Policies of Retreats: A Note on Egypt Right NowThe U.S. State Department currently rates Egypt at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, the same designation given to popular European destinations including France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. This rating reflects general vigilance around terrorism and crime within the borders of Egypt, which will never be part of a retreat. It is also safer than what many other countries are rating the United States.
Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan are all rated very safe. El Gouna is a self-contained resort community with a strong security presence. None have records of the issues cited in broader Egypt advisories.
The market data also tells a clear story. Egypt welcomed nearly 19 million international visitors in 2025, a record, and Fitch Solutions projects continued growth to 18.6 million arrivals in 2026 with tourism revenues rising to $17.8 billion. Egypt was named Africa's leading travel destination for the third consecutive year.
None of that means I am dismissing the region's complexity, or anywhere I take clients.
Please note that before we travel, I will issue a document to be shared with loved ones with pertinent contact information, including the contact information for all relevant embassies, emergency phone numbers, and personal contact information.
Travel Insurance: Required, Not OptionalEvery participant must purchase travel insurance within 14 days of paying their deposit. This is a hard requirement. Your spot is not confirmed until proof of insurance is submitted.
Here is what your policy must include:
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. This is the most important component. Standard travel insurance only reimburses you for specific named reasons: illness, death of a family member, certain natural disasters. CFAR reimburses 50-75% of your trip cost regardless of the reason you cancel, including personal hesitation, anxiety, or a change of plans. CFAR must be purchased within 14-21 days of your initial deposit, which is why acting quickly matters.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT! IF YOU DON'T PERSONALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE BUT THE RETREAT IS GOING, THIS IS HOW YOU'D GET A REFUND.Trip cancellation and interruption. Covers you if a named covered event forces you to cancel before departure or leave mid-retreat.
Medical evacuation. Minimum $100,000. This is standard practice for international travel.
Travel delay coverage. Covers additional expenses if flights are delayed or cancelled.
To find a policy that includes CFAR, use a comparison platform such as InsureMyTrip.com or Squaremouth.com. Reputable providers that regularly offer CFAR options include Allianz, Travel Guard (AIG), World Nomads, and Tin Leg. Policies vary, so compare carefully and confirm CFAR is included before purchasing. You can also check with your credit card company.
Your travel insurance is what protects you if your personal circumstances change. It is not a reflection of distrust in the retreat. It is the responsible way to travel internationally, especially right now.
Who Decides If the Retreat Is Cancelled or MovedThat decision is mine alone in consultation with personal security and governmental contacts in Egypt.
I will monitor conditions on the ground continuously and make a final go/no-go decision no later than 30 days before the retreat start date. I will not make that call based on individual anxiety or news cycles. I will make it based on concrete, observable conditions. If something happens last minute,
that's where we would also use CFAR insurance.The circumstances that would lead me to cancel or reschedule include:
- Official government travel bans that prevent flights or entry from participants' home countries
- Conditions in Egypt that make safe retreat delivery impossible
- Force majeure events: natural disasters, civil unrest, or regional conflict that directly affects the retreat location
A general escalation of tensions in the broader Middle East, absent a direct threat to Egypt, does not automatically constitute grounds for cancellation. I will use judgment and communicate clearly. Just as an event in Mexico would not prevent travel to the United States.
You will hear from me proactively.
Refund PolicyIf I Cancel the RetreatIf a replacement date is available within 18 months, your full payment transfers to that date at no cost to you.
If I do not offer a replacement date, or the replacement date does not work for your schedule, you receive a full cash refund of all amounts. Refunds are issued within 30 days of my receiving recovered funds from suppliers (hotels, boat etc).
I will share a clear accounting of what was recovered from each supplier and what was not.
If I Reschedule the RetreatYour payment transfers in full to the new date or any other retreat I am hosting.
If the new date does not work for you, you receive a cash refund on the same terms above: based on what I recover from suppliers, with full transparency on the numbers.
If You CancelLife happens. Here is how it works if you need to withdraw:
- More than 90 days before the retreat: credit for 75% of the amount you have paid, valid for 12 months toward any future program or retreat.
