Diana Stobo

I could have paid for eight more master's degrees for the cost of my mistakes, mistakes in building and construction, hiring the wrong people, marketing failures and technology.

If you can pay for your problems to go away, do it.

What are GLP-1s really doing to the wellness industry? The usage numbers are staggering. But weight was never the whole story, was it? I've spent my career watching people chase transformation from the outside in by diets and intense workouts. GLP-1s are no different. Once the number on the scale shifts, people are left facing the underlying causes: the emotional patterns, the nervous system stuck in survival mode, the parts of themselves they'd been managing instead of healing. These drugs can quiet the noise. They were never built to do the deeper work. That's the real story I'm watching unfold. It's a Band-Aid for people desperate to feel like themselves again, and once the bleeding stops, the real question finally surfaces: what does my body actually need to heal, not just shrink? This is the work I've built my life around. It's the gap we created Vida Mía to close, longevity and regenerative medicine paired with real nervous system and cellular repair. Not a shortcut. Grateful to be part of this conversation in Forbes this week. Our industry is changing fast, and I'll keep saying it as long as I need to: people don't just deserve a prescription. They deserve a path back to themselves. https://lnkd.in/e7DEEFiH

For those of you who know my daughter Samantha Stobo moved in with me at the age of 29 after a break up and the aftermath of Covid shutdowns in NYC- it was supposed to be temporary (in her mind). But for me it was an opportunity to bring back the family unit. Samantha works with me and travels with me. We have a very unique and special relationship- one of deep care with a sprinkle of co-dependency. She is my truest confidant, my sounding board, my balance and a voice of reason. I literally gave birth to my best friend. While there have been many people trying to persuade us to reconsider the arrangement “you need to encourage her to move on”, you need your alone time with your man”, you shouldn’t have her living in your house”, it’s time for her to grow up and find her own partner”, it’s now been 4 years. While there are challenges with two powerful women’s living together, we have both grown. My man adores her and misses every moment the 3 of us are not together. She has dated and chosen not to pursue a relationship until she finds the perfect fit. Our business relationship is one of respect and encouragement, and I Belive she is one of the most solid humans I know. The The Wall Street Journal just published an article about her and she has become known on TikTok as “the 33 year old living at home with her mom”, and apparently a hit with her peers. Who said a child must leave the house at 18? Who divided the family unit? Whose idea was it that people should live in a box in a city doing the 9-5 job coming home to a cat and an empty refrigerator? I applaud the parents who can invite their children back in and get out of their way so they can grow in a safe environment full of love and support. I applaud the children who come home without shame and find a path of their own without having to be alone in the world. This works for us, it’s not just about a financial need, or failure to launch. It is a choice. And I think we are both better for it. I hope she never leaves. Thank you for letting me share

Healing has never started with anti-aging. It starts when the body feels safe. Doing it right doesn’t always mean doing it first. Sometimes it means staying committed to what you know works long before it becomes popular. The Vida Mía Longevity Center at The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa is bringing together neuro-wellness, cellular healing, and regenerative medicine to help people not just live longer, but live better. I believe the future of longevity isn’t just about lifespan. It’s about regulation. https://lnkd.in/g-dX5Hq4 #Longevity #NervousSystemHealth #NeuroWellness #WellnessInnovation

With deep gratitude I share this unique article dedicated to expressing the true intention of building a world class luxury wellness property. I’m still blushing ☺️ “Diana Stobo isn’t just a hotelier. Or a wellness expert. Or a designer. She’s … kind of all three—plus author, chef, and the driving force behind The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa , a destination spa that’s quietly become one of the most sought-after wellness escapes in the world. Diana approaches design the same way she approaches wellness: intuitively, holistically, and with a strong belief that environment shapes how we feel. She doesn’t start with the plans—she works from energy, landscape, and what’s already there. Which brings us to Santosha. https://lnkd.in/e-2A92cw

I didn’t follow a plan. I followed a feeling. And somehow, that feeling turned into a space where others can rest, reset, and reconnect too. If there’s one thing I’ve learned… it’s that healing isn’t something we give people. We simply create the space for it to happen 🤍 https://lnkd.in/gfxz6SxP

It makes me smile how often I hear… “I want to come when you’re there.” Well… this is your moment 🤍 I’ll be at The Retreat Costa Rica all week long, April 27 – May 3, celebrating our 10th anniversary… and truly just being there, with you. Not in a formal way, in the way I love most… sharing meals, conversations, classes, sunsets, and all the little in-between moments that make this place feel like home. This week is a celebration, yes… but more than that, it’s a gathering of energy, connection, and community, of the beautiful people who have been part of this journey, and those who feel called to join us now. If you’ve ever thought about coming… if you’ve ever wanted to spend time together… I would love that. Truly. Come sit with me, cook with me, move, laugh, reflect… and celebrate 10 years of something we’ve all created together. Pura Vida 🤍 Diana The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa

