Retreat Planning 101: How to Host Your Own Retreat - Christine Kane

If you’re passionate about the work you do, you’ve probably considered offering a getaway retreat so your clients can spend some intense high-focus time with you and other like-minded souls.

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

It is!

For 16 years, I hosted my own retreats several times each year, and they pretty much always sold out.  Not only was it a gratifying experience each and every time, but it also was a great income generator.  (The combination of passion and profits is a game-changer!)

My list has now grown so much that I no longer offer these more intimate retreats. (My events now attract 200+ people.)  Now, I meet many coaches, consultants, trainers and healers who want to host their own retreats.

If this sounds like you, here are some tips “” straight from my personal “in-the-trenches” files “” for how to plan and host your own retreats.

1 – Build a List of Ideal Clients

It’s one thing to have a great idea for a retreat. But it’s a whole other thing to find people to come!

The great news about retreats is that your list doesn’t have to be huge in order to fill the spaces.  Many retreat centers offer options for 10-person retreats.

Still, you need to have a list – whether it’s your client database, or your eZine list – in order to market your retreat.

2 – Name Your Retreat

Give your retreat a name.   This grounds your idea with a vision and purpose.

At first, I just called my retreat: “Women’s Retreat.”  (Truly exciting, huh? Sign me up!)

When I finally created the name, “The Unstoppable Power of Intention Retreat,” I was much more excited at the prospect of my retreats – and many more women expressed interest!

There is an art to naming anything.  Take time with this and have fun!

3 – Decide How Many People You Want at Your Retreat

My retreats had anywhere from 22 – 35 people in them.  Many of my clients have offered retreats for as few as 6 people. The choice is yours. What is ideal for you?

4 – Choose a Time-Span for Your Retreat

Retreats can range anywhere from 1 – 9 days. Or longer!  If you’re just getting started, I recommend a 3-day format.   This makes it easy for your participants to plan, to arrange travel, and doesn’t require too many days off from work.   Of course, this is also dependent upon the content you want to deliver.

5 – Choose a Location for Your Retreat

Where do you want to host your retreat?

First, let’s start with region.

I recommend that, at first, you keep your retreat close to home.   It’s great to have familiar surroundings and not have to travel far.  If you want to consider a more exotic location, it will obviously take a lot more planning on your part.

Next, let’s talk about choosing a retreat center.

If you do a Google search in your area, you may discover that there are a few small retreat centers that provide amazing options.  Many of these places are not luxurious – but they do allow for an affordable retreat experience for you as a host – and for your clients!

host your own retreat

For me – and for my clients – it’s about the SOUL of having a business and how I serve my clients. This is why I’m now hosting my retreats in a unique, smaller than usual venue in Asheville. Shifts happen in this place that simply DO NOT happen anywhere else.

I recommend that you choose a space that offers lodging and meals.  Something special happens to a group of people when they dine and sleep on site – without the distractions of the outer world.

Take time to shop around and explore your options, review your pricing and weigh the pros and cons of each location.

6 – Price Your Retreat

Putting a price tag on your retreat can bring up lots of stuff.

But you must challenge yourself NOT to play small.  Low prices can position your retreat as low-value.

Also, do not price your retreat just above the per-person price you’re paying the retreat center.  If you have cancellations or any unforeseen costs arise, you’ll be screwed.

I encourage you to stretch yourself.  Crunch the numbers and make sure you are making a profit!

Note: If the money and pricing is a little tricky for you – then you need to watch my free training video pronto!  It’ll give you the strategies you need to get over this hurdle. Click here immediately to grab your copy.

7 – Outline the Content of Your Retreat

Create a structure or framework that will guide the flow of each day.  There’s probably a natural beginning, middle and end you will follow.  In each element, map out the activities and teaching that will be included.

The key thing about content is this:

Don’t “over teach.”

Retreats (and events, too!) are meant to get participants to actually experience the work they never get to do at home. This means you have to give them the space to learn and take part in activities.

8 – Commit to a Date for Your Retreat

This is the most important step.  Why?  Because once you have a date, you’ve committed. It’s happening.  You’re going for it!   Too many people play the “Ready Aim” game. They never actually fire. In other words, they never commit.

