Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Conroy.
Hi Lindsey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I used to work in corporate marketing until 2015 when I decided to start my own business. It started with a 12 month research and development trip that took me around the world studying and teaching yoga while learning about other studios and their business and operational structure. Throughout my travels I developed great relationships with locals in every destination I visited. I was fortunate enough to have the inside scoop of all the amazing hikes, local hangouts and the best food joints! I didn’t have to rely on websites or other travelers to discover the best each area had to offer – I had locals for that. Throughout the year, the idea of AdZENtures was formed…having the benefit of the local insight for people looking to experience the authentic culture of a place – pair that with nature and wellness and I had the Vision!
I came back to Austin and started my business – leading outdoor, wellness experiences for travelers and locals alike – promoting various adventures around Austin mixed with yoga that felt approachable to beginners as well as regular practitioners. Over the past 11 years, my business has evolved into something amazing with a community of conscious travelers, excited to experience the world in an authentic way. We host white label and branded retreats for small groups in over 19 locations around the world. We combine nature immersion, adventure sports, cultural experiences and wellness practices into each itinerary.
We grew the Austin experiences over the course of 10 years, hosting friends, solo travelers and group events for special occasions and businesses alike. From Yoga & Mimosas to SUP Yoga for Beginners and even Silent Disco Yoga, we have been fortunate enough to be a top experience on Airbnb from 2017 onward, hosting thousands of guests over the years. The Austin community helped develop and grow our brand and international offerings and for that, we are so grateful! We’ve partnered with local brands, non-profits and wellness collaborators and have enjoyed creating fun and unique offerings for the Austin community!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The Austin community is so supportive and the people who live here are active and interested in unique and fun experiences which is what we offer, so that part was amazing and it was fairly easy to get started. We were growing steadily, had wonderful partners who helped spread the word and support our mission but we hit a big snag in our business development, like so many others, as a result of COVID. We were lucky enough to stay afloat but it was a big hit to the momentum we had and the brand awareness – group events, wellness events were put on hold for months which meant that our business was as well. Through the support of our brand supporters and global community, we’ve gotten back on track for a lot of our offerings but we are excited to get back into the Austin community, offering new and engaging programs to our audience!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
AdZENtures offers unique experiences that combine nature, adventure, wellness and cultural immersion. We have been offering these experiences in Austin since 2016 and started our global retreats in 2017. We offer accessible and highly curated trips around the world where guests are able to relinquish control and responsibility and simply enjoy a fully catered, high value, immersive experience in amazing places.
We do not share the itinerary, guests are encouraged and able to live in the moment and savor the experiences as they come. Our trips are fully hosted and exclusive to our small groups of 14 or less participants. We partner with local professionals and provide experiences that cannot be found without our help.
We offer high quality, immersive experiences. We do not offer an American experience in a new destination but rather an authentic experience in a new location that is designed for our American guests. Experience an Alpine Hut stay in the mountains of Slovenia, a bagpiper playing during a sunset happy hour at our castle accommodation in the the Scottish Highlands or swim in a hidden waterfall in the Sacred valley of Waimea Canyon. We take the time to personally vet and experience every activity to determine what are the key highlights we want to share in order for guests to get holistic insight to a new culture/destination and our guests have come to love it.
I am most proud of the partners and community we have created over the past decade. Our community members are very loyal to the brand and most of our growth has been through referral and word of mouth marketing. Our client retention and return rate is very strong and we strive improve our experiences year after year. It’s a fun challenge to continue to surprise and impress our regulars…a challenge that we are thrilled to take on time and time again!
We select each destination very carefully based on a strong personal relationship with at least 1 local who can help us design an experience from the local perspective. Through that relationship, we are able to outline a proposed itinerary before we personally go and try everything our guests may experience in the future. Firsthand knowledge is key and it’s one of the aspects that set us apart with our services.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Align yourself with people who you look up to, people who have achieved something that you are hoping to achieve yourself or who have skills or knowledge that you’re eager to learn. By placing yourself in proximity with leaders and people who inspire you, you’re able to learn from the experts and ideally, establish a relationship that can help you achieve your goals.
Pricing:
- Austin Experiences – From $25
- Private Experiences – From $100
- Domestic Travel Experiences – From $1800
- International Travel Experiences – From $2500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goadzenture.com
- Instagram: @adzentures
- Facebook: @adzenturesyoga
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adzentures