You are invited to The Retreat Costa Rica to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a weeklong series of complimentary events from April 27 through May 2, 2026, hosted by me, founder Diana Stobo. Designed as an intimate and meaningful gathering, the celebration invites guests to reconnect through nature, nourishment and community – core principles that have defined the property since its founding in 2016. Anniversary Celebration Week Highlights Throughout the week, Stobo (me) will personally host a series of complimentary curated experiences designed to foster reflection, connection and celebration. Programming is intentionally flexible, encouraging guests to participate at their own pace. Each day will follow a relaxed rhythm of morning and afternoon yoga, nourishing meals and time for rest, alongside special events including: Monday, April 27 – Opening Evening The celebration begins with a gong and fire release ritual and opening blessing followed by a sunset mix-and-mingle reception with Stobo at La Diosa. Tuesday, April 28 Guests are invited to an intimate tea and intention-setting session with Stobo, along with a deeply immersive sound healing experience. Wednesday, April 29 A wellness-focused day features a discussion on longevity, nutrition and regenerative health followed by an energetic ecstatic dance celebration. Thursday, April 30 Highlights include a poolside water aerobics session, a hands-on cooking class with Stobo and Chef Sergio and an evening sunset circle and storytelling gathering beneath the resort’s iconic Guanacaste tree. Friday, May 1 – Official 10-Year Anniversary Festivities peak with an art therapy workshop, a sunset cocktail celebration featuring live saxophone music, fireworks and a celebratory anniversary dinner with live violin accompaniment. Saturday, May 2 The week concludes with an intimate, family-style community table dinner hosted by Stobo and her family, offering guests a chance to connect over shared stories and experiences. Each guest will receive a curated anniversary welcome bag, including a personal journal, intention crystal, reflection tools and a welcome letter from Stobo, reinforcing the week’s focus on mindfulness and personal growth.

There’s something beautiful happening right now at The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa and it’s not by accident. It’s the natural evolution of intention. As we grow, our operations are simply getting better and better. More refined. More aligned. More intuitive to what our guests truly need. With the introduction of our new Wellness Club at Santosha, we’ve expanded beyond the traditional spa model into something far more integrated, a social space where movement, stillness, strength, and restoration coexist. A place that creates a rhythm for the body and nervous system that feels sustainable and supportive. Our culinary experiences have evolved into destinations of their own. What began as healing through food has expanded into a true expression of pleasure and nourishment. The Retreat is now also a dining destination.  Each restaurant, from the al fresco vibe of Sol Terrace, the vibrant energy of La Diosa to the elevated storytelling at Mystique, offers a different way to experience connection, beauty, and joy through food. We are now preparing to launch our Longevity Clinic, something I feel deeply passionate about. This next chapter brings together everything I’ve believed in from the very start: that aging well is not about chasing youth, but about supporting the body so it can repair, detoxify, and thrive for as long as possible. Our approach is expansive and thoughtful. It’s not one modality, it’s a layered ecosystem of therapies designed to support beauty, health, and vitality from the inside out. From nervous system regulation to advanced regenerative treatments, everything is designed to work in harmony with the body, not against it. What excites me most is that none of this feels forced. It’s unfolding. We didn’t follow trends, we followed instinct. And now, we see what the world is embracing that we’ve quietly been building all along. I hope you will have a chance to explore The Retreat with us and experience what the world has discovered. https://lnkd.in/gEJrAU2n

The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa Now part of the Michelin guide and Tablet hotels https://lnkd.in/eF3ugrfi

As this year marks our 10 year anniversary of becoming, The Retreat Costa Rica has been recognized in Newsweek’s World’s Most Extraordinary Spas for 2026! This list celebrates spas that go beyond exceptional service and uniquely blend setting, innovation, and locally inspired treatments to create truly standout experiences. https://lnkd.in/eqtWSu4f

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m once again humbled and honored to share that The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa has been recognized by Travel Curator as one of the Very Best Wellness Resorts in the World. This recognition reflects years of intentional growth, thoughtful hospitality, and a belief that true luxury is how you feel , rested, restored, and deeply well. Ending the year with this acknowledgment feels both grounding and affirming. I’m deeply grateful to our team, our partners, and our global community. It’s a meaningful way to close the year and step into what’s next. https://lnkd.in/e_MrnMMP

