A new white paper commissioned by Pier One Sydney Harbour is encouraging event planners to rethink the role of meetings, arguing that the environments in which people gather can either deplete or support wellbeing, performance and long-term productivity, with research suggesting that 76% of working hours in Australia are spent sedentary during peak working years. Pier One Sydney Harbour has unveiled a longevity-led meetings framework designed to help delegates leave feeling more energised, engaged and connected than when they arrived.
The framework provides practical guidance for meetings and event’s organisers seeking to optimise the impact of their programs on delegate wellbeing and performance. The recommendations have now been embedded into the hotel’s meetings and events offering, translating research-led principles into on-the-ground experiences.
“We know that the best meetings don’t just deliver outcomes, they shape how people feel during and after the event,” said Kim Mahaffy, General Manager, Pier One Sydney Harbour. “This framework is about creating meeting environments that support energy, focus and connection in a more intentional way.”
At the centre of the approach is a focus on designing events that support sustained energy and cognitive performance, including considerations such as how food and beverage is structured across the day to help minimise blood glucose spikes and energy dips commonly associated with traditional conference catering.
The longevity-led framework is built around seven key pillars: safety, connection, purpose, sleep, movement, food and mindfulness, and is delivered through a range of integrated meeting enhancements, including:
- Dietitian-informed, plant-forward delegate menus designed to support sustained energy and cognitive performance throughout the day.
- Curated walking maps across Walsh Bay, Barangaroo and the surrounding harbour foreshore to encourage movement between sessions and increase daily step counts.
- Pet-friendly meetings in partnership with the RSPCA, including the option to incorporate “ambassadogs” into event programming to support engagement and reduce stress.
- Sleep-focused considerations in guest rooms to support restorative rest for overnight delegates, including environmental factors such as light, temperature and noise.
- A series of guided somatic experiences designed in partnership with SOMA to support physical and mental recovery including breath education sessions, breath and sound healing and non-sleep deep-rest (NSDR) sessions.
- Mindfulness tools including bespoke journals and analogue note-taking materials designed to support focus, reflection and information retention.
The Longevity Package is available as an add-on to any corporate package for an additional $65 per person. The package includes an arrival protein snack, a wellness beverage bar featuring immunity shots, raw coconut water and cold pressed juices, dietitian-curated morning and afternoon tea breaks, and a gut-friendly lunch. Delegates will also receive a harbour walking map along with a bespoke mindfulness journal.
Beyond the meeting spaces, Pier One Sydney Harbour also offers curated experiences designed to extend the longevity-led approach, including private movement sessions with Sydney Dance Company, harbour-based wellness experiences with Wellness Afloat and bespoke harbour charters with The Superyacht People. Waterfront venues including PIER Dining and PIER BAR provide additional spaces for networking and informal connection.
Pier One is rewarding forward-thinking planners through Marriott Bonvoy Events’ ‘Enjoy More When You Book Closer to Home’ offer, with benefits including triple Marriott Bonvoy points, preferred accommodation rates and added value across food and beverage experiences.
