Meeting planners are taking a holistic, minimalist, and sustainable approach to meeting and conference planning. Eco-Meet, a green planning option, features meeting breaks (as well as luncheon and dinner menus and activities) with disposable-free service, which means using glassware and cloth napkins—no paper or plastic. Catering director Bob Mikolitch of the Fairmont Washington, D.C., touts meeting break menus featuring fresh fruits and vegetables grown on sustainable farms, which use an organic approach to farming. Tea cookies infused with lavender, rosemary, and other herbs are popular on the green menus, as well as organic smoothies made with “it” fruits such as the antioxidant-laden pomegranate. Freshly squeezed watermelon, cantaloupe, and carrot juice are other beverage offerings, and teas infused with fruit and herbs “come to life,” says Mikolitch, when served in clear glass teapots that display the vibrant colors of mango swirling in green tea or Earl Grey with rose petals. In addition, all safely recyclable meeting left overs are donated to local shelters or offered in the employee dining room, so that virtually nothing is needlessly wasted.

For green meeting break décor, the Fairmont paints an Asian-themed, minimalist, “urban oasis” setting, using bamboo, cork tiles, or live grasses under glass slabs instead of traditional banquet tables; river rocks and floating candles for centerpieces; and live time-elapsed plants instead of flowers. International, new age music (think Cirque du Soleil) is played softly in the background, lending to the escapist vibe but never interfering with conversation.

“Admittedly,” Mikolitch adds, “the green option is a little more expensive, but people are willing to experiment, and saving the environment is a hot issue. Bottom line is that money spent on products that are good for your body and mind is money well spent.”

HARD ROCK HOTELS

Meeting breaks at the Hard Rock Hotel, Universal Orlando Resort, pretty much rock. Cori McNamee, director of conference management and catering, admits the Hard Rock name allows her team to get away with more “fun, edgy, and funky” meeting décor and menus. Take, for instance, the “Fear Factor Live” meeting break— inspired by the face-your-fears TV show and the Universal Studios park attraction—which consists of tantalizing menu options such as Tarantula Droppings (coconut and chocolate); Worms and Dirt (gummy worms in chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos); Worms in Fresh Blood (funnel cakes with raspberry sauce); and an assortment of chocolate-covered Gummy Bugs. Or, if bugs and worms aren’t your taste, there’s the Jurassic Park “Artifact Afternoon Break,” featuring Chocolate Fossils (chocolate with roasted nuts and marshmallows on leaf print); Pterodactyl Teeth (chocolate dipped melon in shape of teeth); Assorted Mini-Raptor Sandwiches; and Dinosaur Eggs (devilled eggs with a twist).

As if these weren’t creative enough, McNamee says the Hard Rock is “taking breaks to the next level,” with their 2007 menus, which introduce themed mini-meals accompanied with two-ounce “tasters” (tiny alcohol-based shooters). The tasters fall in line with the “work hard, play hard” mentality of the hotel, intended for fun and relaxation during breaks—and since the drinks are so small, there’s little chance of meeting attendees stumbling back to their agendas. The mini-meal menus are still being developed, but include the “Europa” (assorted cheeses and cured meats, melon and berries, and the Moscato d’Asti taster [dessert wine]). The “Mexican Radio” break will feature Mexican favorites like black bean tacquitos and tortilla chips with salsa and the Wabo-rita (mini margarita made with Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo tequila). The “Seattle Grunge” menu is still being developed, but will offer tasters of the Oregon-based Rogue Ales, and the “Latin Break” will serve up mango mojitos.

The meeting break innovation doesn’t stop with the food, says McNamee. “We have a creative banquet team that is always coming up with fun ideas.” For instance, tables are often decorated with animal print or spandex liners (think David Lee Roth), and actual musical instruments like drum sets and Fender guitars with live amplifiers are set up. “Also in 2007,” says McNamee, “we are offering the meeting chairperson or designee the opportunity to do a quick jam on one of the instruments to signal the end of the break, rather than using the standard chime.”