🎄 This Christmas, my heart is full. As I look at this photo, I don’t just see a team, I see a family. A family that has grown together and shown up every single day with heart, care, and purpose. To our incredible staff: thank you for the love you pour into this place and into each other. The warmth our guests feel doesn’t come from the buildings, the views, or the details ,it comes from you. Your kindness, your joy, your commitment, and your humanity are what make this sanctuary what it is. And to every guest who has walked through our doors this year ,you are part of our family too. Each of you leaves an imprint here, and we are deeply grateful for the trust, stories, laughter, healing, and connection you’ve shared with us. This season is a reminder that what we are truly building is not just a hotel brand , but a living, breathing community rooted in care, presence, and love. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and endless gratitude. ✨

This article beautifully articulates something I’ve felt intuitively for years, and witnessed daily in real time. Longevity is not just biological. It’s relational. In a world obsessed with optimization, diagnostics, and self-improvement, we quietly forgot one of the most powerful determinants of health: human connection. After COVID, we saw it immediately. Guests weren’t just coming for treatments or protocols; they were lingering. Talking. Laughing. Sitting together longer than scheduled. Craving something that no IV, supplement, or biometric scan could provide. Not silence. Not isolation. But belonging. Wellness doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when people feel safe, seen, and connected, when nervous systems soften not only through yoga or massage, but through shared stories, laughter, music, and presence. This article gets it right: What’s the point of living to 102 if you’re lonely? The future of wellness and luxury isn’t more extreme discipline or monastic perfection. Its environments are designed for both restoration and relationship. Quiet when you need it. Community, when your soul asks for it. Nothing forced. Everything intentional. We don’t heal only by what we do. We heal with who we are with. Grateful to see this conversation moving into the mainstream because this is not a trend. It’s a return to something deeply human. https://lnkd.in/etPSnYiQ #WellnessIsConnection #HumanCenteredDesign #Longevity #HospitalityLeadership #Wellbeing #Community #LuxuryRedefined The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa

Perfection was never the goal ,transformation was. A new article in Beauty + Wellness (Travel Curator) captured something I believe deeply: At The Retreat Costa Rica, wellness isn’t about strict rules, deprivation, or performing health. It’s about real life, real healing, and real humanity. The writer arrived determined to be “perfect.” No wine, early bedtimes, rigid discipline. But what she discovered, and beautifully articulated, is exactly what I’ve spent a decade building: A place where wellness and pleasure can coexist A space where nourishment is joyful, not punishing A luxury experience that welcomes you exactly as you are An environment designed for restoration, curiosity, and emotional expansion From Chef Pablo Bonilla’s extraordinary culinary storytelling, to Mystique’s eight-course tasting menu, to Vida Mia Spa’s 80+ holistic treatments, to the expansion of our gym, yoga shala, and luxury lofts ,our intention has always been to create a model of wellness that feels alive, not restrictive. I never planned for The Retreat to become a world-renowned destination. I simply followed a calling to build a place where the elements of healing could work together in harmony. Reading this article and seeing the guest’s journey move from pressure to permission felt like a confirmation of that mission. You don’t need to be perfect to heal. You only need a place that meets you where you are. I’m proud that The Retreat Costa Rica is becoming that place for so many. Thank you, Katie, for telling this story with heart and honesty. https://lnkd.in/eQ-CppmZ The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa

Sleep Is the New Status Symbol and Travel Trend I absolutely love this article from the Charlotte Observer calling out what so many of us in wellness already know: the most luxurious thing you can give yourself in 2026 is… sleep. 😌💤 Wellness travel is exploding (the industry is projected to hit $9.8 trillion by 2029!), and for good reason. People are no longer looking for vacations that leave them exhausted. They’re seeking rest, reconnection and true restoration, the kind that resets your nervous system and stays with you long after you return home. The article highlights how sleep-focused retreats are becoming the new must-have travel experience,programs designed with experts, surrounded by nature, created to help you unplug, decompress and actually heal. Costa Rica, Bali, Arizona all leading the way. And yes, I’m honored The Retreat Costa Rica is featured among the top destinations recommended for deep rest and transformative wellness. Because better sleep isn’t just a luxury. It’s immunity. It’s emotional balance. It’s clarity. It’s longevity. It’s your life lived fully awake. If the world is finally realizing that rest is not optional… I’m here for it. Link to article below. Let’s make 2026 the year of sleeping well, living well, and choosing ourselves. https://lnkd.in/eAAAFrcG

