The First of its Kind
The International Retreat Association
A professional association dedicated to elevating the retreat industry through standards, collaboration, and shared vision.
Why This Was Created
The International Retreat Association was created in response to a growing need within the retreat industry.
As the industry has expanded globally, it has also become fragmented—lacking consistent standards, shared expectations, and a unified professional voice.
What was missing wasn’t more platforms or programs.
What was needed was structure, credibility, and connection.
The Association was built to bring together retreat leaders, venues, and professionals under one shared standard—creating a stronger, more trusted foundation for the industry moving forward.
The retreat industry is growing faster than the infrastructure supporting it. And that gap between how enormous this industry is and how little professional support exists inside it, that is exactly what the association will solve.
What We’re Building
We are building a professional association that supports the entire retreat ecosystem.
Through standards of practice, shared resources, and meaningful collaboration, the International Retreat Association is designed to elevate the way retreats are created, delivered, and experienced.
This is about more than individual success—it’s about raising the standard of the industry as a whole.
OUR FOUNDER
Holly Porter,
Hon. Ph.D.
International Retreat Association
Holly Porter didn’t stumble into the retreat industry.
She was called to it in a way she couldn’t ignore.
A lifelong entrepreneur born to entrepreneurial parents, Holly launched her first venture at age 12 and never looked back. Over the decades that followed, she built 11 startups, each one shaping the foundation for what would become her most meaningful work yet.
The International Retreat Association is her 12th.
Along the way, Holly achieved multiple successful exits, became a licensed Utah real estate broker with more than 25+ years in the industry, and authored 17 bestselling books. Her career has spanned cosmetology, business consulting, event production, and tech, with more than two decades dedicated to creating transformational retreat experiences that move people.
Her work has earned widespread recognition. Holly has received multiple real estate industry awards, was named Woman of the Year by her local Chamber of Commerce, and was honored by Rotary with the President’s Award and several distinguished service recognitions. In 2024, she received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most distinguished honors awarded to civilians in the United States. She also holds an honorary doctorate, recognizing a lifetime of leadership, service, and impact.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
During a 70-day hospital stay following a severe COVID battle, Holly experienced a near-death event that permanently shifted the trajectory of her life.
She returned with a level of clarity she had never known and a calling she could not ignore.
From that moment, two organizations were born.
Two missions. One calling.
The International Retreat Association is her vision to bring structure, credibility, and global standards to the retreat industry, uniting leaders, venues, and service providers into one professional ecosystem.
The Adventure Bucket Wish Foundation is her heart in action, supporting women who lead with purpose, because the world needs more of them.
Holly believes the retreat experience is one of the most powerful vehicles for human transformation on the planet. She is here to ensure the people who create it are seen, supported, and elevated.
At home, Holly is grounded in what matters most. She and her husband Scott are the proud parents of 8 adult children and 19 grandchildren, a beautiful and ever-growing family that keeps her rooted in love, perspective, and purpose.
Holly Porter is a CEO, a mover, a shaker, and a wish maker, building movements, elevating leaders, and answering the call she was given.