EP 267 The Retreat Venue Gap: Why Retreat Leaders and Venues Struggle to Find Each Other with Emily Johnson
Release Date: 04/23/2026
EP 273 How Venue Networks & Influencers Are Changing the Industry with Anna VanAgtmael
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’ve ever felt like hosting a retreat is way more complicated than it should be… You’re not wrong. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with returning guest Anna VanAgtmael to talk about what’s broken in the retreat industry-and what she’s building to fix it. Because right now: 👉 Retreat leaders have the audience but not the logistics 👉 Venues have the space but can’t fill it consistently 👉 And everyone is trying to figure it out on their own Anna shares her new venture-a curated retreat center directory and collaboration with Tiny...
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EP 272 Reinvention Isn’t Optional: The Inner Work Behind Building the Life (and Retreat Business) You Actually Want with Dr. Kim Dang
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’ve ever felt like: your dreams are “too big” you’re “too much” or you know you’re capable of more… but you’re not living it yet This episode is for you. In this in-studio episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Dr. Kim Dang, a mathematician, reinvention strategist, and founder who has rebuilt her life and career multiple times-from Yale professor to entrepreneur in the retreat and knowledge space. Dr. Kim flew in from New York to record this conversation live in Austin-and it goes deep. This isn’t just about retreats. This is about the...
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EP 271 From Zero to 70 Leads in 24 Hours: Unlocking Meta Ads for Retreat Leaders with Jaymie Tarshis
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
What if one focused day could completely change how you market your retreat business? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Jaymie Tarshis - aka The Ad Expert - a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of experience helping businesses scale using Facebook and Meta ads. Jaymie flew from San Diego to Retreat Ranch for a VIP day with Shannon's team, and the results were jaw-dropping: over 70 new leads in less than 24 hours. Shannon and Jaymie pull back the curtain on exactly what happened during that VIP day - from building a custom ad strategy from scratch, to crafting compelling...
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Special Release | From Dream to Dirt - How We Built Retreat Ranch From Scratch
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
What does it actually take to build a retreat center from scratch? The land, the structures, the permits, the parking, the storage, the vision - and the marriage that has to survive all of it? In this episode, Shannon sits down with her husband Nathan Jamail - world-renowned leadership and sales keynote speaker, and co-owner of Retreat Ranch - to pull back the curtain on the real journey of building one of Texas Hill Country's most unique retreat destinations. This is not a highlight reel. This is the honest, practical, sometimes hard-won story of what it takes to go from a dream to a...
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EP 270 Retreat Insurance: What Every Retreat Leader Must Know with Event Helper
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Let’s talk about something most retreat leaders avoid… until they absolutely can’t. Insurance. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Myles Anderson from Event Helper, an insurance provider specializing in events and retreats, to break down why insurance is not optional in the retreat industry - it’s essential. Because here’s the reality: You are responsible for people’s safety, experiences, and well-being during your retreat. And without the right coverage in place, one incident can put your entire business - and personal assets - at risk. In...
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EP 269 Why Glamping and Retreats Are the Perfect Pair (And What Retreat Leaders Need to Know) with Sarah Riley
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
The retreat industry is evolving - and one of the biggest opportunities right now sits at the intersection of glamping and retreats. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Sarah Riley, a UK-based glamping industry expert and co-organizer of The Glamping Show America, to explore how glamping and retreats are becoming one of the most powerful combinations in experiential hospitality. Sarah has been working in the glamping and retreat space since 2010, helping entrepreneurs launch lifestyle businesses and navigate the realities of building glamping sites -...
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EP 268 The Power of Retreats for Midlife Women: Building Community, Healing & Business with SOL Women
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
There is a powerful shift happening - and it’s centered around midlife women. Women who have spent years building careers, raising families, and showing up for everyone else are now asking a different question: What do I want? In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down in person in Austin with the founders of SOL Women to talk about the rise of retreats designed specifically for midlife women - and why these experiences are more needed now than ever. SOL Women creates holistic, supportive retreat experiences that help women reconnect with themselves, prioritize...
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Behind the Scenes of the Retreat Industry Forum: Why Logistics & Operations Make or Break Your Retreat
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
There’s what your guests see at a retreat… And then there’s everything happening behind the scenes. In this special edition of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by Alison and Erin (co-hosts of the Retreat Industry Forum) along with two of the Forum’s featured panel presenters - Matt Quinones and Daesha Donze - to talk about the operational side of running successful retreats. You can have an incredible concept, a beautiful location, and a powerful transformation… But if your logistics and operations aren’t dialed in, it will impact the entire experience. Matt...
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EP 267 The Retreat Venue Gap: Why Retreat Leaders and Venues Struggle to Find Each Other with Emily Johnson
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
One of the biggest challenges in the retreat industry isn’t marketing, pricing, or programming. It’s the gap between retreat leaders and retreat venues. Retreat leaders struggle to find the right venues. Venue owners struggle to fill their calendars with the right retreats. And somewhere in the middle, opportunities are missed. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Hospitality Collective, to talk about the disconnect between retreat leaders and venues - and how the industry can bridge that gap. Emily brings years of...
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EP 266 The Power of Proximity for Retreat Leaders and Entrepreneurs
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
Success in business isn’t just about strategy. It’s also about proximity - who you’re around, the conversations you’re exposed to, and the standards of the rooms you choose to enter. In this solo episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail shares why being in the right rooms can dramatically accelerate your growth as a retreat leader and entrepreneur. For many years Shannon’s business was doing well. But about five years ago, something shifted. She started attending conferences, joining masterminds, and intentionally placing herself in rooms with other high-level...
info_outlineOne of the biggest challenges in the retreat industry isn’t marketing, pricing, or programming.
