26.03.2025 Christin Müller 2011

Best Practice: Health and Wellbeing at Messe München

Messe München is one of the world's leading trade fair organizers. Angelika Kaiser, Talent Broker and Development Manager with a focus on "Health and Wellbeing" at Messe München, has been developing innovative health concepts for its 700 employees for 20 years. In this interview, she talks about the challenges of the trade fair business and how she can provide employees with the best possible support, even in uncertain times. (Photo: Messe München GmbH)

"At the end of the day, it is crucial that our employees can work with good energy"

How long have you been offering health services in the company?

Angelika Kaiser: I organized my first health day 20 years ago. It was still brand new back then. We sat in our business outfits in a conference room and did fitness exercises with a Theraband under the guidance of a trainer (laughs). 

Over the years, our approach has evolved and we have greatly expanded the "Health and Wellbeing" area .

What specifically has changed since 2004?

Angelika Kaiser: When we started out, the focus was on physical health. Today, we take a holistic approach that also includes awareness of issues such as burnout and mindfulness . 

We have set up our own health studio, which is a central component of our "Health and Wellbeing". Sports scientists with many years of extensive practical experience work there. They not only provide fitness programs, but also cater to the individual needs of employees

What makes the health studio at Messe München so special?

Angelika Kaiser: Our health studio was set up in 2018 in a warehouse that had become vacant. It is located directly on our premises, so employees don't have to travel any further. The studio has a modern industrial design and employees can attend a variety of courses. Before they train, they receive a briefing and the trainers draw up individual training plans.

The health studio and an "extra physio room" offer everything you need to stay healthy and fit. In addition to classic fitness classes such as yoga and Pilates, we offer special programs for mental health. A trainer, who is also trained as a coach, integrates mental training into his sessions and looks at the exact causes of back pain, for example. These are often not purely physical in nature.

The combination of physical training and mental support is therefore very important to us.

The health studio offers everything the sporty heart desires. Photo: Messe München GmbH
 

What other health offers are available at Messe München?

Angelika Kaiser: In the health area, we offer a wide range of health activities and impulses. Our trainers visit employees at the workplace, for example, to ensure that they are sitting ergonomically correctly and which exercises they can incorporate directly at the workplace. 

Another key aspect is the topic of wellbeing, which is becoming increasingly important. On our learning portal, the Messe München Campus, for example, we provide video impulses and offer 15-minute mindfulness impulses. 

We also recommend books and link to relevant offers such as those of the pme Familienservice and exciting conferences.

Employees can find lots of health tips on the Messe München Campus learning portal.

We also have special offers for employees who have to deal with high levels of stress.
One example of our initiatives is the Mental Health Week, in which we provide new impetus, such as constellation work and neurobiology, to promote a better understanding of physical and mental processes. An AI-based coaching tool, another option for promoting resilience, is a brand new addition to the program.

Every employee has a different approach to health - some find it through sport, others through mindfulness or conversations. Some employees prefer quick solutions for self-help, while others seek support through exchange. We offer the opportunity to combine all of these aspects.

What are the biggest challenges for your employees in their day-to-day work?

Angelika Kaiser: Physical fitness, stress, burnout and mental health are key topics. The stress levels caused by the high density of events are a major challenge, which is why we offer a wide range of different activities to raise awareness of self-care. It is important to me that employees realize where their limits are.

Another point is the compatibility of family and career, especially for our more than 60 percent female employees, many of whom are in management positions. Their issue is not time management and organization, they are all highly organized. Rather, it is important to create a culture that enables our women to pursue their professional ambitions without their role as a mother being pushed into the background. 

This is not about part-time models, which we have as a matter of course, but about a clear attitude as a company. That is why we will be offering more on the topic of family-friendly team culture next year.

Messe München has a wide range of "Health and Wellbeing" offers for its employees. Photo: Messe München GmbH

How do you support your employees in times of crisis?

Angelika Kaiser: In today's society, many people are characterized by fears and we try to create an understanding of where these fears come from. I am also a systemic coach and hypnosis coach. As a person of trust, I conduct individual counseling sessions on all topics that concern our employees.

Lately, I've noticed that the conversations are becoming more in-depth. More and more young people, for example, are coming to me with serious issues such as eating disorders, depression or sleep disorders , which was not so common 20 years ago.

With my traditional knowledge, I keep reaching my limits. That's why I'm currently training to become atrauma-sensitive coach so that I can better address the deep problems of our employees. But there are also cases where I refer them directly to pme Familienservice .

What developments in the Health division are you particularly proud of?

Angelika Kaiser: I am proud that we have successfully established the topics of health and wellbeing in recent years. There is a growing awareness of mental health in the company, and our health studio not only offers a wide range of fitness and mental health activities, but also a place to network. 

An awareness has manifested that mental health goes hand in hand with physical health. I still remember sitting in a room with my singing bowl 15 years ago and being ridiculed. Today, mindfulness isa recognized topic and I am pleased that we have been able to advance this together.

All this is only possible because employee health is pushed enormously by the management and I can try out lots of new things, even if they don't meet with the expected approval.

What projects are you planning for the future?

Angelika Kaiser: In the context of generation management, we have already implemented or are planning several exciting projects, such as the coaching journey "Lebensreise Lebensmitte", parent coaching and offers for employees aged 55 and over. 

It is important to us to continuously promote mental health and ensure that our employees can work in a positive environment. We will certainly also focus more on women's health .

At the end of the day, it is crucial that our employees can work with good energy. We want to create an environment in which they can be healthy and creative without being burdened by personal problems. If necessary, we also support them through the pme Familienservice.