Yes, it can be scary to offer your first retreat – but commitment and decision are half the battle. Choose a date. And start marketing.

Bonus Tip #1:  Keep it simple

If you’re just getting started, don’t try to plan a retreat on that Greek island you’ve always wanted to visit.  Retreats are about learning and experience. Though adventure can be a component, many times retreat hosts make it harder on themselves by being too aggressive with their early retreat goals.

(HINT: This happens because they fear that they themselves are not “enough” – so they try to superficially make the retreat seem more exciting. Don’t get caught in this trap.)

One of my colleagues was convinced that she had to offer her first retreat at the Ritz Carlton.  But the pricing made it so daunting that she never set a date. This is, unfortunately, a typical pattern.  This is why you want to keep it simple! Your first retreat may not be impressive, but at least you’ll have done it!

Bonus Tip #2:  Allow space

Many years ago, I went to a personal growth retreat that literally exhausted me. The hosts were obviously so frightened of not giving enough content that they dragged the participants around from one activity to the next. We were meditating.  Then we were walking through a labyrinth. (But move fast, because our next agenda item is about to start!) Next we were writing down our dreams, partnering in a exercise and onto the next thing”¦

The best thing about this retreat? It taught me what NOT to do when I was hosting my own retreats!

My retreats had lots of space built into them.  Yes, it can be scary to allow space because it feels like you’re not working!   But the gift of holding space for your participants IS working. And it provides a great value.  Be strong enough to allow for this.

“”””-

In the comments below, let me know: have you ever considered hosting or leading a retreat? What stops you?

92 COMMENTS ADD A COMMENT
  • Maria

    Awesome advice. We are planning to host a one-week retreat next year and your wisdom helped me narrow down a bit more for how to prepare for this event. Thank you for putting together this lovely post and sharing it with us.

  • Linda Dailey Woods

    I’ve hosted Retreats in the past before Covid, and my church found out about them and thought it was creating a conflict of interest because the Pastor’s wife was in charge of women’s ministry. So, I backed down from any retreats. I was inviting the women of the church. Now, I’m trying to find my way back to what I love without inviting /passing out flyers to the church. They were supportive. So getting past all of that, I want to find my way without including .., purposefully the women of the church. I believe in what God has given me, I thought I needed to be sanctioned by my Pastor. Thank you for this check list. It will help me put things back into perspective, my purpose.

  • Janet Lee

    I’m planning a retreat for couples from my church… possibly as an outreach, for my community. God gave me the image, he will provide the details through prayer and worship.

  • Christy

    Hi Christine,

    I was doing a search about creating a women’s retreat and came across you. Thank you for providing the step-by-step guide. I am currently going through a program designed to help women operate in their calling and prosper. I have my audience in mind and the platform I would like to start with, but I wanted to offer something different, so I thought of creating a women’s retreat for widows. I remember the retreat I went to and how I felt afterwards, and I am also a widow. I just wanted to thank you for being where I could find you.

  • Tarja

    What is stopping me are the legal matters. Do you have a good source to create legal documents for the participants?

  • Portia Makhetha

    I am so ready,willing and motivated to do this.If this wasn’t a sign for me,then I don’t know what else will be.I am done with a 9-5 job..Its time i work my own hours..my own way.THANK YOU FOR THIS!

  • Melissa Davis

    We want to do a retreat. I know wgeee. But I’m. It sure what context to do it ? What all to talk to them about ? I feel I need a lesson plan ? A schedule to go by. Do you have such info for me ? Like a class kit ?

  • Zehra

    Hi Christine

    Thank you for outlining the process. All this seems quite overwhelming. It’s been my dream and I’ve been wanting to host a retreat’s for a long time, bit never looked into it. All these ideas bit in the head. I love health, self development and breathing, big on this, as we really don’t breathe effectively. Any suggestions or advise you or anyone could give please, would be highly appreciated. Thank you

  • Sonya-Lee Zezza

    I am purchasing a summer house in Maine. It will be my home 6 months out of the year. I am also in the process of becoming a licensed therapist . I would love to do eco therapy and a women’s retreat in my home a few weeks a year. This is all brand new, so I am glad that I found this early on.

