Planning a retreat sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Sunshine, great food, deep conversations, a group of people finally exhaling after months of screen time. It’s certainly one of my favourite things to do.
But behind every dreamy retreat photo is someone quietly losing sleep over logistics. Spreadsheets. Supplier emails. Menus. Guest forms. Refunds. The reality is that retreat planning has a lot of moving parts, and most business owners underestimate how much time and energy it takes.
That’s where the right retreat planning services come in. Not the cookie-cutter kind, but the kind that helps you bring your vision to life without it consuming your sanity.
I know this because I’ve been on both sides. I’ve run retreats, supported retreat hosts, and handled the behind-the-scenes chaos that no one talks about. These days, I work as a retreat planning consultant, helping business owners map out profitable, calm, beautifully organised retreats that actually fit around their life and business. Here’s what to look for when you’re choosing the right support.
1. Understand What “Retreat Planning Services” Actually Mean
It’s easy to assume that all retreat planning services are the same. They’re not.
Some focus purely on logistics or event admin, while others take a more strategic approach.
A great retreat planning consultant will help you do both: design the overall retreat experience and build the operational systems behind it. It’s not JUST about booking a venue or choosing meals. It’s about asking the bigger questions to make your retreat a premium experience.
Why this retreat? Who is it for? How does it align with your business model? What kind of energy do you want it to have?
That’s what turns a good retreat into one that runs smoothly and sells out.
2. Signs You’re Ready to Work with a Retreat Planning Consultant
Here’s the truth. You don’t have to do this alone. In fact, I highly recommend support at all stages.
If you’re reading this with a mix of excitement and low-key dread, that’s already a sign you’d benefit from some support. Especially if you’re thinking things like:
- I’ve got the idea, but no idea where to start.
- I’ve run one before and it nearly finished me off.
- I have no clue what to charge or how to make it profitable.
- I’m juggling too much already and can’t add one more project.
- I just want someone to tell me what to do, in what order.
That’s where a consultant steps in. I help you turn the big idea in your head into a plan you can actually execute, without the stress, confusion, or late-night panic that you’ve missed something important.
3. What Good Retreat Planning Services Should Include
When you’re looking for retreat planning services, find someone who doesn’t just tick boxes. You want someone who understands strategy, systems, and structure not just one-day events in London.
Here’s what that looks like:
🧭 Strategic Clarity
Before you book anything, you need direction. We’ll define your goals, your ideal guest, your retreat structure, and what success actually looks like for you.
💸 Profit Planning
No more guessing. We’ll run the numbers together so you know your exact costs, your pricing sweet spot, and your profit margins. That way, you don’t end up working for free or overdelivering yourself into the ground.
🗂 Operational Systems
Think templates, checklists, workflows. Your retreat planning should feel calm and organised. You’ll have one central system where everything lives suppliers, timelines, payments, guest info, all in one place.
🤝 Hands-On Support
A consultant isn’t there to take over, but to walk alongside you. You get a sounding board, accountability, and an experienced set of eyes making sure you don’t miss a thing.
🤝 International Logistics
Make sure you work with a consultant who understands the pitfalls of international travel and logistics- with guests arriving by plane train and car you’ll need someone who can organise trips with their eyes closed.
4. The Difference Between a Planner and a Consultant
A planner executes.
A retreat planning consultant thinks, strategises, and helps you make smarter decisions.
They don’t just help you host a single event. They help you turn your retreat into a repeatable, profitable part of your business, one that runs smoothly year after year.
When I work with clients, I’m not just thinking about their first retreat. I’m helping them build the structure to make their next one easier. I’ve seen the overwhelm, the last-minute scrambling, the sleepless nights before guests arrive. You don’t have to do it that way.
5. Why the Right Consultant Changes Everything
When I moved from the UK to France and then to Spain movign my business each time, I promised myself I’d build a business that lets me work with amazing people and still have time to swim in the sea. That’s the same energy I bring to my work with clients; clear, calm, strategic, and focused on making things easier, not heavier.
If you’re ready to host a retreat but want it to feel light, organised, and genuinely enjoyable, you don’t need to do it alone.
At Olivier Consultancy, I offer tailored retreat planning services to help you plan with confidence, simplicity, and structure. Together, we’ll turn your idea into a retreat that works financially, operationally, and energetically.
You can explore my offers here: Retreat Planning Consultancy
✨ Final Thought
A well-planned retreat shouldn’t drain you.
It should energise you. Inspire your guests. Strengthen your business.
And with the right retreat planning consultant by your side, it absolutely can.
