Rethinking conventional gatherings in a sustainable, conscious way
Crystalbrook shakes up meetings scene with forest bathing, laughter, beehives and gin
Tapping into the rising trend for work wellbeing, sustainably-led independent hotel group Crystalbrook Collection has launched a ‘Meet Mindfully’ concept across all six of its properties.
Offering what it says is a cleaner, slower, more conscious way to travel and gather for meetings and events, ‘Meet Mindfully’ is designed to remove the stressors and environmental pressures of conventional corporate meetings, instead facilitating meetings of purpose and value.
Each Crystalbrook hotel will stir in its unique personality with proudly local destination experiences, transforming traditional concepts of team-bonding.
Highlights include beehive workshops at Crystalbrook Riley, local gin blending at Crystalbrook Kingsley and guided sound healing at Crystalbrook Byron.
Crystalbrook CEO, Geoff York said the goal is to provide attendees with the space and culture that heroes the local environment, while also being empowering.
“We want guests to leave meetings at Crystalbrook feeling invigorated, both professional and personally,” he said.
While every Crystalbrook property shares many similarities, with each property’s unique personality and with this in mind, the company has curated a series of ‘Meet Mindfully’ team-bonding activities which encapsulate the very best a destination has to offer.
In FNQ, Crystalbrook Riley, Crystalbrook Bailey and Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns ‘Meet Mindfully’ options focus on beekeeping, a Dreamtime walk including a cultural performance complete with didgeridoo playing, a spear-throwing demonstration and a how to throw a boomerang lesson.
And for those more oriented towards art, a Paint Yourself Tropical experience complete with spritzes sipping at a local distillery.
At Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay, the property has introduced Guided Sound Healing, palm weaving and forest bathing.
Crystalbrook Kingsley, Newcastle is offering a Gin Blending Class with the Earp Distilling Co. and a Newcastle Afoot Walking Tour which explores Newcastle’s architecture, street art, seascapes, and laneways to uncover hidden secrets and learn about the city’s history and new developments.
Crystalbrook Vincent, Brisbane offers Laughter Therapy / Laughing Yoga and a Vincent-Inspired Sketch ‘n Sip guided walk-through corridors of Crystalbrook Vincent viewing the art of Vincent Fantauzzo followed by a guided sketching session while sipping on a range of drinks created in Brisbane.
All properties will also feature the following overarching initiatives:
Daily Card Ritual: Individuals get to draw a card from the deck at the start of the day. The card will display a message cue, encouraging individuals to integrate this into their energy for the day. It could be to bring joy, to listen, to open up or to support another – each day, each card will have a special resonance for that person that day.
Power-down Plans: adding a technology power-down period will allow delegates the freedom to consciously connect as a group and help limit emissions and carbon footprint. Individuals are also welcome to pop their phones into a locked ‘powerdown box’ and head out into the area – from the Byron beachfront to the Cairns esplanade to backstreets of Newcastle, there’s something unique at each of the destinations.
Bike Around The Block: Groups can divide into smaller breakouts and each jump on a bicycle around the block (or along the beachfront.) This quick rush of activity stimulates blood to the brain and revives the spirit to vamp delegates up to engage fully in the next component of the meeting.
Clean Up Kits: Australia’s waste challenges go far beyond one day. With the help of a Clean Up Australia kit, Crystalbrook hope to inspire and empower groups to play their part to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment.
Paperless Communications: where possible, Crystalbrook has removed the use of paper from meetings. Where paper is required, Crystalbrook uses forest stewardship council (fsc)® certified paper.
Mindfully Safe: As well as ensuring all physical areas are covid-safe, Crystalbrook ensures wellbeing for the mind. Crystalbrook have partnered with The Indigo Project to provide attendees with free-of-charge meditation and tools to increase productivity and minimise stress. Attendees also receive a complimentary ‘Five Day Choose Yourself Challenge’ and ‘Power Down Plan’ to maximise mindfullness and improve wellbeing.
No plastics policy. Crystalbrook offers filtered water in reusable glass bottles.
Local produce: 80 percent of all produce on banquet menus comes from within a three-hour drive of each hotel. As a group-wide initiative, Crystalbrook endeavour to support local and really bring to life their ethos of being authentically Australian.
Recycled waste: All meeting waste is recycled under the brands ‘Container for change programme’. Crystalbrook also works with OzHarvest to collect unused food from meetings to distribute to those in need within local communities.
Coco Starter Kit: Each delegate will receive a CoCo Starter Kit, an environmental planter to grow their own herb kit.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
