Mental Health & Wellness Retreat
for HR Professionals — by HR Professionals
HR doesn't get a break. But you deserve one.
Step away from the chaos, recharge, and connect with peers who truly understand your world. It's safe here.
May 1 – 3, 2026 · Royal Sonesta New Orleans, French Quarter
⚡ Limited enrollment · $309 Jazz Fest hotel block expires April 10 · General Registration: $799
Who This Is For
Behind every engaged workforce. Every policy rollout. Every difficult conversation. Every culture initiative.
There is HR.
HR Exhale is a restorative mental health and wellness retreat designed exclusively for Human Resources professionals. The retreat offers protected time to step away from continuous decision-making and the complexity of HR leadership to regain perspective and strengthen leadership capacity.
No panels. No forced networking. No fixing. HR Exhale ensures HR professionals return focused, decisive, and equipped to lead without running on empty.
What the HR Community is Saying
I'm excited to attend as an opportunity to engage with experienced HR professionals who understand what it's like to be a team of one — in a role that, all too often, gets so little acknowledgement.
I feel seen.
Network with like-minded people in my chosen profession. Learn best practices, share experiences, and exhale!
The Agenda
📍 Royal Sonesta New Orleans · French Quarter, Bourbon Street · May 1–3, 2026
This is a private experience just for HR Professionals. Venue and activity details will be shared with confirmed attendees closer to the event.
* Schedule is subject to change as we continue refining the experience.
For Organizations
HR Exhale is more than a retreat. It's a strategic investment in the people responsible for supporting your entire workforce. Organizations that prioritize the well-being of their HR leaders see measurable returns: reduced burnout, stronger retention, and a more resilient culture.
This experience is designed for HR professionals who carry the emotional and operational weight of the organization. When they return restored, the entire company benefits.
HR Exhale qualifies as both a professional development and employee wellness expense and can typically be funded through L&D, leadership development, or HR team budgets.
Request a Corporate Invoice →FAQ
Your HR Exhale registration covers the Friday Welcome Reception, Saturday Take the Armor Off wellness session, Saturday Culinary Experience + Lunch, Saturday Group Dinner, Sunday Jazz Brunch, and your exclusive HR Exhale swag bag.
Registration covers all hosted meals and experiences listed above. You pay separately for your hotel room, travel to/from New Orleans, transportation, optional upgrades, and any additional meals, drinks, or activities.
Absolutely — this qualifies as professional development focused on HR mental health and burnout prevention. Your organization should invest because it reduces turnover risk, boosts resilience, and equips you to better support your team. Investing in your HR team's restoration is investing in your entire organization. We can provide a corporate invoice to support your expense approval process. Email hello@hrexhale.com to request one.
Low to moderate. Seated meals, a culinary experience, optional spa services, and self-paced walking. No strenuous activities — fully accessible for most mobility levels.
Yes — everyone books their own room directly with the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon using the HR Exhale passkey/link provided after registration to access our group rate. You will also be able to request additional nights or room upgrades.
No — you're welcome to stay wherever you'd like or commute if you're local to the New Orleans area. The HR Exhale passkey is available for those who need it, but it's not required for attendance.
Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), approximately 25 minutes from the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon. Airport shuttles, taxi, or Uber/Lyft are all available. Driving in? Valet parking is available with a group rate discount. The hotel is walkable to all retreat activities in the French Quarter — no car necessary.
Yes, but your guest must also pay the full registration fee and (if necessary) book their own hotel room using the HR Exhale passkey.
New Orleans chic! Comfortable, breathable clothes for warm weather — linen, sundresses, collared shirts, shorts. Nice but not formal for dinner and the mixer. Walking shoes for French Quarter strolls. A pop of spring color for the Shades of Spring Brunch.
Registration fees are non-refundable, but you can transfer your spot to another HR professional if needed within 5 business days of the retreat. Contact us directly at hello@hrexhale.com for assistance. Hotel cancellations and room transfers are handled by the hotel according to their policy.
Yes! HR Exhale lands on the final weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, just 2.4 miles away. Back at the hotel, the Jazz Playhouse — one of New Orleans' premier live jazz venues — is right on property.
Why HR Exhale Exists
I built HR Exhale because
I searched everywhere for it.
When I needed community most, I couldn't find one — I didn't need another conference.
I love my job. I love being there for people. I love supporting my organization. But the work can be heavy.
Sometimes I felt invisible, like a machine. And they called it resilience.
So here I am, calling for you to join the community that we need.
— Nakia Laushaul, SHRM-SCP, Founder
Your Host
Nakia Laushaul, SHRM-SCP, currently serves as Director of HR for Celerium, leading HR strategy end-to-end. She has spent over two decades at the intersection of operations and HR, orchestrating global teambuilding events, corporate kickoffs, and high-impact initiatives that transform culture and drive measurable business results. Her expertise spans compliance frameworks, HRIS implementation, benefits, and organizational transformation, helping companies navigate the complexities of the human experience at work.
As an HR professional herself, Nakia founded HR Exhale to create a space where HR leaders are truly seen and understood, not just as policy enforcers, but as people. In a profession built around the employee experience, HR deserves one too.
They say you have to build the thing you need. HR Exhale is exactly that: a retreat and community designed to give HR leaders the support, connection, and recharge they've always deserved.
Nakia is a published author, a trusted voice in the HR community, an avid solo traveler, and a pioneer creating experiences that elevate the HR profession.
What's Included
Hotel accommodations and travel are not included. A $309 Jazz Fest room block is available upon registration.
Registration
May 1 – 3, 2026 · Royal Sonesta New Orleans, French Quarter
Limited enrollment — to keep this retreat impactful, we keep it intimate.
Upon registration, attendees will receive a passkey to book a discounted group rate at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans Hotel. Corporate invoicing available — hello@hrexhale.com
Total: $809 · Payments are non-refundable but transferable to another HR professional within 5 business days of the retreat.
