NEW YORK—NEXT Events, an emerging leader in design industry networking and thought leadership experiences, in partnership with Parallax Wellness + Hospitality, has launched Grounded By Design. This industry networking platform supports the evolution and transformation of sustainability and wellness for hospitality, residential and commercial spaces. NEXT Events kicks off Grounded By Design with a series of virtual events, in conjunction with ICD Publications’ Hotel Business and InspireDesign.
On Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. EST, NEXT Events and Parallax Wellness + Hospitality will host the inaugural Grounded By Design virtual event on the Hotel Business and InspireDesign digital platforms via Zoom conferencing. The session titled “Designing for the Wellbeing of Travelers Post COVID-19” will bring together key decision-makers and thought leaders in the design community, focusing on sustainability and wellness in interior design and programming. Proceeds from the virtual conference will benefit Hospitality Cares’ Coronavirus Fund to support hospitality professionals who have experienced financial, housing and medical hardships resulting from the global pandemic. Panelists will include the following:
- Roger Bloss, CEO of Alternative Hospitality, A division of MJ Holdings Inc.
- Colletta Conner, Studio Leader of ForrestPerkins’ Dallas office
- Maxwell Luthy, Director of Trends & Insights of TrendWatching’s North America Office
- Jay Muller, Vice President Hospitality – North America, Technogym
- Daniel Poulin, Director, Spa & Fitness, North & Central America, Accor
“Our first virtual event will focus on consumer behavior and demands related to personal wellbeing and how they will evolve when travel restrictions are lifted,” said Michael Schneider, president/CEO, NEXT Events. “This is a critical topic as businesses shift their focus to new projects coming out of this historic shutdown. Panelists will address the perspectives of ownership, project development, interior design and purchasing.”
Over the course of the next several months, Grounded By Design will offer virtual events related to sustainable and wellness integration to help designers, suppliers, brands and developers create spaces that allow consumers and the planet to thrive. With current circumstances leading to practice social distancing, the platform will serve as a forum for leaders to share insights, best practices and recommendations on design direction, products and services. Future virtual events will explore the impact of COVID-19 on design considerations with topics that include the following:
- The evolution of high-density spaces for lodging, residential and office settings
- The rise of new brands, materials and product offerings to support changing consumer demands
- Overlapping design considerations for hospitality and healthcare spaces
“Wellness design is much more than spa design, and more important now than ever,” said Adam Glickman, principal, Parallax Wellness + Hospitality. “Positioning guest wellbeing as front and center in design efforts, taking necessary steps to ensure that guests feel safe and secure throughout their travel journey, will become mission critical. All aspects of the guest experience, including cleanliness, service, design of common spaces, food & beverage, fitness and programming, will have to be reviewed with a wellness lens to support recovery and long-term revenue growth.”
In anticipation of a gradual return to gatherings, Grounded by Design will launch regional, intimate live experiences to offer designers, product suppliers, service business and agencies opportunities to connect. The inaugural event will be a nature-inspired retreat in May 2021 at the iconic Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY, just outside New York City. The Grounded By Design retreat will provide attendees with immersive programming to support their own wellbeing and foster strong businesses connections. Grounded By Design is accepting panel participant submissions on its website at https://groundedbydesign.co/speakers/. All applications are due by December 31, 2020.
NEXT Events and Parallax Wellness + Hospitality are planning to expand the footprint of its intimate live experiences throughout the country. Additional nature-based retreats will be held in Southern California, the Mid-Atlantic and the Chicagoland area beginning in fall 2021.
