Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry perspectives.

The resulting report, which will be titled The Global Retreat Report 2026, will explore the evolving market and establish annual benchmarks in consumer behaviours, industry challenges and emerging opportunities. 

The research will address consumer demand, the reasons behind attending, how booking decisions are made, barriers to entry and desired outcomes. The hope is to compare consumer demand and industry expectations to find alignment and gaps that suggest opportunities for future development.

The study has been commissioned because Synergy sees a gap in dedicated research on the subject of retreats. The research is being carried out independently by an academic called Dr Ivana Damnjanovic.

Laura Montesanti, founder of Synergy – The Retreat Show, said: “The retreat sector is evolving incredibly quickly and becoming an increasingly important part of the wider wellness travel landscape, yet there is still very little dedicated data helping us understand the people driving that growth or the consumers it ultimately serves. We are introducing this research because I believe knowledge is essential to progress.”

Industry professionals with involvement in the sector are being invited to contribute to the research, including those working in hospitality, wellness and travel. These roles are not limited to retreat leaders, organisers, hotel and resort operators, spa and wellness directors, travel advisors, consultants, hospitality investors and developers.

The consumer research is open to everyone, from people who are regular retreat attendees to those who have never considered going on one.

The research closes on 7 August and initial findings will be unveiled at the organisation’s 2026 event at the Pical Resort by Valamar in Istria, Croatia, which is taking place between 29 September to 2 October. The full results will then be published later in the year.

Synergy is providing a prize draw to incentivise participants, with the chance of one of three wellness travel experiences at the Equinox Hotel New York, US; Surf Synergy, Costa Rica; and Minos Palace Resort in Greece.

The survey can be taken here.