retreat center Rebrand

THE BASICS


Who: DORA JUNGLE

Where: Tulum, Mexico 

Duration: 3 Months  

Client: Alexa Nahon, Founder & CEO

Retreat Center Size: 2 properties, 2.5 hectares total, 25 rooms across 6 houses, multiple shalas, pools, cenotes, conference center, up to 80 guests full room and board and 150 total including day visitors. 

Year founded: 2020 - to present (5 years)

Website: www.dorajungle.com

A group gathers beneath a bamboo-thatched pavilion during a retreat or workshop in a tropical setting.
Large group practicing yoga in open-air thatched-roof pavilion surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Yoga mats and reading materials arranged on beige floor for wellness session.
Yoga practitioners in headstand positions under a bamboo-thatched pavilion.
Tropical resort pool with waterfall surrounded by lush palm trees and thatched-roof structures under blue sky.
Cozy lounge area with woven umbrella shades and curved seating under thatched roof overlooking tropical garden.
Wellness retreat participants seated in circle on cushions under tropical thatched-roof pavilion.
Group gathering under thatched-roof pavilion for intimate celebration.
Group relaxation session with participants lying on floor in meditation pose.
Casual gathering in tropical resort lounge with comfortable seating and thatched roof.
Wellness session with crystal singing bowls in open-air tropical pavilion.
Close-up of tropical leaf with water droplets showing intricate veins and texture.
Large group of people gathered in a tropical forest setting for an outdoor community event.
Three friends laughing and enjoying drinks together on a stone wall in a lush garden setting.
People gathered under a thatched palapa roof structure during a group session or workshop.
A navy blue bucket hat with yellow 'DORA' text sits on a wooden railing with blurred forest background.
People relaxing by a tropical turquoise pool surrounded by lush green vegetation.
Visitors explore a stunning cenote cave with crystal clear turquoise water in Mexico.
Candlelit cave meditation session with cushions arranged on the ground.
Group sharing laughs while gathered around laptop computer at casual meeting.
People serving themselves from a buffet line of fresh food and dishes.
Hand lifting lid of decorative clay pot filled with steaming food on restaurant table.
Diners enjoying meals in rustic restaurant with natural lighting and wooden beams.
Large tropical lounge area with thatched roof, modern furniture and hanging white lanterns.
Students taking notes during workshop session in casual learning environment.
Cozy bedroom interior viewed through an arched doorway with curtains and decorative pillows.
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THE CHALLENGE


After founding the retreat center three years prior, Alexa was entering a new phase of growth where she felt the brand and name did not fully represent the beautiful experiences her guests were having on the property. The existing social media presence was not prioritized and did not appeal to their ideal client, up to this point she got most of her clients through recommendations, networking and google searches to the website but felt she had reached a plateau where more visibility was necessary to grow. 


With the goal of showcasing to the world what made the center special, bringing renewed energy to the space and attracting more of her ideal clients, Alexa worked with copywriters and designers to adapt the name, create a new logo, colors and design aesthetic. 


Ready to share her new refresh brand identity, one key aspect was missing, the visual language: the photography. Always a source of stress to capture retreats and the space accurately, Alexa didn't know how she was going to create an affordable and sustainable way:

