Work conferences and the travel that comes with them can be stressful and exhausting — attendees are increasingly demanding wellness perks to unwind
If you’re attending a work conference this year, there’s a good chance you’re looking for more than panels and networking, including time to rest and recharge.
And regardless of how ambitious and career-driven you are, you’re not alone.
That expectation comes through in Hilton’s new “Why We Gather” report, which draws on a November 2025 Ipsos survey of 3,150 adults across the U.S., U.K. and India who plan to attend an in-person work event in the next 24 months.
The data points to an extension of wellness tourism, as the desire for self-care is increasingly showing up within work travel — and for companies hosting events, there is an incentive to build wellness into the experience. According to Hilton’s data, 67% of attendees say they feel less engaged during events if they don’t get downtime, and more than half (55%) admit to skipping sessions altogether to decompress when breaks aren’t planned.
Perhaps most telling, for 60% of attendees, breaks are what they look forward to most during meetings, and they don’t have to be elaborate. Hilton found that 80% say a specialty coffee or tea is enough during those moments. The data also suggests that breaks only work when they’re explicit: 59% of attendees say they feel guilty stepping away unless the moments are clearly marked on the schedule.
Work travel itself has also taken on new meaning, particularly for parents. Hilton’s data shows that 81% agree that getting some time alone, away from the pressures of parenting, is an underrated benefit of work events. Even something as basic as sleep matters: 64% cite catching up on rest in a hotel bed as the most restorative part of a work trip.
At the same time, the findings reveal that the idea of wellness looks different for everyone.
While 76% say they enjoy work-organized wellness activities like group yoga or recovery sessions, a sizable share prefers to go solo. Thirty-eight percent would rather recharge on their own, and nearly half (49%) say they’d choose room service over a shared team meal.
“People want wellness included in the agenda; not simply through short stretch breaks or team walks, but woven throughout their entire event experience and long after they’ve hung up their lanyard at home,” Hilton’s report notes. “In 2026, the best meetings and events won’t just place wellness at the forefront – they’ll create an itinerary that provides in-the-moment comfort that leaves people refreshed, recalibrated and ready to tackle the world.”
For its part, Hilton has been experimenting with how fitness and wellness fits into the rhythm of work and leisure travel in recent years.
At select properties, guests can expect Wellness Rooms equipped with recovery tools from Hyperice, rooms with Peloton equipment and on-demand content, guided rest through a partnership with meditation app Calm and non-alcoholic and functional drink options. Some properties also offer spa and longevity-focused treatments, such as those at the Guerlain Wellness Spa at Waldorf Astoria New York.