It’s the gap between retreat leaders and retreat venues.
Retreat leaders struggle to find the right venues.
Venue owners struggle to fill their calendars with the right retreats.
And somewhere in the middle, opportunities are missed.
In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Hospitality Collective, to talk about the disconnect between retreat leaders and venues - and how the industry can bridge that gap.
Emily brings years of experience in the hospitality industry, working with boutique hotels and retreat centers to help them attract wellness travelers and retreat leaders. Her work focuses on helping venues improve their positioning, marketing, and sales strategies so their spaces can move from empty calendars to thriving retreat businesses.
Together, Shannon and Emily explore the rapid growth of the wellness travel sector - projected to become a trillion-dollar industry in the coming years - and what both retreat leaders and venue owners need to understand to take advantage of that growth.
They also discuss practical strategies for retreat leaders who are selecting venues for their retreats and the common mistakes that create friction between hosts and properties.
If you host retreats, run a retreat center, or are thinking about entering the retreat industry, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of how successful retreat partnerships are built.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why there is often a disconnect between retreat leaders and retreat venues
• How boutique hotels and retreat centers can attract more retreat leaders
• The role hospitality strategy plays in filling retreat venues
• Why the wellness travel sector is growing so rapidly
• What retreat leaders should look for when choosing a venue
• Why boutique hotels can be a great starting point for new retreat leaders
Key Takeaways
The Retreat Industry Has a Partnership Gap
Many retreat leaders struggle to find the right venues while many retreat venues struggle to attract retreat leaders.
The challenge often comes down to positioning, communication, and expectations.
Retreat Centers Often Wear Too Many Hats
Many retreat centers operate with small teams that are responsible for:
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marketing
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sales
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operations
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guest services
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event management
Specialized support can help these venues better position themselves and attract the right retreat leaders.
Wellness Travel Is Growing Rapidly
The wellness travel sector is projected to become a trillion-dollar industry in the next 5–7 years.
Retreat venues and retreat leaders who understand this shift will be better positioned to take advantage of the growing demand.
Venue Selection Matters
Emily and Shannon also discuss why retreat leaders should carefully consider where they host retreats.
They highlight:
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why boutique hotels can be a great starting point
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why specialized retreat venues may offer stronger alignment
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why platforms like Airbnb or VRBO often create legal and insurance challenges for retreats
About Emily Johnson
Emily Johnson is the founder of Elevate Hospitality Collective, a consultancy that helps boutique hotels and retreat centers attract wellness travelers and retreat leaders.
With a background in hospitality strategy, Emily works with venues to improve their positioning, marketing, and sales strategies so they can move from empty calendars to thriving retreat businesses.
Her work focuses on bridging the gap between retreat leaders and retreat venues, helping both sides build stronger partnerships and more successful retreat experiences.
Learn more at:
www.elevatehospitalitycollective.com or https://elevatehospitalitycollective.substack.com/
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TIMESTAMPS
Emily’s Background & Hospitality Experience (00:01:20) Emily shares her 20+ years in hospitality, her companies, and her transition into the retreat space.
Identifying the Gap: Retreat Leaders vs. Venue Owners (00:01:50) Discussion about the disconnect between retreat leaders seeking venues and venue owners struggling to fill their spaces.
How Emily Bridges the Gap (00:03:21) Emily explains her approach to helping venues define their brand, market effectively, and connect with facilitators.
Wellness Travel Industry Growth (00:05:28) Shannon highlights the explosive growth of the wellness travel and retreat industry, emphasizing its vastness and opportunities.
Matching Venues & Retreat Leaders (00:07:53) Emily discusses the importance of clear branding, storytelling, and ensuring the right fit between venues and retreat leaders.
Challenges for Small Venue Owners (00:08:05) Emily describes the struggles of small retreat centers, often run by owners wearing many hats, and the need for commercial strategy.
Importance of Proper Venue-Facilitator Match (00:09:03) The risks of mismatched bookings and the need for clear communication and expectations between venues and facilitators.
Retreat Industry Forum Promotion (00:10:09) Shannon briefly promotes the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum event in Denver.
Contracts, Structure, and First-Time Retreat Leaders (00:11:09) Discussion on the importance of contracts, understanding venue policies, and advice for new retreat leaders.
Hotels vs. Retreat Venues for Beginners (00:12:31) Emily explains why hotels can be a good starting point for new retreat leaders due to flexibility and lower risk.
Warning Against Using Airbnb/Vrbo for Retreats (00:14:27) Shannon strongly advises against using Airbnb or Vrbo for retreats due to legal and insurance issues.
Venue Options & Flexibility (00:15:29) Discussion about different types of venues, buyouts, and the value of expert help in finding the right space.
Niche Marketing & Facebook Groups (00:16:02) Emily talks about the importance of niche marketing and the challenges of finding the right venue via Facebook.
Corporate Retreats & Experiential Travel Trends (00:17:11) Emily notes the rise of corporate retreats seeking unique, wellness-focused venues and the shift from traditional meeting spaces.
How to Connect with Emily (00:19:14) Emily shares where listeners can find her online and her focus on experiential travel and wellness venues.
Sales Strategy: Sell Before You Open (00:20:20) Emily and Shannon stress the importance of having a sales plan and booking venues before opening.
Episode Wrap-Up & Farewell (00:21:43) Shannon thanks Emily, wraps up the episode, and encourages listeners to subscribe and access resources.