RITZ-CARLTON DALLAS—What’s the secret formula for keeping meeting attendees focused and productive? At the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, participant wellness is the answer underlying a new meetings initiative called Energizing Events.

“We recognized the need for health and wellness in these specialty meeting breaks,” says Director of F&B John Coleman. “We consulted with Baylor University Medical Center and spent a year developing the concepts and designing the menus.”

The Five Senses Stagecraft program was created for gatherings of up to 50 participants and incorporates visuals, sound, aromatherapy, taste, and touch to combat tedium and lethargy. Participants experience a spa atmosphere with chill-out music, soothing water fountains, peppermint hand massages, and moist oshibori towels scented with cypress for refreshment. The menu includes freshly squeezed fruit juices spiked with ginseng, mint-infused fruit, housemade lemon-rosemary madeleines, and basil macaroons.

Other healthy meeting breaks include sessions of “Guacamology,” in which participants make a variety of guacamoles. “We have a strong tradition of guacamole-making, with a very popular 6 p.m. tasting in the lobby every day,” Coleman says. “We translated that concept to this interactive event, which is a real ice-breaker that lends itself to team-building events.”

The Soda Fountain break offers a twist on the standard 1950s concept. Instead of high-sugar indulgences, old-fashioned soda chargers are used to carbonate freshly squeezed fruit juices. Sorbets in exotic flavors such as celery-fennel, carrot-ginger, beet, and avocado take the place of sedating ice-cream-based desserts.

Margaritas made with celebrity Chef Dean Fearing’s recipe are available as a festive meeting break add-on. Attendees preferring to forego the alcohol can choose freshly squeezed Texas pink grapefruit juice or hand-muddled limeade.

Irresistible Elixirs “to revive and restore” are also available. A Brain Tonic of warm milk with black pepper, cardamom, rose petals, saffron, almonds, honey, and poppy seed enlivens drowsy meeting participants. Airport Detox Elixirs are fresh, sparkling carrot-apple-ginger juices with a miniature vegetarian sandwich of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and pepper to settle the stomach. An evening elixir might be a hot lemon drink with salt and honey to rehydrate and boost circulation.

To accompany any of these events, meeting planners can opt for visits from Ritz-Carlton personal trainers, who can lead attendees in sessions of Tai Chi, stretching exercises, or power walks.

AFFINIA MANHATTAN–With Meetings by Design packages at Affinia Hotels, meeting planners can choose from concepts including Brainstorming, Hi-Tech, and No-Tech.

“Of our meeting concepts, 90 percent of clients choose the Brainstorming theme, where colorful retro candies such as Tootsie Rolls and jelly beans liven up the tables and the discussions,” says Ladd Ljungberg, New York director of conference services for Affinia Manhattan and Dumont. A dictionary and thesaurus are on hand to inspire dialogue.

Items offered in the Brainstorming midmorning break include pomegranate juice, V8 Splash, bottled water, Snapple green tea, dried fruit, and energizing trail mix. Afternoon breaks require more carb-loading, with whole fresh fruit, Oreo cookies, and Hershey bars.

Affinia designed the Hi-Tech break menus for the stereotypical computer geek, with portable, fast-food-inspired fare such as S’mores, Rice Krispies Treats, and Tazo Teas. Ever-popular items such as Snickers bars, seasonal fruit, chocolate chip cookies, and assorted sodas further fit the theme. The meetings also provide modern accoutrements including a plasma TV or LCD projector, web cams, iPod docking stations, digital camcorders, and podcast capabilities.

White boards, flip charts, cork boards, thumb tacks, and magic markers, on the other hand, are the tools used in No-Tech meetings. Attendees park their BlackBerrys in a special charging garage at the door. Morning breaks reflect a back-to-basics menu with freshly ground coffee and assorted sodas and teas, with the addition of housemade cookies and brownies enlivening afternoon breaks.

“Some meeting planners and presenters had commented to us that a participant’s attention was diluted by electronics,” Ljungberg explains. “So we took it a step further and eliminated both individual and meeting-use electronics. Response has been favorable in that attendees are more involved in the process. Clients can make better use of time without interruptions, and the concept is more value-driven.”

• Five-star coffee at the touch of a button for in-room, catering, meeting rooms, and restaurants.