When they think of a company retreat, many employees picture drinks after a day of training in an auditorium. But as more companies prioritize rest and recharging during employee retreats, the programs themselves are beginning to change. This time, that change has made its way out to sea.
Hyundai Yachts, HLB Group’s marine leisure affiliate, announced on October 27 that it plans to expand Yacht Nidra, a relaxation meditation program held aboard a yacht, with offerings tailored to businesses and groups. Participants make their own aromatherapy oil, then board a sailing yacht for a meditation session at sea. The company plans to broaden the program to include arrangements for corporate workshops, employee retreats and VIP events, including exclusive charters of an entire yacht.
Make your own scent, then raise the sails: Yacht Nidra’s three steps
Yacht Nidra brings sailing, an aromatherapy experience and relaxation meditation together in one program. Participants first make their own aromatherapy oil. They then board a sailing yacht and head out to sea, where they take part in a relaxation meditation session, focusing in turn on the sound of the waves, the sea breeze and the motion of the water. The company describes it as meditation that engages all five senses.
The program’s name comes from Yoga Nidra. Also known as “yogic sleep,” Yoga Nidra is a meditation practice in which participants lie comfortably and follow a guided voice, bringing their attention in turn to different parts of the body and to their breathing as they rest deeply. It is often presented as an introductory meditation because, rather than asking people to sit still and empty their minds, it guides them through bodily sensations one at a time—a relatively easy approach for beginners to follow. Yacht Nidra adds scent, the sounds of the sea and the yacht’s gentle rocking to that process of relaxation.
A whole yacht, tailored to group size and budget: Workshops become private charters
The centerpiece of the announcement is a customized charter service. Hyundai Yachts said it can design programs around an event’s purpose, group size, budget and schedule, and combine an exclusive yacht charter with private meditation sessions. The aim is to let different kinds of gatherings—from department workshops and executive retreats to customer events—each make the experience their own aboard the same type of vessel.
A company representative said the program offers meditation and relaxation at sea amid the scenery of the West Sea, adding that the company plans to expand its services to meet a range of needs, including corporate workshops and VIP events. However, the announcement did not disclose pricing, duration or the number of people each session can accommodate. Yacht Nidra is also not listed as a separate offering on Hyundai Yachts’ booking website, so interested companies and groups will need to contact the company directly to discuss arrangements.
Incheon in 2021, Korea Tourism Organization in 2023: Yeongjongdo’s coastal setting earns recognition
The program is based at Wangsan Marina on Yeongjongdo Island in Incheon. According to Incheon’s tourism information, Hyundai Yachts Incheon, which operates yacht charters there, is a joint venture established by Hyundai Yachts and Greek yacht charter company Cosmos Yachting. It has offered yacht experiences such as workshops and sunset cruises at Wangsan Marina and on the Han River in Seoul. The same listing says it was selected as a wellness tourism destination by the Incheon Tourism Organization in 2021 and received the same designation from the Korea Tourism Organization in 2023.
Hyundai Yachts said it plans to expand its operations beyond Wangsan Marina to major marine destinations across the country and step up promotion of K-marine wellness for foreign residents in Korea and overseas visitors. Just as temple stays and meditation at Buddhist temples have become familiar representations of Korean meditation for foreign visitors, it will be worth watching whether meditation rooted in Korea’s coastal setting can become another K-meditation experience for international tourists.
An entry point for those who struggle to sit still—but the sea isn’t for everyone
For office workers who spend all day surrounded by screens and notifications, sitting quietly in a room with their eyes closed can be harder than it sounds. When the body is barely moving but the mind can’t switch off, being told to sit still and look inward can feel like a burden. Choosing a scent by hand, stepping aboard a boat to feel the breeze and listening to the waves can offer these people a way into meditation through the senses rather than the mind. Sharing a boat ride with colleagues also offers a chance to change how a team spends time together.
This approach won’t work for everyone. For people who are prone to seasickness or uncomfortable around water, a rocking boat may create tension rather than rest, and programs at sea are inevitably affected by weather and season. Other ways to experience the same kind of relaxation on land include walking meditation along a forest trail, sound meditation with singing bowls, or Yoga Nidra practiced lying down indoors. When companies choose meditation for a retreat, it may be better to offer employees a choice of approaches rather than treat one method as the only right answer.
It remains to be seen how widely retreats that trade drinks for a view of the sea and a moment to catch one’s breath will spread. What is clear is that meditation is moving beyond mountain temples and meditation centers and onto corporate retreat schedules, with an expanding range of ways in.
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