    • Andrea

      Hi Christine ,

      Firstly , congratulations on your success.
      Can you please advise further with regards to potential spaces . Some examples –

      Andrea U.K

  • shawnetta brunston

    I am thinking of planning a meditation retreat a year from now and the only thing that really makes me feel discourage is the fact that I have not one person to help me put this together. However I am still moving forward with planning it and we’ll see how it goes. I took some notes from you and feel a little better about it. I’ll update you on the process as we get closer to marketing this upcoming event.

  • Jordan Hart

    A retreat enables you to learn more about meditation. If you are a beginner, a retreat gives you space, time and resources to experience meditation. If you are an experienced practitioner, going on a retreat allows you to go deeper into your practice and learn more advanced techniques and if you have not meditated for a while, a retreat helps to kick-start your practice.

  • Kendra

    Thank you so much for this. Two fellow yogis and I are looking at hosting out 1st retreat and all of these steps have come up. This helps to ground me and my thoughts and feel less overwhelmed.

  • Catherine

    These are great practical steps to think about. Especially the reminder to give attendees time to do the work they can’t do at home. Love that! My website, Her Bags Were Packed, is a solo travel site — with a spin. I focus on helping women release emotional baggage and the many ways solo travel helps us do that. Since launching 3 years ago I have wanted to do retreats but I get held back by my fear that I won’t do my ideas justice. BLEH! But I am facing the fear and putting a plan into action! Thanks for these great tips!

    • Janet Lee

      Catherine
      I love ❤️ the idea. Tempted to join you. I will check out your website. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I know so many women who can benefit from this. Trust me, your idea is not at all Bleh! We need this! Best of luck. And may God bless your endeavors
      Janet Lee

  • Susan Miller

    Hi,
    I’m thinking of doing a crafting retreat. Many people have sent comments that it is something I should do.
    Problem is I’m disabled and still a beginner at this craft myself. I’m wanting to do it at my home. Set up tents for people to sleep in. I love cooking, so that isn’t much of an issue. It will be one that we can all learn from each other.
    So, how would I go about getting this started? I’m not doing it for an income. If I break even on food and supplies, I will be happy.
    Sincerely,
    Susan Miller

    • ASHA

      Hi ! I love your idea. Don’t let being disabled be a factor! People will come for the community and the craft. I hope you go for it!

  • TONYA JOHNSON-TROTTER

    I am considering hosting a retreat for the first time at the end of the year. Just a wellness type of retreat starting with close friends first before branching out to others.

  • Jerix

    Hi there,
    Thank you for insights about “retreat”.i am passinate of planning doing this,but i dont know waht skills or education are required to pull this off.i was a former supervisor in my job before(HOTEL) i love it.i love giving people advice,moving on, and coaching them.it feels really rewarding.its not the money but i felt a purpose in life.
    Thanks in advance for your answer

    • zehra shariff

      I feel you, I’m in the same boat. All of it, but for me it’s the money by aswell, but I also know, if you just do it with passion in order to deliver, money will just flow 🤷

  • Julie

    Never have – But have just started thinking about doing it. This was helpful!!!

  • Phil Baca

    I would like to conduct a retreat on living off grid. Which we do.
    I do not consider myself an expert on the subject and that makes me hesitate.

    • Tamy

      I don’t think you need to be an expert to share what you do know! For those who have no idea, you will be a fountain of knowledge. A jumping board for those who are interested but don’t know where to begin. Life is short, jump in and share your knowledge❤️

  • Dorothy

    Thanx u so much Christine u have made my day.May God bless u for sharing ur skills with others.

  • Rose

    I am considering hosting my first retreat this year!

  • Quddous Ahmed

    I’m starting a retreat in eastern europe next year. This has helped me immensely. Thank you!

  • Amanda

    My friends and I are just getting started in the retreat business and are planning our first one for New Years. I was wondering how you find clients in the beginning – we created an Instagram page and will create a website but is it basically just lots of messaging people and pages to find clients in the beginning?

