The corporate events landscape is shifting with well-being taking precedence over sustainability as the top priority for organisers. A new report from YourVenue, which represents 16 racecourses across the UK under Arena Racing Company (ARC), highlights a growing demand for experiences that support mental and physical health. Today’s delegates are increasingly drawn to venues offering outdoor spaces, fresh air, and immersive activities to enhance overall well-being.
Well-being tops sustainability as an event trend
“Well-being is the bigger trend right now – more so than sustainability,” said Angela Colley‑Francis, National Account Manager at ARC. “While sustainability is still important, event organisers are prioritising experiences that focus on mindfulness, outdoor activities, and meaningful engagement.
“Employers recognise that their teams are facing challenges, so they want to go beyond the conventional conference setting. Something as simple as incorporating a walk outside can make a significant impact. It’s about making events more personal, not just about ticking the usual boxes.”
In response to this shift to support delegate well-being, YourVenue is launching The Step Into Summer Day Delegate Package in April to help event planners integrate well-being and outdoor activities into their meetings.
These initiatives aim to enhance delegate well-being by encouraging outdoor experiences, fostering connections with nature, and exploring the rich heritage and history of each racecourse. As part of this initiative, each racecourse has developed measured walking routes, allowing guests to engage in active experiences while discovering the venue’s Grandstand Building, historic track, and key landmarks.
Rise in experiences and ‘bleisure’ in events
The YourVenue report also revealed a significant rise in experience-driven events and “bleisure”, where business meetings incorporate leisure elements to create a more engaging delegate experience.
Clare Marsden, Regional Event Sales Manager at ARC, added: “We are ideally positioned to meet this shift in demand at YourVenue with the combination of our rich heritage and vast outdoor spaces with reliable wet weather facilities. We also offer unique team-building experiences, such as an exhilarating race day, which can seamlessly complement a business meeting or conference, adding an extra layer of engagement and excitement.”
Julie Coates-Walker, Group Head of Sales at ARC, commented: “The UK events industry is shifting toward well-being-first experiences. That’s why we’re committed to offering event planners not just high-quality facilities but also opportunities to enrich delegate well-being. Whether it is through outdoor activities, unique venue settings, or tailored well-being packages, we’re focused on delivering events that leave a lasting positive impact.”
Events with YourVenue
For more information on booking events, visit YourVenue
For more information about ARC, please visit Arena Racing Company
About ARC:
Arena Racing Company (ARC) is the largest racecourse operator in the UK.
ARC is made up of the following sixteen racecourses: Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Worcester.
In addition to racecourses, ARC owns Central Park, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sunderland, and Perry Barr Greyhound Stadia and looks after the media interests of the Greyhound Media Group (“GMG”).
ARC runs four of the six all-weather racecourses in the UK offering two different types of surfaces for horses to run on: Polytrack at Lingfield Park and tapeta at Newcastle, Southwell, and Wolverhampton Racecourses – the only tapeta racing surfaces in Europe.
As well as racing, ARC also operates a hotel at Wolverhampton Racecourse, a hotel and golf course at Lingfield Park, and The Border Minstrel public house at Newcastle Racecourse in the grounds of Gosforth Park. The Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse opened in September 2018.
ARC plays a pivotal role in British Racing. It is a shareholder in the British Champions Series and Racecourse Data Company and is represented on the boards of the Racecourse Association (“RCA”), Great British Racing (“GBR”), and British Champion Series (“BCS”).
You can also read another report from the Arena Racing Company on the shortening lead times the events industry has been witnessing since start of 2024.
