The Vancouver Sun: The Vancouver Sun

What makes a first-rate ecofriendly hotel?

A belief in sustainable practices, a respect for indigenous cultures, a strong commitment to all things green and, of course, a pristine setting.

But it's the last factor that's especially critical for the bottom line, according to a cofounder of King Pacific Lodge, which was recently named North America's Leading Green Hotel 2010 at the World Travel Awards ceremony in London, England. It was one of three B.C. green hotels nominated for the award. The other B.C. nominees were Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa, and Ravens Havens.

"A pristine setting inspires us not to ruin that setting," Michael Uehara said in an interview about King Pacific, a 17-room floating, luxury wilderness lodge anchored off Princess Royal Island about 380 kilometres north of Vancouver in the heart of what's commonly called the Great Bear Rainforest. "Without that, we wouldn't be in business. Clearly, the setting is what completes the lodge. That's why they [guests] come."

King Pacific, owned by the Morita family of Japan, has won several awards in recent years, including the 2010 Readers' Choice Awards, when readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine voted King Pacific Lodge the No. 1 resort in Canada for the third consecutive year.

Uehara and owner Hideo (Joe) Morita, an international businessman and son of Sony co-founder Akio Morita, bought the original lodge in 1996 with a commitment to creating a viable sustainable model of eco-friendly tourism, including leaving the lightest possible imprint possible on the land and sea, a strong support of conservancy efforts, and developing a supportive relationship with the indigenous people.

Uehara said they built a new lodge for guests and retained the original lodge for employees.

"Being on a barge is different," said Uehara.

"It forces us to think carefully about how we handle waste, what we buy and how we store it. We have an on-board septic system."

He said, for example, that they try to take the maximum number of guests on a boat excursion to cut fuel consumption. They also converted their appliances to propane use and reduced the size of their outboard motors.

King Pacific Lodge, managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts offers guests such amenities as guided hikes, sea kayaking, fly fishing and wildlife watching.

Visitors come from all over the world, with just 10 to 15 per cent of their total of 650 to 750 guests annually from Canada.

The lodge, which continues to help steward the Great Bear Rainforest in partnership with the local Gitga'at community at Hartley Bay, is anchored along the shore of Barnard Harbour.

The island has no permanent inhabitants or structures and guests are flown by private charter to Bella Bella, where they board a float plane for a transfer to the lodge's front door.

The lodge itself is built of native pine, fir, cedar and stone on a barge, with 17 guest rooms and suites, a wraparound deck with ocean views, spa, Jacuzzi and pool.

It operates from June through September and is towed from its winter home in Prince Rupert to its operational location in Barnard Harbour.

There is a maximum of 34 guests at one time.

A three-night all-inclusive stay at King Pacific Lodge costs from $4,750 per person, including a private charter return flight from Vancouver to the lodge.

Meanwhile, Manon Han, executive vice-president of the World Travel Group, which oversaw the awards, said in an interview that criteria for winners includes service, creativity, guest satisfaction, innovation and business acumen.

"This [the award] is a true endorsement," she added.

"It reassures the travellers that they [King Pacific] are doing their job right."