Behind the Scenes of the Retreat Industry Forum: Why Logistics & Operations Make or Break Your Retreat
Release Date: 04/28/2026
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_outlineThere’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 and Daesha bring a powerful combination of expertise:
- Matt specializes in retreat logistics, coordination, and operations
- Daesha focuses on brand alignment, design, and experience curation
Together, they help retreat leaders move from overwhelmed and reactive… to organized, intentional, and elevated.
In this conversation, they break down:
- Why having a retreat coordinator is a game changer
- How logistics impact guest experience and retention
- The difference between a good retreat and a professionally run retreat
- Why seasoned retreat leaders invest in support
- How operations directly impact repeat business
They’ll also be diving deeper into these topics at the Retreat Industry Forum in Denver this May, where they’ll be leading a panel workshop focused on retreat logistics, operations, and execution.
If you want your retreats to run smoothly, feel elevated, and create raving fans - this episode is a must-listen.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why logistics and operations are critical to retreat success
• The role of a retreat coordinator (and when you need one)
• How behind-the-scenes execution impacts guest experience
• Why seasoned retreat leaders invest in support teams
• How to move from reactive to proactive retreat planning
Key Takeaways
Retreats Are Not Just Experiences - They’re Operations
A retreat is both:
- a transformational experience
- a logistical event
And both need to be handled at a high level.
A Retreat Coordinator Changes Everything
Having someone dedicated to logistics allows you to:
- stay present as the leader
- focus on your attendees
- deliver your transformation
Instead of managing problems behind the scenes.
Guests Remember How Things Felt
Even when issues arise (and they will), what matters is: how they are handled.
Strong operations = calm, professional experiences.
Brand + Logistics Must Align
It’s not just about running smoothly.
It’s about creating an experience that reflects your brand, your promise, and your audience.
Support Leads to Growth
The more support you have, the more you can:
- scale your retreats
- improve your experience
- increase repeat bookings
About the Retreat Industry Forum
The Retreat Industry Forum brings together retreat leaders, venue owners, and industry professionals who are serious about building profitable and sustainable retreat businesses.
Hosted by Shannon Jamail, Alison, and Erin, this is a room designed to elevate the entire industry.
📍 Denver, May
🎟️ https://luxuryinbusinessretreats.mykajabi.com/retreat-industry-forum Or jump on the Paris list: https://luxuryinbusinessretreats.mykajabi.com/retreat-industry-forum-Paris2026
Info about Daesha: https://daeshadonze.com/designing-the-event-that-sells-your-brand
Info about Matt: https://www.admin-solutions.co/
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TIMESTAMPS
Panel Introductions (00:01:08) Shannon introduces her co-hosts and panel presenters: Allison, Aaron, Dasha, and Matt.
Forum Excitement & Paris Announcement (00:01:30) Discussion about excitement for the forum, past meetings in France, and upcoming Paris and Denver events.
Champagne & Budget Jokes (00:02:23) Lighthearted conversation about celebrating with champagne and the importance of budgeting for events.
Panelists’ Backgrounds: Matt (00:03:29) Matt shares his experience in event planning, logistics, and his Disney production background.
Panelists’ Backgrounds: Dasha (00:05:47) Dasha introduces herself, her retreat agency, and her focus on brand experience and personalized retreats.
Dasha’s Unique Skills (00:06:58) Panelists discuss Dasha’s talent for translating a host’s brand into the retreat environment.
Panelists’ Collaboration & Roles (00:08:26) Matt and Dasha explain their complementary logistics and design skills, and how they support retreat leaders.
Nuanced Retreat Logistics (00:10:35) Discussion on advanced logistics, moving beyond checklists to high-level details for seasoned retreat leaders.
Support Systems for Leaders (00:11:47) Emphasis on the importance of having a support team to hold and guide retreat leaders through challenges.
Delegation & Focus on Transformation (00:13:13) How having coordinators allows leaders to focus on guest transformation, not logistics or emergencies.
Multiple Coordinators & Scaling (00:16:34) Advice on hiring more than one coordinator as retreats grow, and the importance of local support.
Facilitator-to-Attendee Ratios (00:17:36) Rule of thumb: one facilitator per five attendees, and the need for adequate support staff.
Group Chat & Communication Tools (00:18:06) Recommendation to use group chats for attendee communication, freeing leaders from logistical distractions.
Boundaries & Leader Presence (00:19:31) Leaders should set boundaries, delegate logistics, and focus on delivering the retreat promise.
Emotional Impact of Logistics (00:20:12) Carrying logistical stress affects leader presence; most issues should be handled by coordinators.
Guest Experience & Repeat Attendance (00:21:17) How excellent logistics and guest care lead to repeat attendees and long-term business growth.
Luxury as Feeling Supported (00:22:31) True luxury is guests feeling cared for, not just material comforts, leading to loyalty and return visits.
Handling Issues & Teamwork (00:25:18) It’s not about perfection; it’s about how problems are handled and the value of a strong team.
Closing & Forum Invitation (00:26:27) Shannon thanks the guests, expresses excitement for the forum, and invites listeners to future events.
Outro & Resources (00:27:17) Podcast outro with reminders to subscribe, leave a review, and access free resources.