The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), a non-profit representing compelling places and experiences worldwide, has launched a new Wellness Council comprised of members from across the TEA’s four global divisions. The Wellness Council will encourage TEA’s standing committees and divisional boards to centre wellness in their programmes and initiatives through meaningful content, inclusive logistics, and increased awareness.
The Council was inspired by a panel discussion titled “When Things Go Wrong: A Candid Conversation” at the 2024 INSPIRE Conference. This session covered a wide range of wellbeing issues, such as anxiety, imposter syndrome, and both positive and negative coping techniques. Based on input from members and other recent in-person and virtual TEA sessions, the TEA realised it needed to coordinate its efforts so that the association and industry could prioritise health throughout the year.
A key topic
“It seemed crazy to us that such important topics as workplace culture, quiet quitting, and burnout were only being formally discussed at a couple of 20 or 30-minute sessions per year,” says Clara Rice, director of global marketing at Adirondack Studios and Wellness Council Chair. “Creating the Wellness Council now means that we can work with TEA Staff, International Board, and Divisions to create a suite of coordinated initiatives around mental and physical wellbeing.”
The Wellness Council’s objectives include a cultural shift, de-stigmatising the phrase “mental health”, and honouring members who invest in their mental and overall well-being. It also aims to create an all-encompassing TEA community vision where “emotional and physical thriving” is regarded as the most important personal goal and is discussed as naturally as attraction design.
In addition, it will work to organise TEA activities that promote people’s wellbeing, reassessing physical spaces for wellbeing while organising events and providing material intended to energise participants and spur action.
Members can anticipate activities from the Wellness Council for the remainder of 2024, including “net-walking mixers,” healthy and non-alcoholic options at events, “success guides” for conferences, and recommendations for wellness-related content for in-person and individual sessions.
Answer a brief wellbeing survey
To accomplish its goals and offer valuable benefits to its members, the Council requests that TEA members complete a brief three-minute wellbeing survey. The survey aims to determine how members are progressing on their wellness journey, how their current work environment assists them, and what more the Council can do to offer community and support.
The survey will be accessible in the upcoming months via QR codes at TEA booths and mixers, the organisation’s website, the “TEA Tell” newsletter, and social media platforms. In 2025, a broader range of live and online programs will be offered, taking into account the feedback from the survey.
In addition to Rice, charter members of the Council include Michael Acevedo (The Nassal Company), Erik Essig (BMorrow Productions), Björn Heerwagen (Walt Disney Imagineering), Courtney Kleinman (nFusion), Kate McConnell (THG Creative), Emma Newell (7thSense/Magnetic Moon Coaching) and Danielle Tanton (RWS Global and TEA EME president-elect). The Council’s TEA International Board Liaison is Matt Barton (7thSense and TEA International president-elect).
Because wellness and mental health approaches vary worldwide, the Council hopes to add members from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.
Barton says: “Regardless of where you are on your career path, centering physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is absolutely essential.
“For students and young professionals, it means establishing wellness strategies from Day One. For more established professionals, it means embracing healthy practices and coping mechanisms in the face of our industry’s perpetual ebbs and flows. And for companies and leaders of companies, it means offering advice on how to create workplace communities that enable employees to thrive.
“I am excited to see where this Council’s journey takes the TEA and the industry at large.”
At IAAPA Expo Europe, the TEA Wellness Council will host an informal “Net-walking” mixer on Thursday 26 September at 9 am. Those interested in “networking on the move” should meet at the entrance to the Kruidentuin Artsenijhof in Beatrix Park, closest to RAI. Attendees can also talk to the TEA team at Booth #10629 during the trade show for further details.
Last month, the 2023 TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index was released. This was produced in collaboration with TEA and the Economics practice at AECOM and presented by Storyland Studios.