the premier international nexus for thought retreat leaders and visionary practitioners dedicated to pioneering the sustainable, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive global expansion of the wellbeing retreat industry. We envision a future where accessible, high-impact retreat experiences drive measurable improvements in global mental, physical, and community health, while being highly profitable for retreat organisers.
Purpose & Core Objectives
Purpose
The fundamental purpose of The Global Retreat Summit is to catalyze the mature, responsible, and scalable international development of the wellbeing retreat sector by bridging the gap between anecdotal success and rigorous, globally applicable best practices in strategy, Marketing, finance, operations, sustainability and cultural integration.
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
PROGRAM
Theme: Defining the Global Benchmarks for Responsible Retreat Operations
| 08:00 – 09:00 | NETWORKING Continental Breakfast & Registration |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | KEYNOTE – Jennifer Deiana The Maturity Gap: Professionalizing the Retreat Industry’s Rapid Global Growth (Addressing lack of standards). |
| 09:45 – 10:45 | PANEL Panel of retreat organisors: Challenges & Success stories – selling out retreats |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | BREAK Coffee & Peer-to-Peer Introductions |
| 11:15 – 13:00 | KEYNOTE & WORKSHOP Create your Retreat Vision, including defining your audience, your Unique Value proposition & Minimum viable Retreat. Creating a globally consistent service core while allowing for flexibility. Stage C: The PDPR method for successful retreats. Official launch. |
| 12:45 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:30 | BREATHWORK |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | KEYNOTE Pricing your retreat |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | ROUND TABLE / PANEL Scaling with purpose |
| 18:30 – 20:00 | EVENING EVENT – VIP only VIP – Welcome Reception: Regional Cuisine Showcase & Facilitated VIP Networking |
Theme: Merging Evidence-Based Wellness with High-Impact Operational Systems
| 08:00 – 08:45 | OPTIONAL ACTIVITY Sunrise Yoga or Movement Class |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | BREAKFAST |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | KEYNOTE The Operational Impact of Experience Design: Linking guest flow, logistics, and environment to therapeutic outcomes. |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | PANEL DISCUSSION From Anecdote to Data: Developing longitudinal tracking systems (Pre/Post-retreat) to prove program efficacy and justify pricing. |
| 11.30 – 13:00 | KEYNOTE Using Digital to market & sales your retreat + work more efficiently. –> Implementing digital sales channels, smooth check-in/out, data privacy (GDPR/HIPAA), and personalized digital schedules. (Tech) Speaker: Hugo Fonseca, Technical Director at Capgemini |
| 12:45 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:20 | SOUND BATH |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | KEYNOTE The Role of AI to work efficiently – Hugo Fonseca (tech director and AI expert) Automated Guest Communications and Booking Funnels Speaker: Hugo Fonseca, Technical Director at Capgemini |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | KEYNOTE The role of CRM |
| 17:00 – 19:00 | SPEED DATING & PRIVATE CONSULTATION – Professional speed dating – Private Digital consultations – on booking only |
| 19:30 – 20:30 | VIP DINNER – VIP only |
Theme: Mastering Financial Metrics, Marketing Channels, and International Growth
Time
| 08:00 – 09:00 | Networking |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | KEYNOTE Cash Flow, Conversion, and Capacity: The Essential Economics of Running a Profitable Retreat. (Finance) |
| 09:45 – 10:45 | KEYNOTE Pricing Strategies & Margin Management Balancing luxury positioning, affordability, and high operational profitability. (Finance) |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Break – Coffee |
| 11:15 – 12:45 | KEYNOTE Marketing Channels that Convert Mastering SEO, paid media, 3rd party platforms and affiliate programs for high-value retreat bookings. (Marketing) |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch |
| 14:30 – 14:50 | MEDITATION |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | PANEL DISCUSSION Choosing your venue: extension of your brand, sustainability, logistic and services. |
| 16:30 – 18:30 | SPEED DATING & PRIVATE CONSULTATION – Professional speed dating – Private Digital consultations – on booking only |
| 19:30 – VIP Gala | Join our VIP gala awards |
Theme: Mastering Financial Metrics, Marketing Channels, and International Growth
Time
| 08:00 – 09:00 | NETWORKING & BREAKFAST |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | KEYNOTE Post retreat: Communications & measurable evaluation Speaker: Jenny Deiana, Consultant, Retreat organisers, venue owner |
| 10:15 – 11:15 | PANEL Catering – a key element of your retreat. |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Break – Coffee |
| 11:15 – 12:45 | KEYNOTE MAKE PARTNERSHIPS COUNT How to build strong collaborations to add value to your retreat. |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch |
| 15:00 | VIP AFTERNOON Private consultations – 30 mn – on booking & pending availability. If no more availability online sessions can be planned after the Summit. |
SPEAKERS & PANELISTS
JENNIFER DEIANA
MARKETING I STRATEGY I FINANCE I VENUE OWNER & RETREAT ORGANISER
After 25 years of branding, strategy, digital marketing & product direction in the Corporate & associative world (LVMH, Charlotte Tilbury, the FA, the International Olympic Commitee), Jennifer decided to fully focus on Yoga, Meditation and Coaching. Owner of a retreat center and retreat organiser herself, she is now a private consultant and helped more than 20 retreat organisers to run successful retreats in 2025 all over the world. Creator of the end to end PDPR Method for successful Retreats.
HUGO FONSECA
AI I SEO I DIGITAL
Digital consultant at CAPGEMINI & technical director, expert in AI, new technologies & SEO. Hugo can help you optimise your website and help you understand and utilise AI to work more efficiently.
FATIMA TEIXEIRA
Elena Consoli – THE LOVELY CATALYST
PRICES
EARLY BIRD* – VIP PASS – 4 DAYS
1049 €* instead of 1,399€
Includes: all sessions, full board, private consultations, VIP Dinners, transfer from Porto <> Ribeiradio <> Porto (21st at 16h, return 25th at 17h), book “BUILT YOUR RETREAT FOR SUCCESS” (to be launched during the retreat), VIP gift bag, access to replays
*Until March 31st 2026
EARLY BIRD – BOOST – 4 DAYS
889 €* instead of 1 189€
Includes: all activities (exc. VIP & 1to1 consultations), breakfast & snacks, lunch, transfer from Porto <> Ribeiradio <> Porto (21st at 16h, return 25th at 17h, gift bag.
*Until March 31st 2026
EARLY BIRD – ESSENTIAL – 4 DAYS
623 €* instead of 839 €
Includes: all activities (exc. VIP & 1to1 consultations), breakfast & snacks, gift bag.
*Until March 31st 2026
SPONSOR THE EVENT
ACCOMMODATION
QUINTA DOS CABRAIS
ENCOSTA DOS TÚNEIS
VILA PAÇO
Quinta do Fundo de Vila – Zen Vouga
OLIVEIRA DE FRADES
B&B Pensão Avenida
HOTEL ULVEIRA
HOW TO GET HERE
Airport: Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto)
From Porto & during the summit:
- The most convenient is you join with an ESSENTIAL PACKAGE is to rent a car in order to keep your full freedom. You can request a transfer package by contacting us.
- If you choose the VIP PASS, group transfers are arranged on 21st at 16h from Porto to your accommodation (list provided on this site) and on 25th at 17h from Solar Alegria to Porto. Every day early morning pick up and drop off end of the day is provided as well.
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