Making Waves: Water-Centric Activities for Groups and Meeting Attendees

Situated on Coronado Island, Hotel del Coronado, located across the bay from downtown San Diego, recently introduced ​​an underwater virtual reality experience. Called DIVR VR Snorkeling (pictured), this technology allows users to view virtual environments—including skydiving, space exploration, and scuba diving—while being fully submerged in the hotel pool. With the assistance of a staff member, up to six participants can be fitted with snorkeling and safety gear ($1,500 for a one-hour event).

Other team-building options include “Keep Your Boat Afloat,” where guests are divided into teams to construct a boat, which is then evaluated on presentation, design, marketing, cohesiveness, and functionality; an instructor-led fusion class of swimming, core, cardio, and strength training known as “mermaid fitness;” and a surf contest where participants are divided into teams and train with a coach to determine who will compete in the finals. A member from each team competes in front of a judging panel to determine the champion.

Situated along the ocean on Maui, Wailea Beach Resort now offers the "Olakino Wellness Pool Experience." (The Hawaiian word olakino refers to the state of health and well-being. “Ola” means life and health, and “kino” means the body. Together olakino means “for the health and vitality of the body.”) The on-site sanctuary, which includes an infinity-edge saline pool, is available for private events and retreats and features group self-care activities like aquatic sound baths, wai (meaning water) workouts, and poolside acupuncture sessions. The hotel boasts over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

One of Eau Palm Beach’s charity partners, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, focuses on promoting the conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special emphasis on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Guests who stay at the oceanfront retreat can visit the nearby center, which features a working sea turtle hospital, viewing tanks, and an interactive exhibit hall. Additionally, guests can track the turtle, Eau-Lympia, who was rehabilitated with the support of Eau Palm Beach; the hotel sponsored the turtle’s recovery and release back into the wild.

Located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa offers a two-day retreat specifically designed for business and meeting groups. It includes morning lakeside meditation classes and a variety of water-focused breakout activities and amenities to promote better mental health such as a water bar with a selection of infused waters. During breakout times, guests can partake in activities like watercolor painting lessons and guided kayaking excursions.

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral, Fla., overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, Caloosahatchee River, and San Carlos Bay, providing access to over 400 miles of navigable canals and waterways. Because of this, meeting and group attendees can choose from a number of water-centric programs and activities such as waterside meditation or yoga on the marina. Groups can also book a “water bar” in the resort’s meeting rooms, featuring various flavored waters.

At Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, Calif., groups of any size can connect through immersive seaside activities, including instructor-led group lessons and equipment rentals for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, or boogie boarding. Groups can also head to Dana Point Harbor to embark on ocean excursions, such as whale-watching adventures. (Dana Point is known as the “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World.”)

This past weekend, Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) welcomed the return of its on-water programming: Kayak Excursions and Paddle Penn's Landing. Four specially curated kayak excursions, all designed to give unique perspectives of the Delaware River, are available throughout the summer. Interested groups can contact the museum to discuss rates and opportunities. Additionally, ISM has a private event space that’s available for corporate events.

Located in Huntington Beach, Calif., Paséa Hotel & Spa offers a Southern California mix of fun in the sun for groups, including surf lessons with a local instructor, seaside yoga, private yacht charters, in-room bath soaks and shower steamers, and whale- and dolphin-watching excursions.