Claremont Resort and SPA-
Several years ago, the Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley, California, developed Fitness Break options with the intent of selling healthy breaks to meeting planners. But because so many area companies started selling and merging with others, meetings and conferences suddenly became the perfect opportunity for bringing new people together and promoting teamwork.

Now, F&B Director Randy Wilson explains, the Claremont offers a full series of Fit Break options called GroupTrek, featuring an array of team-building exercises, productivity boosters, and tasty food options designed to heighten the positive energy level in any work environment. Options include 12 meeting break refreshers, such as Desk Drumming, coordinated finger drumming to bring out your inner child; Boogie Down, getting loose to fun, upbeat music; and Interactive Icebreaker and Games, including scavenger hunts and fort building.

“These breaks are meant to bring people out of their shells, laugh, and play together. Often, when two companies merge, employees from the acquired company are worried and nervous about their jobs. These activities help people loosen up and feel at ease with their new colleagues,” says Wilson. “We also have breaks geared toward total mind and body relaxation, like Energizing Stretch & Breathing, Perfecting Your Posture, Neck & Shoulder De-Stressor, and Desk Yoga.”

Menus to accompany these breaks include healthy energy-boosting treats such as Claremont’s homemade granola or high-protein energy bars, low-fat muffins (cranberry, blueberry, banana), blend-to-order smoothies, and a crowd favorite, the Fruit Pizza.

“Our Fruit Pizza is made by thinly rolling out the ingredients from our energy bars and topping it with a fruit spread. Then we barbecue or roast heartier types of stone fruits and sprinkle those on top. The finished product is a delicious, colorful dish that gives an all-natural energy rush.”

For a restorative beverage with your pizza, the Claremont uses Elixr Tonics, herbal remedies mixed with crushed ice, soda water, or fruit juices. Options include the lemonand- honey-flavored “Tame The Elements,” which is purported to strengthen immunities and eliminate toxins; the “Power Plant,” which diminishes fatigue to create a smooth and stable energy store; and the “Virtual Buddha,” known for enhancing awareness and bestowing serenity.

Kimpton-
Fun Worship, Elements of Wellness, Earthcare, and Degrees of Discovery—these aren’t new shows on TLC, they’re signature meetings offered by Kimpton Hotels to “stir your imagination, challenge your expectations, and raise the return on your meeting investment.” With these meetings, says Nicole Cox, area director of sales & marketing for D.C.’s Hotel Monaco and the Hotel George, come packages of themed background music, engaging props and activities, and tempting break menus.

“For instance, the Fun Worship meeting might use the ‘Grease’ or ‘The Best of Schoolhouse Rock’ soundtracks to channel the attendees’ younger, more carefree days, and place props like bubbles, Magic 8 Balls, or hula hoops in the meeting rooms. To go along with the kid theme, Hotel Monaco’s executive chef, Robert Weland, created break menus that include Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats, Hostess Ho Hos, Twinkies, Little Debbie Snack Cakes, or assortments of cookies like shortbread, snickerdoodle, and peanut butter with cartons of milk.”

The Elements of Wellness meeting refreshes minds, bodies, and spirits with the sounds of Deepak Chopra’s “The Soul of Healing,” reflexology socks and small wooden massager props, and another menu developed by Weland. Assorted Naked Juices and Vitamin Water, Mighty Leaf teas, whole fruit, freshly popped popcorn, and Terra Chips keep attendees satisfied but still light on their toes.

Kimpton Earthcare meetings are geared toward eco preservation, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Trust for Public Land. Mood music includes nature CDs like “Woodwinds & Waterfalls” matched with props like mini-Zen gardens and eco-quizzes. And agendas are printed on paper that can be planted to produce wildflowers.

“At the Hotel George,” says Cox, “Executive Chef Jeffrey Buben developed Earthcare menus that include fresh, organic, and locally grown ingredients like assortments of farmers’ market vegetables with blue cheese dip, seasonal fruits and berries, Fortified Immune Booster Beverages by Naked Juice, and organic fair-trade coffee.”

People attending a Degrees of Discovery meeting groove to world beats while sculpting modeling clay or building with Legos, and will even learn a few things at 10-minute tutorials that range from putting a golf ball to tasting a Syrah. During breaks at the Hotel George, tastebuds travel to Europe with a selection of cheeses (like French Pont l’Eveque, Spanish Peña Blanca, or Italian Robiola Fia) with dried fruits, imported olives and Mediterranean crostini spreads, crackers, and baguette. Or, for an Asian adventure, Chef Buben offers a fresh sushi (California, lobster, and crab rolls) and sashimi (shrimp, tuna, salmon, eel) menu, with a selection of teas to include green, black, and oolong.

Whether meeting planners booking with Kimpton are going for an air of whimsy or wanderlust to break up the monotony of the day’s agendas, they should be able to create those vibes and anything in between with signature meetings.