We recently connected with Kate Clements and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kate thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Although there are many risks I could recount, the decision in 2020 to quit my stable job, sell my car, get rid of housing, and move to Nicaragua in the beginning of the pandemic to start a business and buy a hotel probably takes the cake ;)
Driven by a restlessness with working for other people, tired of being tied to a clock and getting little time to actually LIVE, my Co-Founder and I designed a business plan that allowed us to live the simple life, surf every day, speak Spanish, and immerse ourselves in a different way of actual living. We combined my background in wellness, yoga, pilates, and love of connecting with others with his business, real-estate, and finance background and decided to create Room to Roam.

For me, it was the total leap of faith that something good was going to come out of following my passion and believing that the life I dreamed of living was possible. And along this risk there have been/are challenges and sacrifices I would have never chosen ahead of time, yet the reward of passion and purpose creating something so amazing is what keeps me charging ahead.

I align with the mindset of “No risk, No reward”, and I believe that I will always somehow figure it all out, so why not try?

Kate, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kate, a Reno, NV native, born in search of the ocean and adventure, committed to taking the path less paved. I love movement, wellness, having fun, travelling, and having meaningful connections with interesting people. I believe that community + connection is why we are all here, and it is why I am a part of Room to Roam. Though I wouldn’t have likely built this company on my own, I’m not surprised that I find myself doing exactly what I am. After 2 years of living in Nicaragua to build my dream, I am back in Encinitas, CA to share it with others and keep on roamin’!

Room to Roam is about curating epic all-inclusive travel experiences with the perfect blend of wellness, adventure, fun, culture, activity, nature, and community. Travel that supports the local economies and communities that are being enjoyed, and travel experiences that make you come back feeling transformed in some sort of way. Travel with meaning.

We understand how much time and effort is required to plan and coordinate the details of your perfect trip. The logistics of finding flights, securing safe + reliable transportation, planning meals + dietary restrictions and coordinating all trips + activities can take hours upon hours of time and stress that creates the opposite feeling you are seeking when you want to go on the vacation in the first place! We simplify the entire process and support you from start to finish, so you get to just show up and chill in whatever style you like, knowing that your imprint on the community is a positive one. To learn more about our curated experiences + custom trips, visit room-roam.com or email [email protected].

Our other main offering is as a full-service retreat/group experience hosting service. The level of support we offer to host at one of our locations transforms the retreat-leading experience. I have been on retreats where the leader appears pulled in a million directions while trying to hold an intentional space for the participants and you could feel the lack of alignment. After speaking with many retreat leaders, we learned that there was a real opportunity and need to alleviate the hassle of retreat planning + execution so the leaders could stay present + focused on sharing their passion, make a great profit, AND leave their retreat feeling refreshed rather than relieved. The retreat leading experience is just more fun with us. To learn more about hosting a retreat, visit room-roam.com/host-with-us, or email [email protected].

We have locations in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bali, and El Salvador, with more options coming soon! Whether you are a solo traveler, group of friends/family, or retreat enthusiast, we are your people to create an unforgettable travel experience.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Honestly, people that have roamed with us or led a retreat with us come back so stoked that our best business is from past referrals! While we are investing in broadening our reach through ads, social media, SEO, expos, etc., we are super pumped that it is our guests that have experienced us that spread the word so well. It must mean we are doing something right.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am in the middle of reading Radical Candor by Kim Scott. I have struggled with finding the best way to communicate, inspire, and lead people with the appropriate blend of passion, patience, positivity, and grit. Start-ups are hard, and the stress can affect all aspects of your being!

This book describes ways to combine the principle of “care personally, challenge directly” in effective ways that inspire and get things done without pissing off your team and killing the vibe. While I have to admit that this is clearly going to be a life-long lesson for me because I am intense by nature, I am gaining valuable tools and insights that are improving my skills and I wish I would have read it sooner.

Contact Info:

• Website: room-roam.com
• Instagram: @roomtoroam.experiences
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roomtoroam.experiences
• Retreat Hosting: [email protected]
• Custom Vacations: [email protected]
• Surf Trips: [email protected]
• Marketing Enquiries: [email protected]

Image Credits
Samantha Ludwig Andres Weishaupt Sadie Simonis