THE GLOBAL RETREAT REPORT 2026
Following its official launch at Synergy – The Retreat Show in Istria, Croatia, The Global Retreat Report 2026 is now live and available to download.
As the first edition of the new global research initiative from Synergy, the report explores the retreat and wellness travel sector from both sides of the experience: the professionals who create and operate retreats, and the guests who attend them.
Led by Ivana Damnjanovic, PhD, the research brings these two perspectives together to explore what the industry believes about itself, what guests actually experience, and where those views converge – or reveal important gaps.
More than 450 industry professionals and consumers took part in the research, providing an early snapshot of a sector that is confident in its future, but still evolving.
Ivana Damnjanovic presents findings at Synergy - The Retreat Show 2026, Croatia
AN INDUSTRY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ITS FUTURE
Confidence across the retreat sector is remarkably high. 84% of industry professionals rated their optimism about the future at eight or higher out of ten, with an average score of 8.66. At the same time, professionals rated the industry's overall maturity at just 5.99 out of 10 – suggesting a sector with strong belief in its purpose and potential, while recognising there is still work to do.
ARE WE GETTING GUEST MOTIVATIONS RIGHT?
One of the report's most interesting findings is the difference between why the industry thinks people book retreats and why guests say they actually attend. Industry professionals overwhelmingly identified burnout and stress recovery as key drivers. Guests, however, were more likely to cite personal growth, curiosity and a desire for something more intentional than a standard holiday. Burnout ranked only fourth. For retreat businesses, this raises an important question about how we understand – and communicate with – the people we hope to reach.
THE UNEXPECTED POWER OF CONNECTION
The research also found that retreats frequently deliver outcomes guests weren't necessarily expecting. Social connection provides one of the clearest examples. While just 32% of attendees arrived hoping to form meaningful connections with other guests, 71% ultimately experienced them. It suggests that some of the most valuable aspects of a retreat may be those that are hardest to anticipate or articulate before arrival.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RETREAT?
The clearest opportunity identified by the research comes after guests return home. Attendees rated post-retreat support at just 4.12 out of 10, with 61% scoring it four or lower. Among first-time retreat guests, the average fell to 3.3. Interestingly, the industry recognises the gap too, with professionals identifying post-retreat integration as the area most commonly overlooked within their own businesses. Yet guests' intention to attend another retreat remains strong, pointing to an opportunity for the industry to build greater continuity between the retreat itself and what happens next.
Laura Montesanti speaks on the industry at Synergy - The Retreat Show 2026, Croatia
BUILDING A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE RETREAT INDUSTRY
Together, the findings reveal an industry with a strong sense of purpose and confidence in where it is heading, alongside opportunities to deepen its understanding of the people it serves.
As Laura Montesanti, Founder of Synergy – The Retreat Show, explains:
"This research reflects an industry with a strong sense of purpose and enormous confidence in its future, while giving us a deeper understanding of what guests themselves are experiencing and valuing.
"What is particularly exciting is seeing both where the industry's instincts are confirmed and where the findings reveal opportunities to evolve further. For the sector, this gives us something incredibly valuable: a stronger evidence base for what we already do well, alongside a clearer view of where we can continue to grow."
The Global Retreat Report is designed as an ongoing research initiative, with this first exploratory edition establishing a foundation from which Synergy can continue to track how the retreat sector – and the expectations of its guests – evolve.
Download the full report to explore the findings across guest motivations, discovery and decision-making, the retreat experience, post-retreat integration and the wider context shaping the sector.