A Day in the Life of the CEO of Canyon Ranch, Mark Rivers

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mark Rivers, the CEO of Canyon Ranch, based in Austin. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I’ve been the CEO of Canyon Ranch, a wellness hospitality company, since September 2023. Before that, I guided the company’s new development opportunities starting in 2022.

Joining Canyon Ranch capped off over 25 years of experience in hospitality operations and property development at other resorts and clubs. I was the original master developer of the campus that’s now the Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club in Austin, a development principal of Solage Hotels and Resorts in Napa Valley, and an executive at the Steve Wynn-founded, Las Vegas-based Mirage Resorts.

Canyon Ranch sits at the crossroads of hospitality and wellness. Wellness is certainly having its moment right now — and for a brand like ours, which was just named the best wellness resort in the Americas in 2025 by the Michelin Guide, this is a seminal moment to lead, redefine, and infuse our expertise and energy.

We have resorts in Tucson and Lenox, Massachusetts; the largest day spa in North America at The Venetian in Las Vegas; and a wellness club and spa in Fort Worth, Texas. We’re also developing a new resort and residential community outside Austin.

Not much can derail my day — I’m an optimist and highly motivated. I brush off the difficult, the impossible, and the stressful, and move on.

Here’s an idea of what a day in my life is like.

At 2:45 a.m. on Mondays, I start with a very early wake-up call

On a typical day, I wake up at 4 a.m., but on Mondays, I’m up at 2:45 a.m. to make the nearly three-hour drive from my home in Austin to our corporate office in Fort Worth. I live in Austin, and our company’s biggest investment to date is the new resort we’re building, so I like to be at or near it during most of the week.

The ride to work gives me time to listen to my favorite podcasts. My go-tos are usually Acquired or Founders, which have great insights on corporate brands and stories.

I like to do a 5 a.m. workout

It’s important to get the body moving, first and foremost.

Whether at the office gym in Fort Worth or the fitness facilities at all our properties, I work out daily.

I always hydrate before caffeine in the morning, stretch, and get my brain going with The New York Times Spelling Bee before dawn.

After a protein shake, I love to be at my desk before 7 a.m.

I try to get some busy work and emails done early, before the day is overrun with meetings and the daily unexpected.

When in Tucson, I love ‘cowboy coffee,’ which starts at 7 a.m.

This is our fun morning ritual where we recreate a ranch tradition of brewed coffee served by our ‘ranch hands’ on staff — I can visit with coworkers and guests around a warm fire.

We meet in a eucalyptus courtyard in the center of the property. It’s a warm, social morning gathering for guests and staff — a perfect way to start the day.

I start meetings around 7:30 a.m.

With properties and management sprinkled throughout the country, I’m frequently on the road visiting all of our locations. I prefer in-person human connection, but virtual meetings dominate.

On any given day, I probably have 10 to 12 meetings until 6 p.m., with a quick break for lunch.

12 p.m. is lunchtime

I grab a quick lunch from one of our dining outlets. These healthy, nutrient-packed meals help me with my mood and mental focus for the rest of the day.

I love breakfast at almost any time of the day — egg scrambles with all sorts of veggies, a fruit bowl, or an oat bar snack.

I also have an absolute sweet tooth — ice cream is a vice. I’m always grabbing coworkers and making a beeline for a quick ice cream.

For the rest of the afternoon, I’m at our resorts with coworkers and guests

I try to spend time in Fort Worth with our leadership team, and balance the week between our properties and our new resort project in Austin.

Spending time with our food-and-beverage, programming, spa, and health teams is especially rewarding — and it motivates me to maintain my diet and exercise regimen.

On many afternoons, you’ll find me knee-deep in the development and construction of the newest Canyon Ranch in Austin

Over the last couple of years, I’ve spent a few days each week at the 600-acre ranch, located west of Austin, where our newest resort and residential community will open in fall 2026.

We’ll have the largest spa in Texas — a Women’s Wellness Collective dedicated to well-being, featuring 141 rooms, outdoor adventures, and three dining outlets.

I love the process of creating guest experiences, innovating and experimenting, and marshaling our teams to launch this new destination. It’s something like a movie production with our cast, sets, script, imagination, and location.

For me, that means meetings with the architects and contractors, interior designers, and our teams on the campus.

To wrap up the day, at 6 p.m., I try to get an early dinner and one more physical activity

Tennis has become a passion of mine, and I can play year-round with friends and pros in Texas.

I’m not much of a TV or Netflix person, but I will follow some sporting events of my favorite teams: the Buffalo Bills, UConn Huskies, and Boise State Broncos. I share Buffalo Bills season tickets with my adult children.

My typical bedtime is 8:30 p.m.

Before settling in for sleep, I apply some sleep learnings and protocols from Longevity8, a program we recently launched that enables guests to enjoy a longer and healthier lifespan. I do a specific breathwork technique designed to trigger relaxation, which can be followed by journaling.

To keep my morning routine intact, I don’t stay up late and barely drink alcohol. I’m early to bed — I’d rather have 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. to think, organize, and get ahead of the day than 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for TV.