Wellness
Getting the party started
Catie Owen talks to Jacques Martiquet , the Party Scientist , about the value of joy and wellness at events , and about his sessions at October ’ s IMEX America
As the Party Scientist , what ’ s your motivation behind what you do ? I love using the word ‘ purpose ’ to describe my motivation , as I feel very lucky that I discovered what it is I love to do so early on . Through my talks and workshops , I promote joyful human connection as a natural antidepressant . I also equip leaders with tools to harness and benefit from it – through improved productivity , mental health , and the social dynamics of their team .
Why is wellbeing in the workplace so important for you ? I used to work at live events as a medic and witnessed how many young people rely on drugs and alcohol to access joy and belonging .
I felt there must be a healthier and less damaging way to achieve this ; when our physiology is healthier , life is easier and more enjoyable . If we see being happy and achieving success as the highest goals of most humans , the less stressed we are , the easier those things are to access .
How do you think events can better promote wellness for both their delegates and their teams ? It can be hard to incorporate healthier habits into our behaviours on a day-to-day basis – especially in industries like events and exhibitions that keep us busy and away from home . That ’ s why workplaces and events need to create those invitations for people to maintain
Jacques Martiquet , the Party Scientist
their wellness . We saw this executed well at IMEX America this year . The show offered delegates some peace and quiet in dedicated wellness spaces such as the Resilience Room – with the support of Google XI and Marriott Bonvoy Events .
It ’ s also very important to incorporate wellness ‘ snacks ’ into an agenda : small wellness-focused breaks in the itinerary . These can get delegates up and moving ( which reduces stress ), or they can give them a moment of quiet . Including these in the itinerary offers a formal invitation to all attendees to participate , as everyone will already be there !
Often , when we as humans participate in something as a group and enjoy it together , it creates connections – when we do group wellness experiences it also leads to a feeling of belonging .
Coming back to your time at IMEX America , how were you encouraging wellness ? IMEX America inaugurated my new focus as the Party Scientist , giving show attendees as many skills as possible to cultivate interpersonal , personal , and communal joy . To do this , I held some wellnessfocused sessions discussing ways to improve belonging , trust , and team dynamics , and build community through joy . The skills we covered are designed for the attendees to use at the show or take to their workplaces – such as appreciative listening , regulating our nervous systems , and practising social risks with others .
Overall , my hope is for attendees and event teams to think of joy more strategically as a productivity amplifier , mental and physical health amplifier , and a psychology safety tool for themselves and others with the skills that they ’ ve learned at the show .
22 Issue 6 2023 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk