Gone are the days when the perks of attending a conference meant a tired muffin and lukewarm coffee. As the focus on attendee experience evolves, health and wellness offerings have shifted from nice inclusions to essential elements of successful meetings. From morning yoga to brain-boosting snacks between sessions, planners continue to rethink event formats to prioritize mindfulness, movement, and meaningful downtime. Today’s meetings and events are being reimagined with well-being in mind. Fortunately, properties across the Southwest are picking up on what planners are putting first by offering creative wellness options. Today’s wellness offerings go beyond checking a box; they craft environments where attendees feel energized, focused, rejuvenated, and genuinely cared for.
Room to recharge
“Whether traveling for business or leisure, now more than ever, our guests are seeking meaningful experiences to foster connection, build community, and enhance their mental, emotional, and physical well-being,” says TJ Abrams, vice president of global well-being at Hyatt Hotels Corp.
For many travelers, the wellness journey begins the moment they step into their hotel room. As that’s the first chance for guests to exhale, unplug, and reset, Hyatt emphasizes a proper night’s sleep. The hotel chain has collaborated with Nancy H. Rothstein, MBA, The Sleep Ambassador, to provide sleep tips designed to elevate guests’ sleep during their stay.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colo., an 85-acre property located just minutes from Denver International Airport (DEN) and the city’s downtown, unveiled a new guest room experience inspired by the wellness offerings typically found in the resort’s spa, Reâlche Spa.
beWELL: The Therabody Wellness Suite features the Peloton Bike, various Therabody items, RAD Roller, and Relâche Spa microfiber robes—providing guests with a unique relaxation and recuperation experience for the entirety of their stay, rather than a one-time treatment. “I had never seen a suite that gives users in-room access to wellness solutions, so I made it my mission to bring the spa beyond these four walls and into guest rooms,” says Jocelyn Farmer, director of Reâlche Spa at Gaylord Rockies.
Nestled in the dramatic landscape of Canyon Point, Utah, Amangiri is a luxury desert hideaway where the guest suites echo the serenity of their surroundings, each complete with a private outdoor lounge and fireplace. For guests craving even deeper immersion in nature, Camp Sarika by Amangiri offers the ultimate escape. Just minutes from the main resort, this exclusive enclave features 10 tented pavilions blending refined comfort with rugged beauty, including private plunge pools, firepits, outdoor terraces, and open-air showers—all framed by sweeping views of Utah’s ancient canyons.
The spa experience
The spa is often the crown jewel of any hotel stay—a sanctuary where relaxation, restoration, and renewal take center stage. In the Southwest, the spa experience goes beyond the standard massage and facial; at many properties, guests will find a blend of ancient healing traditions with modern luxury.
The Fairmont Scottsdale (Ariz.) Princess is home to the 44,000-square-foot Well & Being Spa, a haven in the Sonoran Desert that seeks to re-energize and invigorate guests with more than 50 available treatment options. John Glynn, director of public relations for the resort, says the resort hosts a large group each year, bringing in well-known fitness instructors to lead the group’s private fitness activities. The resort also offers outdoor fitness classes and yoga sessions on the resort lawn. Groups can also choose full- or half-day spa buyouts, taking full advantage of its 32 treatment rooms, and enjoy its spa-cuisine menu featuring health-conscious dishes, from fresh fruit and hummus to salads and poke bowls.
“The Princess is a AAA Four Diamond, 65-acre property with lots of amenities. There really isn’t anything we can’t do,” Glynn says. “If a group is willing to pay for it, we are willing to do it. We’re very customizable to groups.”
Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness, located at The Venetian Las Vegas, offers 134,000 square feet of wellness and rejuvenation, including more than 100 therapeutic spa services. Spa director Charese Fruge says the spa can work with planners to incorporate services and treatments directly into the meeting itself, developing customized in-spa itineraries for attendees to enjoy at designated times or bringing massage therapists to perform chair massages at the convention space to re-energize attendees.
Pechanga Resort Casino, nestled in Southern California’s Temecula Valley, embraces the idea of calming the mind, nurturing the body, and rejuvenating the spirit. One of only a few Native American spas in the country, each of the spa treatments emphasizes mindfulness and well-being, shares Lissette Kirby, national sales manager for catering and conference at Pechanga. “With 17 treatment rooms, we offer a variety of services that include relaxation and tranquility.”
According to Kirby, two of the most popular spa services are the relaxation massage, which promotes overall well-being, and the therapeutic massage, which is designed to release tension. “Because we are located in the beautiful wine country, with approximately 50 wineries just 20 minutes away, many groups will offer activity options, such as a wine tour or spa treatment,” she says.
The Spa at Ojo Santa Fe (N.M.) features a range of treatments to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit, notes Lesley Gray, group coordinator for Ojo Spa Resorts. “We work with groups to customize spa experiences and incorporate them into their agenda,” she says.
