Retreat Operations Director

Your retreat
changes lives.
Let's build the
business behind it.

I partner with retreat owners to build the systems, strategy, and operations behind their vision so bookings grow, nothing falls through the cracks, and the work reaches the people who need it most.

Book a discovery call Who's behind this ↓

The real problem

Most retreat owners are brilliant at the experience. The business is another story.

The real issue isn't a lack of effort. It's that everything is manual, everything depends on someone remembering, and that mental load never switches off. Here's what that actually looks like, and what changes when automated systems take it off your plate.

The problem

What changes

You are the operation

Every follow-up, reminder, and payment chase runs through you. When your capacity is the ceiling, growth stops the moment you get busy or need a break.

→

Systems that run without you

Every touchpoint in the guest journey is automated and triggered without anyone pressing send, so growth stops depending on how much you can personally hold.

Leads go cold without you noticing

An inquiry comes in, you respond when you can, and life takes over. Warm leads slip away quietly, and you never know why.

→

A booking pipeline that works while you sleep

Every lead is captured and followed up automatically, moved through a clear pipeline so warm leads stay warm and convert.

Your team relearns the business every retreat

No documented process, no clear handoffs. Quality depends entirely on whoever happens to be holding it that week.

→

SOPs your team can run without you

Pre, during, and post-retreat processes so every retreat runs the same quality, whoever is holding it.

Your numbers live nowhere

Revenue, expenses, and performance are scattered across spreadsheets and memory. Every decision is a guess dressed up as a feeling.

→

One system, the real picture

Finances, bookings, and performance tracked automatically in one place, so decisions are based on real numbers, not gut feel.

The approach

Hands-on, end-to-end, built to last

Whether on-site or remote, every engagement starts the same way: I get inside the business, learn how it actually operates, audit the gaps, and build the infrastructure that lets it grow without you being the bottleneck.

I audit before I build

Every business is different. I spend the first weeks understanding what exists, what's missing, and what's creating friction. All before touching anything.

I build systems your team can run

Booking pipelines, communication automations, guest journeys, SOPs. Everything I build is documented and handed off so it works without me.

I solve the problems you can't see

From custom lead generation tools to full sales mapping. I build what the business actually needs, not a templated package that fits no one perfectly.

I stay involved after the foundations are set

Strategy retainer, ongoing ops support, or commission partnership. I structure the ongoing relationship around what creates the most value for your business.

In practice: Ometepe, Nicaragua

Three months. One complete business transformation.

An established retreat center with years of experience but no operational infrastructure. By the end of the engagement: a custom lead generation app, full booking and payment pipeline, guest communication automation, marketing rebrand, content strategy, and a mapped sales cycle.

The business went from informal and reactive to structured and scalable.

Lead gen app Booking systems Automations Marketing rebrand Sales mapping Content strategy

Heard it first hand

What clients say

Hover a card to open it up (tap on mobile).

Cris Ketch

Founder, Infinity Retreat, Ometepe, Nicaragua

"Shila took on the nearly impossible task of building our entire digital backend…"

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0:00

Voice note from WhatsApp

"Shila took on the nearly impossible task of building our entire digital backend from the ground up. She approached this challenge with exceptional professionalism, technical skill, and determination."

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Throughout the project, Shila worked independently with minimal guidance, consistently demonstrating efficiency, initiative, and outstanding problem-solving abilities. She completed every requirement within the agreed timeline while maintaining a high standard of quality and organization.

Her work ethic, reliability, and expertise exceeded my expectations. Shila has continued working with me as a consultant, a testament to the value she brings and the confidence I have in her abilities.

I recommend Shila without reservation. She would be a tremendous asset to any organization fortunate enough to have her on their team.

Jonathon Conant

Founder, Airborne Arts, Dominical, Costa Rica

"I have been an entrepreneur for 50 years with small operations to international…"

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Voice note from WhatsApp

"I have been an entrepreneur for 50 years with small operations to international, global successes. If there is one thing you need on your team it's someone who takes big challenges, and turns them into simple systems that just work."

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Shila not only has mastered that skill, she also brings the level of professionalism that you crave, and the personal responsibility and drive that gets it done.

Shila tamed a beast of an operation that caters to a select, and very discerning demographic. She intuitively understood the nature, and the needs of my business.

She expertly extracted what was needed from sources that often didn't have a clue, created a system that just made sense. I trust her judgement, and her ability to navigate challenges while remaining calm and fair.

I am grateful for her time with us, and the lasting positive impact her time has had.

Shila Kandiah

~10

Years in ops and consulting

2

Retreats transformed

Why retreats

I work in this industry because it has my soul

My name is Shila Kandiah. I spent almost a decade in operations management and have spent the last few years helping businesses with process improvement, operations, and strategy as a consultant. I wanted to take everything I had built professionally and point it at something that actually mattered to me personally.

I have cptsd and I am on my own healing journey of genuinely taking care of mind, body, and soul. Safe spaces that make room for wellness and healing are deeply important to me. I know what it means to find a place that holds you.

So right now I am taking my expertise toward my personal journey and partnering with retreats to help them grow, be seen, and serve the people who really need them. This is the work that has my whole heart.

When a retreat grows, more people heal. That is the business I want to help build.
Business systems Team operations Growth marketing

A note on availability: I take on a small number of clients at a time by design. Each retreat gets deep, hands-on attention from start to finish.

Services

How we work together

Every engagement is tailored. Most clients move through some combination of these, starting with foundations and building toward consistent growth.

01 Most owners start here

Foundation sprint

$3,000 – $6,000 · fixed fee

Everything your retreat needs to operate like a real business. Built, integrated, and ready to run without you in every detail.

  • Business audit and strategy brief
  • Website build or optimization
  • Booking system setup and configuration
  • Payment processing system
  • Financial tracking system
  • Business overview dashboards
  • Application integration across all systems
  • Guest communication playbook and automations
  • Guest welcome package
  • SOPs and operational tools
02

Strategy retainer

$1,000 – $2,000 · per month

An ongoing strategic partner who sets direction, tracks what's working, and keeps the business moving forward.

  • Monthly strategy sessions
  • Metrics review and priority setting
  • Team management and clarity
  • Ongoing SOP refinements
  • Growth planning
03

Concierge ops

$1,500 – $2,500 · per month

Your operations fully handled by a dedicated team, led by your Retreat Operations Director. Guest communications, bookings, admin, and retreat coordination off your plate entirely.

  • Guest and client communications
  • Booking and inquiry management
  • Admin, scheduling, follow-ups
  • Pre, during, and post retreat operations
  • Dedicated ops team, directed and quality-checked by you
04

Growth marketing

Fully managed. Scope discussed on inquiry

Pricing on inquiry

Getting your retreat seen by the right people. Scope is built around what you actually need, from strategy only to full execution with a dedicated team.

  • Marketing strategy and positioning
  • Content direction and creation
  • Social media systems and scheduling
  • Outreach campaigns and sales funnel
  • Custom lead generator
  • Dedicated marketing lead, fully managed
  • Content creation handled end to end

Ready?

Your retreat deserves to be
seen by the people who need it.

A 30-minute call. Let's see how we can grow your retreat.

Book a discovery call

A real conversation, zero obligation.