January 2027
New Orleans
Retreat Info Pack
January 20-22 ┃ New Orleans, LA
Quick Links:
General Information
VENUE
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Ph: (504) 561-0500
Meeting Room: St. Charles - 3rd Floor
Room Reservations
Hilton New Orleans Riverside is nestled right on the banks of the majestic Mississippi River and places you steps from the French Quarter, Caesars Casino, cruise port, WWII Museum and more.
Group Discount Rate: $239 per night
Discounted room rate ends on December 28, 2026, or once the room block is gone, whichever comes first. Rooms are limited and may run out before this date so please book early.
To reserve guest rooms, use this link.
To reserve rooms by phone, call 800-395-5936 and reference DSOA.
General Retreat Schedule
Subject to change
Tuesday, January 19th | Arrival Day
Wednesday, January 20th | Day 1
Thursday, January 21st | Day 2
Friday, January 22nd | Day 3
Mastery Portion of the Retreat
PLEASE NOTE: This event will NOT be live streamed, but the recordings will be available within four weeks.
Catering & Dietary Info
Coffee, tea, and water will be provided during sessions, and we will provide lunch at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on Wednesday and Thursday during the retreat. The event will end on Friday prior to lunch for Premier Members. Mastery Members will continue Friday until 5pm and lunch will be provided.
We try our best to take into consideration food allergies, and the food will be labeled with common dietary allergies/restrictions. If you need a Kosher or Halal meal, please email [email protected].
What You Need to Prepare
HOT SEATS
We know that as a Studio Owner you have challenges and opportunities that you’re faced with daily.
We’ll have one Hot Seat session during the retreat where you can share a challenge or opportunity that you’re having in your studio and receive feedback from your peers around the table. Please bring with you a challenge and/or opportunity to receive feedback on.
You will have time to explain your situation and then receive feedback from your table and ask questions. This is the only portion of the event that you can record on your phone.
To receive the best feedback possible from the group, structure your hot seat challenge/opportunity as follows:
- State your challenge/opportunity in two sentences.
- State why it is a challenge or opportunity in one sentence.
- State what you have done already to overcome the challenge or explore the opportunity in two sentences.
- Restate your challenge/opportunity.
First Time Retreat
Attendee Happy Hour
INFORMAL MEETUP FOR FIRST TIME RETREAT ATTENDEES
Join us on Tuesday, January 19th from 5pm – 6pm at Public Belt to connect with other members and get some tips on making the most of your first retreat.
Important Info
Before the Retreat
Cancellation
We understand that plans change and sometimes people need to cancel. We are locked into the dates set, which is why there is a firm cancellation deadline on December 28, 2026. Up until December 28th you can cancel with no penalty. If you cancel your ticket after December 28th (or don’t show up to the retreat), your account on file will be charged a $900 cancellation fee. If you have purchased a guest ticket, they will not be refunded after December 28th.
Get The Most Out Of The Retreat - Pre-Event Call
Tuesday, January 12th from 11:00am – 12:00pm Eastern
Join us on Zoom (iccalls.com) to learn how to make the most of the virtual retreat. You are not going to want to miss this training!
Dress Code
Smart casual. There will be a videographer and photographer present throughout the event. Please note that conference rooms tend to be on the colder side so please bring layers. A cooler room helps people stay alert and focused to maximize learning potential!
Networking
BLINQ: Digital Business Card
We know that there is a need for many of you to connect and exchange information during our retreats, so we have a solution for you!
Click here to go to BLINQ’s website and create your very own digital business card for free.
Once your digital business card is created it is easy to share with others! Just let them scan the QR code and your information will automatically come up on their device with an option to “Save Contact.” It’s as simple as that!
During the Retreat
Registration
Registration is from 8:00AM – 9:00AM on Wednesday, January 20th. Only registered members and co-owners will be allowed in the room. Some of you may be traveling with family but we ask that you refrain from bringing them into the room as we will be at full capacity.
Note Taking
Studies show that writing by hand increases our learning! Technology can become a big distraction, which is why we ask that you don’t take typewritten notes on a laptop throughout the retreat. You may use tablets for written note taking. Using good old fashioned written notetaking keeps you present and absorbing the information better.
After the Retreat
Special Post-Event Workshop
Friday, January 29th from 11:00am – 12:00pm Eastern
Have you ever left a retreat with tons of good notes, but then don't do anything with them? Join us for a special call where she will walk you through how to organize your notes and turn them into action plans.
PLEASE NOTE: This event will NOT be live streamed, but the recordings will be available within four weeks.
If you have any questions on the above, please email Emily Murnen at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!
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