Some of the most requested treatments at Ojo, Gray says, are the Essence of Ojo Massage, a tailored experience in which guests pick their preferred pressure or focus on a particular area of the body, and the Rio Grande Hot Stone Massage, which uses basalt stones harvested from the Southwest to massage the body while balancing energy. The Blue Corn, Prickly Pear, Sea Salt Scrub with Hot Oil Hair Therapy is also a popular option with groups seeking the ultimate in wellness, she adds. “The heritage blue cornmeal and sea salt whisk away debris and retired skin cells, while the prickly pear soothes and nourishes the skin,” Gray explains. “Its goal is to reveal a fresh glow all around.”
The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s (Calif.) Sycamore Spa, a boutique spa, offers everything from massages and body treatments to cryoskin therapy and facials, each with a unique approach to health and wellness. “From a holistic approach, the thermal mud wrap is a popular option with groups,” says Carissa McDevitt, senior director of sales at The Ranch at Laguna Beach. “It is a thermal detoxifying body treatment that starts with full body dry brushing, stimulating lymph drainage, and then thermal mud is applied to the body and wrapped. It’s followed by a face and scalp massage, and it’s hugely popular for those looking to detox. It leaves guests feeling refreshed.”
Nature’s healing power
In the Southwest, wellness often starts with the setting itself. Surrounded by wide-open skies, red-rock canyons, and serene desert landscapes, most resorts don’t have to try hard to inspire a sense of calm—it’s built right into the backdrop. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center boasts breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. Amangiri sits in red-rock country on more than 900 acres of the Colorado Plateau. The Ranch at Laguna Beach is set where the canyon meets the sea in Orange County, Calif.
“The Ranch at Laguna Beach effortlessly blends rugged beauty, relaxed luxury, and wellness in nature,” McDevitt says. “This 87-acre resort offers a unique escape where surf meets turf and chic comfort meets a down-to-earth vibe. It is surrounded by peaceful canyon walls so you can hike, go to the beach and listen to the waves, or listen to the awakening birds as you stretch in the morning. You get the best of everything here.”
Ojo Santa Fe comprises 77 lush acres in northern New Mexico’s high desert, though it is unique in that it is an oasis. “When people think of the Southwest, they have an image of desert, but we have a natural spring running throughout our entire property,” Gray says. “So, we have trees, grass, and water in the desert. We are surrounded by abundance and lushness, and that is unique here in the desert.”
The spring-fed waters of Ojo Santa Fe offer guests a unique connection to the water, which can help reduce stress, provide pain relief, improve circulation, and promote mindfulness and better sleep. Many guests travel to Ojo Santa Fe specifically for a soaking experience, and the property offers three separate opportunities for guests to experience the healing waters: in the Repose Pools, the Sages Pool, and the Saltwater Pool and Hot Tub. “Soaking in natural springs offers a range of health benefits far beyond relaxation,” Gray says. “Each soak is a step toward holistic wellness, supporting physical and mental well-being.”
Mindful moments
The peaceful landscapes and grounding energy found in the Southwest create ideal spaces for meditation and mindfulness. Whether a guided session at sunrise or quiet contemplation under the stars, many resorts embrace the natural rhythm of the desert to help guests slow down, tune in, and reconnect with themselves or each other.
Amangiri features an extensive wellness meditation and mindfulness menu, including guided meditation, breathwork exercises, and guided mindfulness walks. The property also offers silent sessions, sensory wellness sessions, floating guided meditation, and dark exposure, a form of sensory deprivation to help attendees find balance. On arrival day, a frequent suggestion for groups is guided meditation with Yoga Nidra after dinner to help guests adjust to the desert pace.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach tailors wellness to each group’s goals, believing mindfulness or meditation sets the tone for a group retreat. “Meditation sessions tap into the art of mindfulness, allowing for self-awareness through concentrated breath work,” McDevitt explains. “Just a 30-minute guided meditation on the event lawn, or whatever location works best for the group that day, can pause and reset the mind.”
Every Friday evening, guests at Ojo Santa Fe are invited to take part in a powerful ceremony blending Native traditions with meaningful group connection. Beginning outdoors around a fire pit in the ceremony circle, guests are guided through elemental rituals before entering the lodge for a Temazcal Renewal Ceremony, a heat- and darkness-based experience rooted in healing and purification. Led by a Native healer and her nephew, the ceremony encourages participants to push past discomfort and discover strength and clarity on the other side. “The impact is often transformative,” Gray says. “Groups that go through the experience together emerge feeling more connected, grounded, and open, and walk away feeling like they’ve been through something together. It bonds them.”
Mindful movement
Yoga is a popular wellness activity for groups and individuals alike. Yoga is more than simply a mat on the floor; it allows individuals to breathe, center, and experience a heightened sense of calm. Resorts across the Southwest are helping planners weave yoga into their wellness itineraries.