  • cassandra

    I want to start hosting retreats as I LOVE helping being and am brilliant at organising and have a personal love for wellness in all respects. However I don’t have any formal experience in events management nor am i currently a business owner of any sort. I am a full-time traveller with a huge yearning to hold space for people so that they are able to connect and heal whilst also travelling but as this is something I’ve never done before, getting started is totally overwhelming.

    I have got over a decades experiences in hospitality, plus visual merchandising and accounts experience so I believe I have a good understanding of how this industry works but I’m a little lost of how to begin this next chapter of my journey

    • Derek

      Cassandra, I’m curious if you have had any success moving forward with your retreat idea. I have s very specific idea and I’m considering creating a 3 day retreat based in flow. I think i it may be beneficial to combine your experience with my ideas.

  • Maria lifestyle blogger

    I’m excited about my Christmas wellness retreat. Is my first time and even though there is still a lot of time until Christmas and New Year holidays.

  • Kameli

    Thank you Christine for sharing your knowledge. I really want to hold a retreat for girls between the age of 18 and 21 titled “Living Loved”. I am so nervous about it and I don’t want it to be a flop.Would you happen to help with ways I can make it interesting for them to come and how I can convince them.Please help,thank you.

    • Dana Wall

      Hi Kameli, I am just a guest here but I have run retreats for many years for High School girls (sports-related) The tricky part is that they are not paying for it unless you have a sponsor of some sort so the actual “customer” for you is the parent or guardian. That can be a little tricky trying to figure out what would motivate them to pay for such a retreat. Make sure also that you have medical release forms, permission slip type forms, and liability waivers. You also may have some adults wanting to come along so perhaps set up a separate schedule for adults that want to join in. I hope that helps!!!

  • Fawn

    Great post, thank you! BIG question: how do I insure my international retreat? I’ve been googling and searching for days and can’t find anything definitive.
    Specifics: I’m hosting a 10-woman retreat in Puerto Vallarta, January 2020, and I want to make sure I have insurance in case of cancelation and need to refund my guests.
    Any tips are helpful, thanks!

    • Manda

      hello, Fawn! I’m curious, did you ever find an answer to this question? I’m wondering the same about a retreat I’m hosting in Costa Rica in September 2020. Thank you in advance for any knowledge you can share!

      • DAGMAR

        Hello ladies, I’m curious too. First of all thank you Christine for this great blog, as a new entrepreneur I found it most helpful. I’m a new Retreat business owner and will be hosting small wellness groups in Havana, Cuba on May 2020. I would like to know the answer to this question too, since there is not too much info out there in regards to International Retreat businesses.

        All help, any help will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

        Ms Havanavibe (a newby)

  • Diana

    How do you advertise for a retreat?

  • Germaine

    Are there any books on organizing Retreats???

  • The Vitality Coach

    Thanks so much for this handy guide! I found it a great way to start of planning!

  • Sandy Orsund

    Thank you, Christine! As always so valuable! I’ve been wanting to do retreats and been too intimidated by not knowing if I would “enough,” even though I have so many ideas and information I’d love to share! So refreshing to hear your encouragement that I decided to not only map out answers to the steps above, but also sign up for Uplevel Cafe. Time to Stretch! Thank you!

  • Rayanne Samra

    Hi Christine,
    Thank you for sharing your valuable information. Two like minded Mums & Myself are looking at starting an Empowering Children’s Retreat & the date is creepy up fast. We have covered most of the tips you have offered above (#7 is a great tip I need to work on Thank you) however the 2 things we are unsure of is the insurance & gaining sponsors to assist in covering the costs. Adults value the cost of a retreat for themselves however as it is a children’s retreat, it seems to be more seen as a vacation care service (which ours is not).
    Do you have any tips on the type & amount of insurance cover? Also any tips on securing some sponsors?
    Thank you, Rayanne Samra

  • JeanaYogina

    Christine,
    Hello I googled putting on a retreat and found you! Fabulous!!
    Thanks for your advice I feel even more motivated and confident I and my future partners will do just fine.

    Namaste
    Jeana Yogini : )

  • Joy Butler

    I have been debating hosting my own retreat. It’s hard for me to sort out all the things I need to consider, so this article was so helpful. I really liked how you suggested stretching the price in the case of no-shows or other problems. I think I could handle planning and executing a wonderful retreat with some help.

