Come Grow With Us brings 13 speakers together to teach retreat leaders how to fill retreats, price them profitably, and build a sustainable retreat business
ST. GEORGE, Utah — The International Retreat Association™ will host Come Grow With Us, its first retreat industry conference, this Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The free virtual conference brings together 13 speakers to teach the business side of retreats to retreat leaders, venue owners, and retreat service providers. Register free at [registration link].
Retreats are in high demand, yet the retreat industry has operated for decades without shared professional standards, consistent best practices, or a central place for retreat leaders to learn the business together. The global wellness retreat market is projected to reach $363.9 billion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research, and the Association was founded to bring credibility, education, and collaboration to that growth.
“Hosting our first conference is a defining moment for the International Retreat Association and the retreat ecosystem we serve,” said Holly Porter, founder and CEO. “Retreat leaders are extraordinary at creating transformation for their guests. Many have never been taught how to fill a retreat, price it profitably, or build revenue that lasts beyond one event. Come Grow With Us brings that education
together in one place, taught by people who do this work every day.”
Inside the Retreat Industry Conference
Porter opens with a keynote, The Future of the Retreat Industry, followed by sessions on the core skills of a sustainable retreat business:
• Emily Johnson: Choosing Venues, Destinations, and Partners
• Danny Savage and Linda Schwader: Selling Retreats and Enrollment
• Caterina Rando: Pricing Retreats Profitably
• Brittani Bolen: Event Sponsorship and Planning
• Sonia Cruz Oro: Creating Repeatable Revenue Beyond the Retreat
• Sara Chevere: Building Community Before and After the Retreat
• Ali Christos: Using Podcasting to Grow a Retreat Business
• Sharon Hess: Business Scaling and Revenue Growth
• Lainie Sevante Wulkan: Attracting the Right Guests
• Ed Gehres: Protecting and Strengthening a Retreat Business
Nikki Cali also presents a first look at Wisdome, the Association’s new member platform. Porter and co-host Danny Savage close the day with the Association’s next steps for education, community, and member support.
“What makes this conference different is that it is education first, with no pitches from the stage,” said Savage. “Every speaker was chosen for one reason: they can teach a specific skill that helps a retreat leader grow a stronger, more sustainable business.”
The conference serves retreat leaders at every stage, from first-time hosts to established leaders, venue owners, facilitators, coaches, and service providers. Sessions are recorded for the Association’s member education library.
Come Grow With Us is the first in a planned series of education events, followed by a virtual conference in January 2027 and the Association’s first live, in-person retreat industry conference in April 2027.
About the International Retreat Association™
Based in St. George, Utah, the International Retreat Association is the professional association for the retreat industry, setting the global standard for retreat leaders, venues, and partners. Rooted in purpose. Powered by vision. The Association provides professional standards, education, credibility, collaboration, and business growth resources for the people who create transformational retreat experiences worldwide. Learn more at internationalretreatassociation.com.
About Holly Porter
Holly Porter is the founder and CEO of the International Retreat Association, an international speaker, international bestselling author of 18 books, and host of the weekly All Things Retreat podcast. A lifelong entrepreneur who has launched 12 businesses, she has created retreats for more than 25 years from her base in Southern Utah. Her work grew out of surviving a 70-day hospital stay and near-death experience in 2021, which she shares in her keynote, The SHIFT: Turn Adversity Into Purpose.
Media Contact:
Holly Porter, Founder and CEO
International Retreat Association
Holly@InternationalRetreatAssociation.com
435-319-4009