 a.m. yoga class.

Wellness has evolved from a nice-to-have add-on to something that is absolutely essential to the event's core design. Events that embrace wellness aren't just supporting their attendees, but they're standing out, staying relevant and becoming must-attend. When you make wellness part of your event, people can feel the difference.

The one caution I’ve seen is the temptation to treat wellness as a box to check. But incorporating wellness into an event isn't static—it should be constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of attendees. As our audiences grow, shift and face new challenges, our approach to wellness must also adapt each year alongside them.

Some exciting wellness trends that I've seen gaining traction this past year include expanded networking breaks to reduce event burnout, fitness and step challenges that build community amongst attendees, scalable breakout sessions like sound baths and breathwork exercises, an increase in non-alcoholic beverage options and healthier snacks, wellness-related keynotes that align with the event's theme and even wellness tips printed on the back of attendee badges. The possibilities are endless when it comes to innovating and staying creative to make wellness a consistent and core value of your event.

Nolan Nichols
Fortune 500 Keynote Speaker & Video Storytelling Producer

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What excites me most about the state of wellness in the events industry this year is the shift from performance to presence—from curated moments to embodied experiences. We’re no longer just talking about wellness. We’re feeling it. Living it. Designing from it.

I’ve seen spaces where breathwork opens keynotes, where silence is honored between panels, where nervous system regulation and emotional safety are woven into the fabric of the event—not as a feature, but as a foundation. These aren’t just trends—they’re truth-telling tools that bring people closer to have a deeper sense of connection. They’re reminders that people can’t create, connect or lead from a place of depletion.

The future of our industry belongs to those who lead from the heart. Those unafraid to prioritize softness, safety and community. It’s in these moments—when we create room for vulnerability, regulate our systems and truly listen—that transformation happens.

What discourages me is when wellness is reduced to a marketing checkbox. True wellness isn’t aesthetic—it’s relational. It lives in how we hold each other. How we pause. How we choose presence over performance to serve our attendees and leave them with a sense of belonging.

Wellness is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s the most radical act of leadership we can embody.

Sepi Eivazi
Founder, Dawn of the Earth
Igniting Tranquili-TEA through Somatic Breathwork