    • Zehra

      Hi Joy. Where are you based?

  • peter thomas milner

    my girlfriend and I are two highly trained coaches who have been asked multiple times to do a retreat and share what we know so now we are starting to put that into action so there were lots of great tips here thank you i look forward to the free video training I’m about watch.

  • Nadia

    Hi,

    Fantastic article! It strikes the balance of being informative, without being intimidating (I’ve always wanted to host away days and retreats, but never been brave enough to take the leap).

    I wondered if you had any tips for artists and sole traders who wish to sell their services to organisations that already run away days and retreats? I figured joining an established project would be a good place for me to start.

    Many thanks,
    Nadia.

  • Aminah Lawson

    Thanks so much for this. This was super helpful. My husband and I are hosting our 1st marriage retreat (The Happy Marriage Retreat) and this really helped me prepare for it.

    Thnx again

  • Latoya

    Thanks so much Christine for your planning tips. I will soon be a licensed Marriage & Family therapist and plan to start doing retreats in 2018. This was extremely helpful for me.

  • Alison Coltrane

    Today, a friend and I were discussing the potential of using my hostel as a retreat center to teach about manifesting what we want. She found this article, which answers a number of my questions. I really appreciate the info about allowing process-time during the event. What I also reaffirmed is that I ‘know’ most of this stuff from teaching… I just need/want to implement the things that worked in the classroom in my retreat. Thanks for the info! (7/31/16)

  • Camille Bullock

    I’m just getting going with a training and mentoring business and would like to start with a small (8-10 people) leadership retreat. From this retreat I would upsale my other training opportunities for businesses. I have extensive experience planning training events both large and small for corporate and non profit groups. But this will be the first time out on my own. I’m worried about how to establish credibility with out a previous retreat.

  • Cassi

    I signed up to be a leader at someone else’s retreat but haven’t had any luck finding people to register yet. So I don’t know what workshops I’d have under fitness, nutrition, and personal development.

    • Christine Kane

      So Cassi – Workshops in fitness, nutrition and personal development? There are so many topics people are hungry for, I can’t even begin to count! You can TOTALLY do this.

  • Miranda

    I highly recommend to get an OOPS manager (an Overall Operations Manager). I was so happy to have hired a friend of mine to actually keep things in check while I was busy coaching women. She knew when to start what for the next topic of the agenda, kept track of time, took care of people who needed something during the retreat, took care of me by providing me with drinks/snacks and feedback so I could align.
    M

    • Sandy Orsund

      Great suggestion, I was thinking this would be helpful as well!

  • Debbie Blatt

    Hi Christie,
    Thanks for this information, it is very helpful. My question is how do you go about paying your instructors? How much is to much on a supply list that is required for the class. For example if I am offering a class that involves a lot of sewing is it to much to ask the participants to bring their own machines? I have three teachers in mind that I would love to bring together for a retreat, how do I go about approaching them, what are the questions I need to ask them? What is the standard if there is one for teachers cost.
    Thanks for taking your time to put together such a great outline, I look forward to hearing from you.
    Sincerely,
    Debbie

    • Miranda

      Christie,
      Have you thought about exchange? For my first retreat I did not have a big budget to pay for other people to come in (ie yoga teacher, etc). So I suggested an exchange of service. They came to teach and in exchange could stay for free at the retreat and participate in the program the whole time.
      I am still doing it that way 🙂
      M

      • Christine Kane

        Miranda – Exchange is one way to do it. But when I was doing retreats – i didn’t have other speakers. It was me teaching – and my massage therapist got paid by the attendees for their massages. (Unless they signed up for my VIP package– then it was included.) Now, when I have speakers at my event, they pay ME to be there because they will get clients and sales from being in front of my audience. It’s not about the transaction (the event iself) – it’s about the fact that they will get long term customers. Make sense?

  • Pamela

    Hi!

    I am the Innkeeper for The Simsbury 1820 House in Simsbury Connecticut and I would love to host retreats at the Inn. We are 15 minutes from the Hartford Airport, have 31 rooms, shuttle service, a fabulous continental breakfast and an amazing onsite restaurant, Metro Bis.