  • to define the center's photography style
  • to launch the new website and instagram with the right photography to match the new logo and design style 
  • to create a system to capture and post content regularly
Group meditation session in white and red attire under a thatched-roof pavilion.
Close-up of hands holding each other with one person wearing a white shirt against red and white pillows.
Two people operating DJ equipment in an open-air venue with a thatched roof.
Group exercise class in progress under large thatched roof pavilion.
A joyful person in a white tied shirt and brown pants laughs energetically under a thatched roof structure.
People practicing mindfulness exercises in an open-air tropical pavilion.
Two people relaxing on cushions in sunlit room during meditation or rest time.
Wellness session participants lying on mats in circular formation during guided relaxation.
A curved swimming pool surrounded by lush tropical plants and palm trees in a garden setting.
Person with glasses sharing food from a small bowl in an outdoor tropical setting.
Smoke rises between figures during an outdoor ritual ceremony with bokeh lights in background.
Clay dome structure with striped fabric entrance nestled in tropical forest setting.
Person with tattoos and red headband sitting on rocks outdoors.
Group gathering in a lush tropical setting surrounded by trees and stone formations.
Two individuals relax on a tan couch while looking at a laptop in a cozy living space.
People working on laptops in a thatched roof palapa with natural lighting.
Yellow tasseled throw pillows on white bedding with minimalist styling.
Modern bedroom with woven wall decor, yellow accent pillows, and ambient lighting.
Decorative pattern of orange and red pom poms arranged on white fabric in sunlight.
A rustic red building with a thatched roof and bicycles parked outside in a tropical setting.
Chalkboard sign with inspirational quote standing in front of a doorway with red walls.
People enjoying outdoor dining at wooden picnic tables under green leafy trees.
Traditional crafting materials and tools laid out on a green surface with colorful textiles.
Person playing an acoustic guitar in a thatched-roof structure with warm lighting.
Blurred bokeh lights creating a dreamy golden glow against dark background.
Tattooed feet of participants resting on yoga mats during a wellness session.
Participants gathered in circular formation inside bamboo-roofed pavilion for group session.
Close-up of hands in meditation pose against white clothing during wellness practice.
Group of people sitting on cushions in circle during wellness retreat in tropical pavilion.
Person sitting cross-legged on couch writing in notebook during quiet reflection time.
Wellness workshop participants seated in rows inside tropical pavilion with thatched roof.
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Project Timeline & Deliverables


Phase 1: Styling & Getting to the Essence

Phase 2: Content Creation

Phase 3: Creating Long Term Systems

Buffet spread with colorful dishes including fruits, salads and appetizers in outdoor setting.

Visual style blueprint


  • Identified themes and structure for content presentation.
  • Defined editing style.
  • Created structure for ongoing content creation.
  • Delivered a 25 page document detailing all of the above for sustainable brand implementation.
A group wearing matching green polo shirts poses playfully on white stairs with decorative wall hangings.

CONTENT PRODUCTION


  • Produced and shot photos for website refresh, social media content for 6 months, media kit and marketing materials.
  • Created UGC (user generated content) style video reels.


Students participating in an outdoor classroom discussion setting on cushioned seats.

in house training


  • Taught in house social media manager a sustainable framework for brand implementation.
  • Strategized plan for community engagement.
Two people engaged in conversation while sitting on a green couch with books on an outdoor patio.

1x1 coaching with owner


  • Endless tips and tricks.
  • 7,000 laughs.
  • Created a world of possibility for the founder in terms of what can be done when you have access to behind the scenes of a retreat consultant for 3 months.

THE OUTCOME


  • Increased new client inquiries by 50% just in the first two months since launch 
  • Sales process shortened to an average of two weeks as clients feel already convinced this is the space for them 
  • Keeping existing clients engaged leading to stronger returning clients
  • More public reshares and client testimonials as clients feel the center aligns more closely to their brand
  • Stress free and seamless content system for the next 6 months
  • Alexa and her team proud of their center, no longer need to say "the website is going to be updated" ever again and are more eager to share at every chance they get


Instagram profile page for Paledora Retreat Centers showing highlights and story categories.

BEFORE

Instagram profile page for DORA Jungle Village showing event highlights and booking information.

CURRENTLY

why lisa?


''As a founder working to rebrand my first project, not only did Lisa capture perfectly the true 'feeling' of our space, she held my hand along the way in moments that I didn't know how much I needed support.


Beyond her innate talent, she is also an absolute expert in the retreat space, both understanding the guest experience and retreat leader experience, which is essential in being able to capture the most relatable and authentic moments. She is compassionate, hardworking, loving and a ray of sunshine to work with. She taught me that the essence of portraying an experience is capturing in the in-between moments, the little things that make the outcome extra magical, that make the space extra us, and the transformation of the guests extra potent. 


Working with Lisa was one of the best decisions I have made, our visual language feels like us, our team has been trained and we have a guide for future photographers to capture the content in a way that stays true to who we are. It has been so rewarding to show people what really happens at DORA, I couldn't be more proud and more grateful. "