The transformative travel industry sets its major annual gathering. From September 29 to October 2, the newly opened Pical Resort (Valamar Collection) in Poreč, Istria, will host Synergy Croatia 2026. Organized by The Retreat Show, this B2B forum will bring together 300 elite professionals —retreat directors, therapists, tourism consultants, investors, and luxury brands from around the world— with a clear purpose: to move beyond industry clichés and ground experience design in science, environmental biology, and purpose-driven profitability.
Under the theme ‘The Healing Power of Nature’, the summit will turn the Croatian coast and the facilities of the country's first ESPA-brand spa into a living laboratory. The proposal combines pre-scheduled business meetings with immersive workshops, strategic talks, and networking dynamics designed to forge real alliances between operators and destinations.
Scientific rigor and business strategy on the speaker lineup
The program brings together international leaders addressing market evolution from different disciplines:
- Science and biological impact: Florence Williams, investigative journalist and author of The Nature Fix, will present the latest findings on the physiological and cognitive response to exposure to natural environments, offering concrete guidelines for designing biophilic programs with medical validity. Along the same lines, Dr. Erica Oberg, an authority on integrative medicine and longevity, will delve into the concept Vis Medicatrix Naturae to explain how nature acts on the nervous system and cellular aging.
- The transformation economy: B. Joseph Pine II, co-author of the influential book The Experience Economy, will analyze how wellness centers and luxury hotels can evolve from mere service providers into indispensable guides in their guests' transformation journeys.
- Success stories and global vision: Andrew Gibson, with over three decades leading wellness strategy at firms such as Six Senses, Mandarin Oriental, and Sensei, will break down emerging opportunities in the global market. Meanwhile, Damian Chaparro will share the operational keys behind the success of Aro Ha (New Zealand), a benchmark that has transformed the lives of more than 8,000 clients by combining ancestral wisdom and high performance.
- New travel narratives: Adventurer and writer Alastair Humphreys will invite attendees to rethink the concept of adventure through the lens of sustainability, health, and conscious impact.
Presentation of the Global Retreat Report 2026
One of the biggest highlights of this edition will be the exclusive reveal of the findings from the first Global Retreat Report. This study provides fresh market data to contrast the real demands of today's traveler with the current offering, debunking industry myths and identifying untapped business niches.
The working session agenda will also cover key concepts for the coming years, such as Healthy Hedonism, the therapeutic use of water, applied mindfulness , and creating regenerative relationships with the environment.
As Laura Montesanti, founder of Synergy, notes: “We want to go beyond nature as a mere aesthetic backdrop. This edition seeks to unite science, high-end hospitality, and real data so professionals leave with practical tools and well-founded visions to elevate their projects.”
To review the full program and request attendance accreditation, the organization has enabled the official platform at theretreatshow.com
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