Get to know Gaia’s General Manager, Emily Griffin. With nearly six years of dedicated service at Gaia and a decade of residence in the picturesque Northern Rivers region, Emily brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a deep connection to our community. Known for her commitment to wellness, sustainability, and the simple joys of life, Emily is set to lead Gaia into an exciting new chapter.
Emily’s journey with Gaia has been marked by her unwavering dedication to creating exceptional experiences for our guests. She delivers a unique blend of professional expertise and personal passion for wellness, travel, and community. As she steps into this new position, Emily is eager to continue Gaia’s tradition of excellence while introducing innovative programs and offerings that reflect the evolving needs and desires of our guests, such as our new Winter Indulgence package.
Tell us about yourself?
I have been at Gaia for nearly 6 years and living in the region for 10 with my spirited children Leo and Frida, husband (and much-loved colleague) Mitch and whippet Billy Ray Martin. I’m passionate about wellness, travel, sustainability and finding simple joys. They might be a pocket of sunshine, strong coffee, a meal shared with friends, or shopping for vintage treasures. I thrive on being part of our vibrant local Northern Rivers community and enjoying everything this incredible region has to offer.
With 6 years of watching people experience Gaia Retreat, what is the most common response after their first stay?
- How nourishing and surprising our culinary experience is – flavours, textures, and abundance. Our meals truly set us apart from other venues.
- Our gifted spa therapists and wellness facilitators. How they feel deeply nurtured, pampered, and well rested.
- How unforgettably special this piece of land is – the sound of the birds, the freshness of the air, the shades of green. How they felt this gave them space to reconnect back in with themselves
But mainly “I can’t wait to come back!”
With some guests staying more than 8 times, why do you think they keep coming back?
I would say because Gaia offers them the luxury of choice – Our guests love that with our guidance, they can choose and curate the type of stay they need for that season of their lives. We see guests come for complete solitude, connection & community, luxurious pampering, healing ~ both mental and physical, foodies escape, off grid nature immersion or a mixture of it all. Each guest & each stay is completely unique, and we cater to all. Whether it’s for the day or a week, our guests know as soon as they walk through the Gaia gates that they are going to be held – we will take care of every detail so they can focus on pure relaxation and rejuvenation.
What is the most popular treatment, activity or experience that people have asked for over the years, or does it vary?
Some of our most loved, core experiences that have stood the test of time include our Kahuna massage– We are often told that this is a one-of-a-kind experience. A way to connect back to the body.
Also, our incredible yoga classes with highly skilled facilitators & finally our cooking class experiences where we share some of the secrets of our paddock to plate ethos.
Some newer guest driven favourites are our immersive cacao ceremony, transformative breathwork classes, deeply restorative sound healing or a session with one of our doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine to elevate your wellbeing practices.
Some would say this is a dream job. What is it really like working at Gaia Retreat each day to create an incredible wellness experience for guests?
It is a dream job and a daily joy, but not without lot of dedication and passion, not just from myself but the entire team. Hospitality and wellness staff are unique – the level required to give and be of service is limitless in this field and it requires us to always be thinking ahead and anticipating our guests needs. The reward is seeing the transformation from when our guests arrive to when they depart and being part of that journey.
As the new GM, what is your biggest focus for the future of Gaia Retreat?
Continuing the evolution of our offering and programs whilst maintaining and honouring the tradition of Gaia and legacy of its wonderful founders Olivia, Gregg, Warwick and Ruth. We will continue to warmly welcome and provide world class hospitality and value for our guests as we have been doing for 19 years. There are some exciting additions coming based on directly on our guest feedback. Watch this space.
With so much experience in the wellness industry what do you think will be the biggest trends for the future of wellness?
Wellness done differently – a more wholistic approach. Long gone are the days where wellness means mung beans and cardio. We now acknowledge that wellness means different things to different people. It could be a glass of organic wine with friends, a cultural or artistic experience, mindful movement or simply a place to deeply rest.
Back to nature – In a fast-paced world of the latest and greatest technology and advancements, there is a movement towards simplicity and getting ‘back to basics’. Nourishing seasonal food, hydration, intentional movement, connection, nature immersion and healthy sleep habits.
Honouring cycles and seasons – Moving in alignment and flow with not only the physical seasons but also the seasons of life. This is particularly relevant in women’s health – we are seeing an increased focus on supporting women through the stages of life; understanding cycles, preconception, early family years, perimenopause, menopause, and older age all of which necessitate a different support.