- 60 to 90 days before: credit for 50% of the amount paid.
- Fewer than 60 days before: no credit or refund is issued.
- If the retreat sells out, we can sell your spot.
This is where your CFAR travel insurance does its job. If something personal comes up and you need to cancel close to the retreat date, your insurer covers what this policy does not. That is exactly why we require it.
The Bottom LineI chose Egypt deliberately.
This policy is not here because I am worried. It is here because clarity is the most respectful thing I can offer you as you decide whether to commit. You know exactly what I will do, when I will do it, and what you get back under every scenario.
If you have questions, ask them before you register. Once you are in, I want your energy on the retreat itself, not on contingency planning.
___________________________________________________
RETREAT POLICIESThese policies exist for one reason: so that everyone arrives knowing exactly what we are committing to each other. Read them, ask questions, and then show up ready to do the work.
Late Arrival Due to Travel DelaysFlights get delayed. Connections get missed.
If your flight is delayed and you arrive late to the retreat:
- Contact me or my team as soon as you know there is a delay. The earlier we hear from you, the better we can plan around your arrival.
- You will be welcomed when you arrive, no matter the time. We will brief you on what you missed and integrate you into the group as smoothly as possible.
- No partial refund is issued for sessions missed due to travel delays. This is not punitive. It reflects the reality that your spot was held, the program ran, and the cost structure does not change based on individual arrival times.
- If you miss the first full day or more, we will do our best to offer a recorded or written summary of key content covered, where that is feasible and appropriate.
The practical advice: build buffer into your travel. Fly in a day early if you can. Travel insurance with delay coverage can help offset accommodation costs if you need an unplanned overnight. This is why we recommend comprehensive coverage from the start.
What we will never do is make you feel bad for something outside your control. Get here when you can. We will be glad you made it.
Community Standards and Participant ConductThis retreat is built on the premise that real transformation requires psychological safety. Everyone in the room needs to feel free to be honest, vulnerable, and direct without fear of judgment, exclusion, or harm. Protecting that environment is a shared responsibility, and the policies below exist to make it concrete.
Discrimination and HarassmentDiscrimination or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes behavior based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, body size, socioeconomic background, or any other dimension of identity.
Harassment includes but is not limited to:
- Verbal comments, jokes, or remarks that demean or exclude
- Unwanted physical contact of any kind
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
- Sustained disruptive behavior during sessions
- Photography or recording of other participants without explicit consent
- Any conduct that a reasonable person would experience as hostile or unwelcoming
**Please note: this includes comments or judgments on the citizens of the country based on faith, values or lifestyle
If you experience or witness discriminatory or harassing behavior, report it to me directly and privately. I take these reports seriously and will act on them.
A participant who engages in discriminatory or harassing conduct will be asked to leave the retreat immediately, with no refund issued. This is not a gray area.
Disruptive or Harmful BehaviorWe expect participants to engage with integrity: that means showing up on time, being present during sessions, speaking honestly, and treating the people around you with respect.
Behavior that disrupts the group or harms the retreat environment includes:
- Repeated disengagement or disrespect toward facilitators or other participants
- Intoxication during sessions or behavior that is erratic or unsafe
- Deliberate attempts to undermine the program or destabilize the group
- Breaching the confidentiality of what other participants share
I will address issues directly and privately in the first instance. If the behavior continues or the situation is serious enough, I reserve the right to ask a participant to leave. No refund will be issued in that circumstance.
ConfidentialityWhat happens in the retreat stays in the retreat. Participants will share things in this space that they would not share publicly. You are expected to hold that material with care.
Specifically: do not share identifying details about other participants' stories, struggles, or disclosures outside the retreat, in person or online, without their explicit permission. You are welcome to share your own experience and your own transformation. You are not welcome to share anyone else's.
Breach of confidentiality is grounds for removal from future programs and may have legal consequences depending on the nature of the disclosure.
Personal Injury and Medical SituationsYour safety is the top priority. Here is how we handle medical situations and what we ask of you before you arrive.
