King Pacific Lodge: A Leader in Modern Conservation and Sustainable Tourism

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Triple Bottom Line Tourism Model: Beginning in 1988, King Pacific Lodge embarked on a new model for sustainable tourism that considers a triple bottom line philosophy to business – one that is equally concerned for social equity and environmental conservation as for economic returns. This has been demonstrated by many industry firsts. Social Partnership:  King Pacific Lodge was the first private tourism operator to sign a working protocol in 2001 with the First Nation in British Columbia thereby recognizing their rights and title to their traditional territory that includes where the lodge is moored from May to September. Since then, the Gitga’at Nation and King Pacific Lodge have worked together on a wide variety of programs including a student mentoring program, joint educational initiatives and hospitality training. The lodge also holds its annual staff training in Hartley Bay, home of the Gitga’at Nation, where its team members stay in private homes in the community. Their unprecedented relationship with the First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest continues to grow from the local community level to the support for the development of new lodges in the King Pacific Lodge model. Albert Clifton, hereditary Chief comments, “King Pacific Lodge has worked closely with our school. Our students have learned how to write resumes, how to present themselves in an interview. They have trained with the King Pacific Lodge staff and have had practical experiences working with a trained chef to serve breakfast to our Elders over a period of two weeks each year. Our students have taken kayak training, as well as guiding and orienteering skills, under the direction of trained professionals within the King Pacific Lodge organization. And of course, King Pacific Lodge has provided summer jobs to many of our students through the Student Mentoring Program. Our relationship with King Pacific Lodge is not just about making money or creating jobs.  It is instead about ensuring a future for ourselves and the generations to come. And it is about strengthening a partnership which has its basis in honesty, respect and trust.” Environmental Partnership & Commitment: In 2006, a coalition of native peoples, the British Columbian government and private enterprise took a visionary stance and placed in protection 21 million acres of the world’s largest expanse of intact temperate rainforest to safeguard it for future generations.  The creation of the Great Bear Rainforest, the only habitat in the world of the elusive Kermode or Spirit bear, represents a creative and unique conservation model and is one of the most significant examples of social responsibility in sustainable tourism. King Pacific Lodge played a pivotal role in the process of protecting this environmentally sensitive area and continues to steward the rainforest in partnership with the local community at Hartley Bay, home of the Gitga’at Nation. Other firsts led by King Pacific Lodge Include:

• First operator to establish halibut limit below DFO regulations (1998).
• First operator to offer catch and release discounts (1998).
• First operator to ban retention of fish in freshwater (1999).
• First operator to call for Coho salmon retention ban (1997), and established voluntarily a non-retention fishery in the same year.

   

Concerned about the impact of carbon emissions, in March 2007 the lodge committed to a carbon footprint reduction (cumulative) of 20% by 2007, 40% by the end of 2009 and 50% by the end of 2012. (Base year is 2003.)  The Lodge was the first in North America to not only offset its own carbon footprint but also that of its guests travel. Other innovations in operations include:

• King Pacific Lodge introduced the ‘zero paper vacation’ plan for 2008, offering guests a 1% discount on their trip when they sign up to receive all information electronically.
• Guests pay a conservation fee along with their all-inclusive package. This conservation fee is invested in cultural access, carbon offsets and wildlife and stream conservation. 
• In cooperation with the Gitga’at First Nation community at Hartley Bay, the Lodge will build a micro-hydro plant to harness the hydro energy from the waterfall adjacent to the lodge. Construction will commence in 2008, with an expected completion date of 2009. In cooperation with Hartley Bay, King Pacific Lodge is seeking to have the project certified as a carbon offset.
• Helicopter use: the Lodge has committed to a 40% reduction in helicopter fuel use per person. A combination of better yields (maximizing occupancy in the helicopter) and fewer hours flown will achieve target savings by 2009.
• Governors have been installed on all ocean-fishing boats to reduce the top speed, without compromising safety; optimum use of the fishing boats is also being achieved as two-man and four-man boats go out with a full complement of guests. A reduction of 15% in fuel consumption was achieved in 2007.
• Construction will commence in 2009 to install solar panels to heat water and so reduce generator use.
• Battery banks to be fitted to store power, thereby eliminating the use of generators at night.
• Converted to low-energy light bulbs throughout the Lodge, while still maintaining the ambiance of the luxury accommodation.
• Researching the use of bio diesel for the generator until it is completely eliminated by micro-hydro, solar panels and stored energy.
• More efficient and low energy hot water heaters installed on the staff barge.
• All soup stocks are prepared in Vancouver over the winter, following the recipe of the
• Executive Chef. The stocks are reduced, concentrated and frozen for easy transportation. This saves the cost of transporting hundreds of kilos of vegetables to the Lodge via floatplane.
• Water temperature for the Lodge was reduced from 135F to 129F in May 2007. The change does not impact the ability to have a hot shower, but creates cost savings and reduces energy use.
• In 2007 propane gas powered appliances were installed at Lodge. King Pacific Lodge expects significant reductions in carbon emissions, as propane is a clean burning fuel achieving 100% efficiency versus about 30% efficiency through the use of diesel.
• Beginning in 2008, each guest received his/her own reusable water bottle in place of bottled water in plastic bottles.
• Toilet paper has a minimum of 30% post consumer recycled content & paper hand towels for employees made from unbleached and recycled paper.
• Eco-friendly enzyme-based cleaning products used throughout the Lodge and guest rooms.
• Unused amenities, retired towels, bedspreads and linens donated to local charity or shelter.
• Cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum cans, plastics, batteries are recycled.
• Food is prepared using organic products, sustainable meats, free-range eggs, organic and fair trade coffee. British Columbia based products are given preference whenever quality criteria are met. Fish purchased is Seafood Watch compliant.
• Water heater to be replaced by a high efficiency appliance and pipes from heat exchanger to be insulated by 2008.

 King Pacific Lodge Sets the Benchmark in Eco and Experiential Travel  The Lodge is the epitome of a luxury wilderness retreat and the perfect refuge from the high tech distractions and pressures of our modern world. Global savvy travelers flock to this five-star floating lodge accessible by only sea plane or boat to power off their BlackBerry and bask in the area's unparalleled scenic beauty and indulge in an amazing array of awe inspiring wilderness and water adventures, award winning spa services and delectable cuisine. There is no other place like the intimate seventeen room eco-luxe resort to reconnect with self, family, and friends while gaining a deeper understanding of the need to protect this ecologically fragile environment. http://www.KingPacificLodge.com.