At Amangiri, groups can begin with sunrise yoga on the rocks of the Amangiri mesas; take a mid-day break with aerial yoga, integrating Pilates, dance, and acrobatics; or end the day with Kundalini Yoga, which includes sound and breathwork to activate the body’s major energy centers. Groups seeking a little adventure will enjoy Tower Butte Yoga, which starts with a helicopter flight from Amangiri and ends with a yoga session on top of the scenic Tower Butte.
Ojo Santa Fe offers free morning yoga classes to overnight guests; in addition, the yoga studio can be rented for private group yoga sessions. “The yoga studio is a stunning space,” Gray says. “It is on the second floor and features big windows, and it feels like you’re in a treehouse because the building is surrounded by big trees. We can arrange for one of our teachers to give a private class for the group. It is a great opportunity for a group to come together, push themselves, and come out feeling more bonded.”
Wellness in the wild
Nature-led activities and excursions are a natural extension of wellness activities. Whether through canyon treks, beach walks, or some other scenic outdoor experience, a little fresh-air therapy helps groups reset, reflect, and reconnect with one another.
“We are seeing groups putting a higher priority on incorporating health and wellness into programs and wanting to be outside,” McDevitt says. “Groups will be indoors for the meeting portion, but at every opportunity they are not meeting, groups are requesting to be outdoors. We are also seeing a shift from traditional teambuilding activities, like trivia, to hiking, yoga, and golfing on property—something just to be outside and reset their minds in that way.”
Options to be outside and experience The Ranch at Laguna Beach include kayak, paddleboard, and bike tours, surf lessons, stargazing, and many other activities. Even simple beach walks and hikes are easy, adds McDevitt. “Guests can simply walk the coastline and enjoy the beach on their own time, as it’s just a 10-minute walk from the resort,” she adds.
One of the most popular activities at The Ranch at Laguna Beach is the Valido Hiking Trail, a 3.5-mile hiking trail to Aliso Peak, with stunning coastal views of Orange County and a bird’s-eye view of The Ranch. “It is a little more strenuous hike, but it’s great for groups that value intense movement,” McDevitt explains. “It doesn’t take too much of the day, so some groups like to start their day off with the hike.”
Though not the traditional outdoor activity, Ojo Santa Fe offers one-of-a-kind animal therapy. Guests and groups can cozy up with chickens during “Chicken Chats,” a calming experience where friendly hens snuggle and socialize with guests. “The property used to have chickens, which actually like snuggling and visiting with people,” says Gray. “So, we have a building on the property that houses chickens; guests can go in during the day, sit, and feed or snuggle with them.”
Ojo Santa Fe also partners with a local humane society to offer on-property puppy visits, where adoptable pups are available for cuddles—and sometimes even adoptable for forever homes. “Groups can do chicken or puppy experiences with other lodging guests at normal times, or we can work out a specific private time for groups. It is a great way to help calm group attendees, lower blood pressure, and boost moods.”
Nourish to flourish
No health and we0llness experience is complete without considering what is on the plate. Food plays a major role in how attendees feel, focus, and function throughout any event. Today’s wellness-forward resorts are swapping out heavy, energy-zapping meals with menus that fuel the body and mind, such as nutrient-rich snacks, fresh seasonal ingredients, and options that accommodate a range of dietary needs.
Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness offers two cafés with healthy menu options. Canyon Ranch Café offers a wide range of health-conscious breakfast and lunch options, and Truth & Tonic Wellness Café serves healthy meals, juices, and smoothies.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center recently completed phase two of its enhancements, which includes the addition of Garden + Grain, a new dining outlet with distinct health and wellness options. The new eatery focuses on organic ingredients and sustainable practices, avoiding fryers and refined foods. Its menu offers fresh grain bowls, seasonal toppings on stone-fired pizzas, and salads “crafted without seed oils, refined sugars, or processed elements.”
Ojo Santa Fe has a thoughtful approach to nutrition, with dishes catering to a variety of dietary needs and always keeping health and balance top of mind. Menus regularly feature vegetarian, vegan, and fish-forward options, with plenty of local flair drawn from Southwestern and northern New Mexico traditions. “Thanks to Ojo’s sister property, Ojo Caliente, which boasts a working farm, seasonal produce often comes straight from the field to the plate,” Gray adds.
Wellness-focused dining is also on the menu at The Ranch at Laguna Beach. With two onsite gardens, including a brand-new Chef’s Garden, the property fully embraces its farm-to-table philosophy. Fresh produce and eggs from the gardens go directly to Harvest, the property’s signature restaurant.
The Chef’s Garden is being designed as a hands-on gathering space where groups can engage with the ingredients themselves. “From interactive cooking demos using just-picked herbs and vegetables to customizable menus reflecting specific dietary or wellness goals, the culinary team is all-in on creating experiences that nourish and inspire,” McDevitt says. “With firepits, pergola dining, and plans for garden-to-table breakfasts and DIY guacamole stations, we are seeking fresh ideas for how groups can connect through food with a wellness-focused approach.”