Wellness seekers want to be social We are social beings and amidst a global loneliness epidemic, travellers are craving connection. In response, spas and hotels are creating more communal spaces and ways for travellers to engage. Earlier this year, the Retreat, a veteran spa hotel in Costa Rica, unveiled Santosha Wellness Club. Set just below the main hotel, the new open-air clubhouse includes 10 luxury lofts, a gym and yoga studio, plus a chic lounge area with an infinity pool, tapas bar, and a restaurant steered by a Michelin-decorated chef. https://lnkd.in/e3-6TC_t

The Sunday Times Reveals the World's 50 Best Spa's and The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa is proud to be on the list: The American chef and wellness guru Diana Stobo created this 25-room retreat, 30 minutes west of San Jose and 5,000ft above sea level, to showcase her take on the holistic lifestyle (she’s agreeably flexitarian, so expect beef dishes and cocktails). The resort sits atop a crystal quartz mountain, which healers believe increases energy and positivity. It’s certainly had that effect on the charming team. Chefs use the estate’s fresh fruits and vegetables to create nutrient-dense dinners, while therapists transform them into decadent antioxidant-rich potions. Jungle trails, fitness classes, a rooftop pool and glamorous suites overlooking Costa Rica’s rainforests and the Pacific Ocean complete this picture of health. https://lnkd.in/eSudVwsY

🙏 I am beyond humbled The Retreat Costa Rica has been named “The Best Destination Spa in the World” by the Condé NastTraveler Readers’ Choice Awards. ✨ This honor means the world because it comes from you — our incredible guests. Your trust, love, and support are why The Retreat exists and continues to grow as a sanctuary for healing and transformation. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in this dream and making it yours too. https://lnkd.in/edGBVAM4

What’s new at The Retreat Costa Rica? We’ve expanded into the world of regenerative wellness with offerings such as intravenous infusions, hormone replacement therapy, biostimulators, aesthetic enhancements, and regenerative hair & face rejuvenation—each overseen by our trusted medical team. This is just the beginning… so much more is coming. 🌿✨ Read more in Travel Curator: Luxury Transformational Wellness Travel

The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa Joins Small Luxury Hotels of the World ! A long-time leader in luxury wellness hospitality, we’ve just elevated the experience with the Santosha Wellness Club, 10 breathtaking new lofts, and two Costa Rican–inspired restaurants alive with local flavor. This is Costa Rica at its most authentic — where luxury, culture, and transformation meet. #SLH #LuxuryTravel #CostaRica #TheRetreatCostaRica #SantoshaWellnessClub #HospitalityExcellence https://lnkd.in/eVjVHn67

The Retreat Costa Rica Wellness Resort & Spa is proud to be new members of SmallLuxuryHotelsoftheWorld SLH

Introducing the Santosha Wellness Club & Lofts — a vision that has finally become reality. Located on our sacred mountain above @The Retreat Costa Rica, Santosha is not just a physical expansion — it’s a redefinition of modern hospitality. Here, we’ve introduced a new paradigm: social wellness. A curated environment where community, movement, rest, and conscious design come together to foster transformation — not in isolation, but in connection. Every detail — from architectural flow to the integration of nature — was intentionally crafted to support emotional wellbeing, luxury living, and regenerative design. It’s a space for those seeking depth, not distraction. Belonging, not just beauty. I invite you to experience it, partner with us, or simply explore what hospitality can become when it’s rooted in heart. #SantoshaWellnessClub #RegenerativeLuxury #WellnessLeadership #ConsciousHospitality #SocialWellness @theretreatcostarica

We all know that everything is energy, and thoughts create reality. But how do we know what we are doing to pave a way toward freedom and peace? Sometimes it’s about letting go, surrendering to the thoughts and feelings and letting them flow through you, allowing space for them to heal. “Lasting healing occurs when the mind finds peace and deeply rooted negative thoughts are released.” —Diana Stobo, founder, The Retreat Costa https://lnkd.in/e4-BGzQN

Feeling incredibly grateful to be featured in @Luxurytravelmagazine where they explore a perspective I’ve long held close: Luxury is wellness. At The Retreat Costa Rica, we’ve always believed that wellness is more than green juice and yoga. It’s emotional clarity, deep rest, intentional design, nourishing food, nature’s rhythm, and meaningful human connection. It’s not just a lifestyle — it’s a way of being. Thank you tofor recognizing how we are wellness, redefined. #WellnessRedefined #LuxuryIsWellness #TheRetreatCostaRica #RegenerativeLuxury #IntentionalLiving https://lnkd.in/eypaB9yx

I believe in hiring people with genuine love in their hearts and care for the wellbeing of others. We can train and teach the rest.