Successful retreat basics

The right venue for you and your clients

Not all venues will suit all content. Upsticks are offering our space to those looking for a cosy, small select experience, which embraces nature.  The luxury is in having space outdoors, sharing a special place, sharing moments whilst also offering spaces to be alone.

Think about the message you’d like to portray with your retreat, and how it supports the sessions and content you offer. That includes everything from the food,  the session space and accommodation. Overall, the venue has to have a culture which is a good fit for you and your audience.

Length and timing of your retreat

Again think about your audience, are they time poor or do they have a budget that won’t stretch to a week in Bali? I’d recommend starting with shorter retreats say one or two nights to be sure you can get clients to commit easily. It will also make it more affordable.

Many people believe a weekend is a good time to run a retreat. However factor in that weekdays are usually cheaper at venues. They often have less demand for midweek stays, so you can bag a bargain.

The height of the holiday season, bank holidays or school holidays will push the price up and it will probably be harder for your clients to commit to time away during this period.

Family, children and other factors often trump ‘me time’ for many. So, a night or two away midweek, might seem harder to organise for your clients, but they are more likely to commit to it, as there’s less to compete with that time.

How much should I charge for my retreat?

The price of your retreat will be made up of venue cost ~ which may include some or all food and beverages. Plus the cost of any materials you need then of course your own costs relating to your time and content, plus other provider, teachers, practitioners or retreat leaders. It is always a good idea to survey your own followers to see what they would invest in a retreat.

At Upsticks our prices include all accommodation, hot tubs, electricity, wood and a food package. For your retreat you may want to upgrade certain meals and activities on site or add off site activities to shape their retreat.

• Choose the right venue for your content
• Survey your clients about retreats
• low season and mid-weeks are more cost effective
• Start with a shorter retreat

More about Running a retreat at Upsticks

Compelling outcomes for your retreat

Creating compelling reasons for people to attend your retreat is critical to get your clients buy in. Being able to describe the positive outcome will be a powerful persuasive tool in gaining the commitment from your audience to attend your retreat.

Often the most positive outcomes that come from attending a retreat are not easily quantifiable. Creating a more specific, quantifiable outcome and wrapping other benefits around will send the message that your retreat will reap many positives.

Why do your clients want to attend?

We all recognise it is tough to take time for ourselves. There are always competing interests in our lives as parents, carers, business owners, work, partners, we all have plenty that draws on our time. In order to help your customers,  give them reasons to attend. Help them with  planning time away from the everyday. Finally reduce the barriers to attending.

Many people will have fears and anxieties about trying retreat, so addressing those early is crucial to ensure they attend.

As part of the Upsticks offering we understand that information is key to making you and your clients feel at ease. So we’ll provide all the FAQ’s asked and address any special needs before you arrive.