    How can I get out the word that we are here and willing to work with groups on pricing so they can hist a great retreat?

    Thanks for any advice you can share.

    Pam
    Sent from my iPad

  • Paul

    Thank you, Christine! I’m in the process of opening a retreat centre in Barcelona, Spain, and your advice was perfect! I found it not only useful from the perspective of planning my own retreats, but also for when I’m offering the centre to others who want to run the retreats.

  • Elinor Predota

    Christine, this is excellent advice, and confirms everything I’m feeling as I look at planning my own retreats.

  • Rita Davis

    My artist friend and I have talked about designing a retreat for women for quite a while. We are in a position to move forward now: she is a professional artist and we both made the leap to resign our jobs as teachers). We had a five hour “planning pow wow” last week-before I read this article!- and did map out many of the items you describe. Place and price are the current works in process. We determined several weeks ago in our first planning chat that time for silence, reflection, and contemplation were essential. We also plan to have simple, “clean” nutritious meals. We want to have follow-up availability via email and phone.

  • Laney

    Christine, your article is so timely, and I am so grateful for all your wonderful advice. I am currently putting a plan together to organise my first retreat; I am drawn to facilitating others to explore their hopes, dreams and visions through vision boards, positive affirmations and gratitude and wealth journaling. This is an exciting project for me that I want to nurture and grow; helping others to open their hearts and minds to the possibilities and opportunities feels so right and purposeful. Sharing is such a innate and large part of me and feels so much ‘bigger’ than being a novice! Wish me luck…

  • Kathy Kane

    Thank you Christine for this. Your comment about too much content being overwhelming for participants really struck me. Having been on the receiving end I know it’s true. Being on the delivering end we struggle with wanting to give our participants the most for their money, super-size their experience. But, if we give them no space to take in what we’re offering, we have not given much value.

  • Christine Kane

    Thanks all for your great comments here! So happy this article helped you!

  • Court

    Christine,
    Thanks so much for making the point about allowing space. I do agree, that the tendency to cram too much in in an “oh my gosh, hope I am delivering enough value so that they are having a good time and learning and will give positive feedback” kind of way, makes you feel like you are earning your keep or something. But I feel like some people have to come to a retreat to have any kind of space for themselves even to consider one small thing! I need to remember that holding the space for those in attendance of my workshops need that same thing and that I don’t need to overwhelm them with awesomeness and just need to relax into what I have to offer in a simple and beautiful way.

    Thanks, again!

    -Court McCracken, Art Nurture

  • Sheri Rosenthal

    Christine thank you for this. As a person who partners with facilitators to co-create awesome retreats and journeys – it is amazing how many coaches do not think about this wonderful venue for their peeps. If you are going to do a group workshop – why not do it in a beautiful and inspiring location? I don’t think most folks want to spend a whole weekend inside anymore and by utilizing a retreat center – you create multiple opportunities for bringing your work outside through different group activities and more.
    Part of what I do is help facilitators by creating their legal forms, negotiating contracts, helping them properly price their events, co-marketing their event, and more. I would be honored to chat with anyone who would like more information on what my travel company offers. Blessings, Sheri 🙂

    • Maya

      Hi Sheri, I am opening my new retreat soon and might need help. Please contact me on mdlotus@yahoo.co.uk . Thank you

  • Camilla Hellberg

    Thanks Christine! I want to host a retreat and l live in the perfect setting for it: on an island called Kumlinge (part of the Ã…land Islands, Finland) with 250 other people. Sea, breathtaking nature, peace and quiet, a beautiful space that l get to hire very affordably and many helpful people around the island for practical stuff. So now with your how-to-steps, what’s there stopping me? Nothing! I will sit down right now and map out my “Make Relevant Use Of Your Intuition Retreat” YEY 🙂

  • Emma

    I loved this… Am working on some workshops (also have retreats in my future) – and found that my fatal error for my first “offering” was that I hadn’t built my list properly… So thanks for the tips… starting at #1 again… back to the drawing board – and off to work on building up my clientele!!!