Medical DisclosuresBefore the retreat, you will be asked to complete a brief health intake form. This is not bureaucracy. It is so that my team and I know how to support you if something happens.
Please disclose any conditions that could affect your participation or require emergency response: heart conditions, severe allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, mobility limitations, mental health conditions that may be activated by intensive group work, or any medications that require specific management. This information is held in strict confidence and is used only to keep you safe.
If you choose not to disclose a condition and it becomes relevant during the retreat, I cannot be held responsible for outcomes that proper disclosure would have allowed us to prevent or manage.
During the RetreatEgypt has medical facilities on site, and we will have basic first aid available throughout. For anything serious, I will include contact information for the nearest possible hospital.
If you are injured or become ill during the retreat:
- Alert a team member immediately. Do not manage a medical situation alone.
- We will arrange appropriate medical care and stay with you or assign someone to stay with you.
- Costs of medical treatment are your responsibility. This is another reason comprehensive travel insurance with medical coverage is required.
LiabilityBy registering for this retreat, you acknowledge that participation in coaching, group work, and any physical activities is voluntary and carries inherent risk. You agree not to hold Lisa Newton or any team members liable for personal injury, illness, or loss of personal property during the retreat, except in cases of gross negligence on our part.
Recording and Intellectual PropertyThe content delivered during this retreat, including frameworks, exercises, session materials, and written resources, is proprietary. It is shared with you for your personal use and transformation. It is not to be reproduced, distributed, taught, or monetized without written permission.
Do not record audio or video of sessions without explicit prior permission from me and from the participants in the room. Group sessions involve vulnerable conversations. Recording without consent is a breach of trust and may be a breach of privacy law depending on your jurisdiction.
You are welcome and encouraged to take personal notes. Your insights, your breakthroughs, and your own story belong entirely to you.
Alcohol and SubstancesEgypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and alcohol, while available in all cities, is not ubiquitous the way it is in Western cities. We will not be including alcohol as part of the retreat program, there will be times drinks will be available for purchase.
We ask that participants refrain from consuming alcohol before or during sessions. What you do in your personal time in the evenings is your business. What we ask is that you show up to each session or tour present, clear, and ready.
Recreational drug use is illegal in Egypt and carries serious legal consequences. Do not bring or use any controlled substances. This is non-negotiable and is grounds for immediate removal from the retreat. Please bring any supplements or prescriptions in their original packaging.
Accommodations and Personal PropertyAccommodation details will be confirmed in your pre-retreat information pack. Any damage to accommodation caused by a participant is the financial responsibility of that participant and will be charged accordingly.
We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property during the retreat. Keep valuables secure.
If you have specific accommodation needs related to a disability or health condition, notify us at registration. We will do everything we can to meet those needs.
Photography, Testimonials, and Marketing UseWe may photograph or record portions of the retreat for our own marketing and educational purposes. This will always be communicated in advance, and you will always have the opportunity to opt out.
We will never use an image or quote that identifies you without your explicit written consent. If you consent to being featured and later change your mind, contact us and we will remove your image or quote from future use as quickly as practically possible.
Testimonials you provide voluntarily may be used in our marketing materials. If you provide a testimonial, you are confirming that it reflects your honest experience and that you consent to its use.
Force MajeureEvents beyond anyone's control happen. If the retreat is prevented, disrupted, or made impossible by circumstances outside my control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war, government-mandated travel restrictions, or civil unrest, the cancellation and refund terms outlined in the Cancellation Policy apply.
Force majeure does not include personal inconvenience, travel anxiety, or individual logistical challenges. Those are what your travel insurance is for.
Governing Law and DisputesThese policies are governed by the laws of Florida, USA. Any disputes that cannot be resolved directly between us will be subject to mediation before any legal action is pursued.
My preference is to handle any issue directly, honestly, and with respect for everyone involved. If something goes wrong, talk to me first.
Your Agreement to These PoliciesBy completing your registration and paying your deposit, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to all policies in this document and in the accompanying Cancellation and Refund Policy.
If anything is unclear, ask before you register. I would rather answer a question upfront than have a misunderstanding become a problem later.
