DALLAS, TX. April 24, 2009 -- In a move designed to increase energy and productivity among group meeting attendees, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas has developed Energizing Events, a meetings breakthrough available beginning May 1, 2009. Energizing Events targets the 200,000 travelers who transit to and through Dallas/Fort Worth each day, many on physically-demanding meeting and event commutes that require stressful turnarounds and allow for few basic creature comforts in a stretched-thin meetings economy.

From travel and jet lag woes to the effects of sedentary event settings, lack of movement and non-energizing catered foods, attending meetings can leave participants feeling unfocused, mentally-drained and physically off-kilter.  The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas’ Energizing Events has been created to inject new well-being into organized gatherings, and to create a shared wellness component that is participant-oriented yet mindful of event budgets and planner productivity requirements. The new program has been in the pilot phase for the past six months and is now available as a hotel event option.

 “This ground-breaking meetings productivity initiative is ideal for our group and business guests, and we look forward to launching it at minimal added cost to clients,” said Roberto van Geenen, general manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. “We are especially excited to be working with Baylor University Medical Center to learn how to best energize our group travelers. Baylor has provided us with valuable research related to the mental health benefits of physical activity, and this data translates very well to the meetings and business travel guest.”

Energizing Events offers the following new options for gatherings at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas:

1. A revolutionary Five-Senses Stagecraft program created specifically for indoor gatherings. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas has combined intentional stimulus of the senses and event technology to maximize participants’ overall physical response to and during a meeting. This meetings stagecraft blends visuals, aromatherapy, staged sounds and tastes, and the sensation of touch to turn tedium into inspiration, and potential lethargy into productivity.

2. Creative meeting layouts to foster alertness and movement via kinesiologist-recommended, residential-style placement of comfortable chairs, couches and event work settings.

3. In-meeting spa experiences designed to energize while soothing. Techno-stress mini-massages address “computer wrist, “computer neck,” carpal tunnel syndrome, and spine and muscle soreness that can result from long periods of attendee sitting, travel or inactivity.

4. Spa-led mini-power walks, stretching sessions and aromatherapy mini-breaks which boost brain activity, and an optional oxygen lounge to further refresh and revive.

5. Tools from stress balls to children’s toys to keep movement alive during participants’ otherwise sedentary meeting periods.

6. Electronic “white boards” or writing tablets to record hand-written notes which can then be uploaded to a PC. This saves steps and reduces make-work and laptop-hours for event scribes and meeting attendees.

7. Interactive and nutritionally healthy group meals and meeting breaks to specifically foster movement and attendee/chef interaction throughout the day. Lively barista, guacamologist and soda fountain breaks encourage physicality and active choice-making.

8. Post-session “Drift to Dream” therapy directly inspired by The Ritz-Carlton Spa’s lauded Drift to Sleep experience. Drift to Dream is a 30-minute interactive seminar administered after a meeting, instructing group participants on how to enter a natural meditative state of mind. Guests learn how to leave business behind them and ultimately sleep better. The therapy can offer the salutary effects of a power nap before the rest of the day or evening’s activities.

9. Guest speakers from Baylor University Medical Center offering presentations on such topics as eating right while traveling, headaches and migraines, back and neck pain relief, preventing injuries through stretching and exercise, staying young, sleep disorders and heart health.

10. Introduction of Irresistible Elixirs to restore and revive during an event stay. A menu of flavorful brain tonics, airport detoxifiers, bedtime treats, mental stokers, digestives, on-the-go restoratives, super-foods and anti-insomnia tastings are among the functional elixirs that offer results to attendees and overtaxed meeting planners.

Energizing Events information may be obtained by contacting The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, at (214) 922-0200. With 14,000 square-feet of meeting space and the largest luxury hotel ballroom in central Dallas, the 218-room Ritz-Carlton, Dallas is conveniently located in Uptown Dallas, close to shopping, dining, arts venues, sightseeing, concerts and pro sports events.  Home to Fearing’s, ranked America’s “Best New Restaurant” (Esquire Magazine, 2007), The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas is the only hotel in the United States to be featured on all three Condé Nast Traveler Magazine Hot Lists for 2008, including hotel, spa and restaurant. It was named the #1 hotel in the United States in the 2009 Zagat Survey. Hotel Web site: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/.

###