  • Kathy Brennan

    ..as someone else has said – “very timely!” Have been thinking about this for quite a while – time to DO something!
    Kathy

  • Deane

    Thank you so much for these wonderful guidelines. I’m just starting out with my business, but I know that retreats are in my future. I especially love Bonus Tip #2…allow space. I know that won’t be easy, but I’ll remember your wise words…”don’t over teach.”

  • Wendy

    Wow! This is so timely. I’m considering offering meditation/hypnotherapy intensive retreats, as well as writer/journaling/crafting retreats. I’ve been wondering how to price these events. I’m ordering the DVD. THANKS! 🙂

    • Christine Kane

      Wendy – My rule for pricing is “stretch, but don’t splatter.” Price it to stretch you a bit (also so you really strive to create the most value possible), but not so high that you totally freak out.

      Also when you price it too low, I think you create a bit of mistrust in people. They wonder what’s wrong with you that you’re offering such a great thing at such a low price.

      The best process is to sit down quietly and map it out for yourself. Also – you have to go look at your retreat center and find out your cost per participant in advance!

  • Raederle

    Thank you for breaking this down into simple guidelines. I’ve been thinking about hosting a retreat for years, and this makes it sound so much more possible.

  • Kylie

    Ooh, so excited that you’re posting about this today! I haven’t yet gotten to the retreat-planning stage, but I’m just now planning my first workshop. It’s scary, but I know it’s going to be so much fun. Thank you for the encouragement, AND for the reminder that holding space is so much better than over-teaching.

  • Marian

    Hi Christine. Thank you for this article! Yes, I have considered hosting a retreat (often) but have not moved upon it. I was inspired to look at it again from your post. I will keep in touch to learn more.

  • Alice Osborn

    Hi Christine,
    Thanks to you, I’m hosting my first-ever “Dream It, Do It Women’s Writing Retreat” Aug 23-25 at Bend of Ivy Lodge. All of my participants are extra excited and can’t wait for the creative fun to begin. I’m taking your advice of not filling up the time too much–I went on a writing retreat last year that did this and I was exhausted. And Walker says “hi”!
    Blessings,
    Alice:)

    • Christine Kane

      Woohoo Alice! I’ll be cheering you on! I know it’ll rock!

      • Alice Osborn

        Hi Christine,
        My very first women’s writing retreat at Bend of Ivy totally rocked! I took your advice and let the participants “be” and did NOT overschedule. This was the biggest and riskiest event I’ve ever done in my 7 years of business and so glad I did it. Dava Melton of Blessed 2 Cook nourished with her fabulous food and the Lodge was the perfect place for writing and renewal. Thank you again for your advice and recommendation!

        cheers,
        Alice

  • Lori

    Love this info Christine… You take the “scary” out of the process.
    Thank You.

  • Marcie

    Hi Christine, this was very helpful information. I have been considering hosting a retreat for the past several years but never did anything about it. I have since evolved and have loads of retreat topics that I can start from. This article added spark to my fire and I just might have my first writing conference in 2014. In the meantime, I’ll start conducting local workshops to get my mojo going.

  • Deb @ home life simplified

    Thank you so much for this information. My partner and I have run our 30 day self care online course three times now and the next step is a live retreat. We are aiming for February 2014 and are about to start thr location research part of the journey. So many variables at play that is scary, but we both ave big visions and want to step up and make them reality.

  • Brittany

    I’ve dreamed of doing retreats for a long time. I have the content and outline, I’m just scared to pull the trigger! Thank you for this article… My biggest fear is that no one will sign/show up.

    • Christine Kane

      Brittany! That’s everyone’s biggest fear – and why no one dares to offer live events. You just gotta go for it!

      • Stephanie

        Thank you so much for the information. I have a deep desire to host retreats. I’m wondering if you have a Facebook mastermind group for all of us with a like minded dream to connect?

        • Christine Kane

          Stephanie – We do have masterminds, but they are private groups for our clients and students. thanks for checking!

    • Miranda

      Ask a few close friends to sign up. If noone else shows up at least it was a great dry run to learn from, right?

  • Aby Garvey

    Thank you, Christine, for laying out the process step-by-step. This idea has been percolating in the back of my mind for a while…now I have ideas I can put into action and a checklist to follow to see if this makes sense for my business. Thank you!