Are you integrating cryotherapy and IV drips in your events? On this episode of What One Thing? Smart Meetings’ JT Long, vice president and content director, sat down with Sean Hoess, the co-founder of Eudemonia and Wanderlust Festival, and Kelly Cavers, chief sales officer for The Palm Beaches, to explore what makes wellness events not only impactful but essential for meeting professionals looking to elevate their own conferences.
Editor’s note: This episode of What One Thing? was transcribed by Otter.ai and edited lightly.
JT Long Welcome back to What One Thing, a Smart Meetings podcast that gives you a shortcut to the top of the events world by asking successful people what made the difference in their careers and lives.
I’m JT Long, vice president and content director of Smart Meetings. This conversation could be the key to living and planning with wellness at the core.
Earlier this month, I attended Eudaimonia, an immersive wellness conference in Palm Beaches, Florida. The event featured celebrity health practitioners and researchers, active yoga, cycling, dance and stand-up paddleboarding classes, and a buzzy show floor offering treatments and samples.
Joining me are co-founder Sean Hoess, who also co-founded Wanderlust Festival, and Kelly Cavers, chief sales officer for Palm Beaches. We’re here to discuss what meeting professionals can learn from a first-time endeavor of this scale on such an important topic.
Sean Hoess Thank you, it’s great to be here.
JL We’re going to have fun. Sean, you called the creation of Eudaimonia, an event centered on the Greek idea of a life well-lived, a “compulsion.” Why is this idea so powerful right now, and why was it important to hold the event in person?
SH A few trends have come together that support an event like this. First, there’s COVID. It drove everyone a bit mad, prompting people to do their own research to figure out whom to trust. Some people got it wrong; others got it right. There’s still debate about what’s wrong and what’s right.
This led to a trend toward personal agency in health and wellness, reflected in the skyrocketing subscriber counts of top health and wellness podcasters. Figures like Andrew Huberman went from having no followers to millions two years into the pandemic.
Another trend is the rapid advancement of technology, especially wearables and personal wellness tech, which now provide us with data and insights to be more educated and active in our health.
My background in health and wellness events made this the perfect opportunity to bring together podcast experts, medical professionals, and those teaching wellness practices like yoga, fitness, and meditation.
In-person connection was vital because it’s one of our event’s five pillars. Humans have an innate need for face-to-face relationships, which support mental and physical health. Data proves that interpersonal relationships are critical for mental health. Virtual conferences, while solving some problems, can create others.
JL One of the unique aspects of Eudaimonia was its focus on science-backed data. Why was that important?
SH The wellness world is full of passionate people who view healthcare in a preventative and holistic way, focusing on elements like nutrition and sleep—things often overlooked in medical school. However, the deficit in wellness is often a lack of scientific evidence to support some claims.
On the other side, modern Western medicine excels at treating disease but struggles with prevention and reversing chronic conditions. The medical response to conditions like hypertension or obesity often involves long-term pharmaceuticals, which have side effects.
We wanted to bridge the gap between medical professionals interested in prevention and wellness advocates focused on science, creating a new center for human health.
JL Kelly, Sean mentioned the importance of partnerships. Why was the Palm Beaches the perfect partner?
Kelly Cavers This idea started eight years ago with our customer advisory board. We knew our destination—home to professional athletes, luxury resorts, and outdoor activities—aligned with a wellness event.
Six years ago, we brought customers to a Wanderlust event in Atlanta, which demonstrated the professionalism and transformative potential of such events. Although the pandemic delayed the launch, we maintained the partnership because wellness is one of our brand pillars.
The event exceeded expectations. Customers kept asking if they could bring friends or family members, showing how relevant wellness is to planners and organizers.
JL Sean, you’ve described good health as a basic right. What’s standing in the way of achieving it?
SH Several factors, from personal apathy to lack of knowledge, can prevent people from exercising this right. On a systemic level, profit motives in the pharmaceutical industry favor maintaining chronic conditions over curing them.
By gathering diverse voices unified around science, we aimed to empower individuals to take control of their health. Staying healthy requires personal responsibility—eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough—things no one else can do for you.
JL What can we expect from Eudaimonia next year?
SH We’re taking over the entire venue, with space for 4,000 to 5,000 attendees. We’re also revisiting ticket pricing to improve accessibility and focusing on food and beverage to reflect our brand’s values.
Attendees have requested more nighttime programming and social opportunities, so we’re planning to incorporate more of that while highlighting the Palm Beaches’ vibrant nightlife.
JL What advice would you give planners organizing wellness events?
SH Invest in customer service. Immediate, human responses to emails, knowledgeable staff, and a warm, personal tone can set your event apart. This effort made Eudaimonia feel like a family, not a faceless conference, and attendees responded positively.
KC Partnerships are also key. Collaborating with brands like Rivian, we created immersive experiences that showcased our destination and kept attendees engaged from start to finish.
JL Thank you both for joining us and sharing these insights. Be sure to subscribe to The One Thing for more conversations like this!
SH Thanks, JT.
KC Thank you.
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