Our Commitment to You
We are hospitality operators, storytellers, and service experts, but most importantly, we are a team that’s inspired by a shared love for Tofino and a commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.
Meet Our teamOnly Pacific Sands Beach Resort can take you this close to spectacular Cox Bay on Vancouver Island. Come spend some time on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park, just a short scenic drive from Long Beach and the charming, seaside village of Tofino.
Nestled in old-growth forests and powered by the melodic sound of the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Sands Beach Resort offers a range of beachfront and ocean view accommodations, steps from Canada’s #1 surf beach. From spring/summer whale watching and winter storm watching to all-season hiking and beachcombing, take your pick of year-round adventures and activities.
In 1972, Bill Pettinger—a real estate developing visionary, risk taker, and lover of the land—found his next bet when his brother Barry called about an ad for a motel in Tofino, British Columbia. Which at the time, was a little-known area on the west coast of Vancouver Island. They ventured out on the majestic drive, and six hair-raising hours later (now far less, and smoother) they laid eyes on Pacific Paradise Motel and breathtaking Cox Bay for the very first time. The rest is—as they say—history. They bought the property in 1973, renamed it Pacific Sands Beach Resort, and the Pettinger family rolled up their sleeves and lovingly grew the Resort to 77 beach houses and suites.
In 2015—after almost 42 years of friends, family, and legendary stories—the Pettingers passed ownership to Gordon Nelson Inc. (now solely owned by Nelson Investments Inc.), another family-run resort operator. With a vision for ‘staged development’ that embraces Tofino’s unique setting, the new team looks forward to carrying on the Resort’s rich legacy, greeting the many loyal guests who come back year after year, and helping to create new generations of memories and stories.
We are hospitality operators, storytellers, and service experts, but most importantly, we are a team that’s inspired by a shared love for Tofino and a commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.
Meet Our teamBeing green comes naturally here.
Each and every day, we can’t help but be inspired by the beauty of our area, the wildlife, and the habitat we get to live in. And as a pioneering property in the community since the 70s, we’re committed to sustainable practices that preserve the eco-balance of this incredible destination and the resources we use.
Add in the fact that Clayoquot Sound was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in 2000, and sustainability of our precious ecosystem is beyond best practices—it’s a mandate.
Environmental standards/ratings programs we are a part of are TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Program Gold Level and Green Key Eco-Rating Program.
With a mission to “protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people,” we proudly support Surfrider Pacific Rim‘s campaigns and programs, including Hold On To Your Butt cigarette recycling canisters throughout the Resort, and Love Your Beach Clean community clean-up events as well as our onsite Marine Debris Bin.
Supporting the resource management and environmental stewardship goals of First Nations, Provincial, and Federal Governments, Pacific Sands periodically helps the Coastal Restoration Society with Clayoquot Sound clean-up efforts, including gathering debris from docks, float homes, and derelict boats.
From full-scale UNESCO Biosphere Reserve projects to Summer Kids Camps right here at Pacific Sands, the mandate of the Raincoast Education Society is to protect shorelines, wildlife, and sustainable living. This future-focussed group specializes in youth and adult education via a broad range of high-quality educational and interpretive programs such as field school, a speaker series, summer camps, school programs, and events focused on the natural environment, cultures, and communities of the Clayoquot and Barkley Sound region.
With a goal to uphold the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations’ relationship and responsibilities to its homeland—including guiding, balancing, and informing newcomers and tourists—Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks restore rivers impacted by logging, revitalize salmon habitats, remediate dune-grass habitats, maintain trails, and more. Ask our Guest Services Team about donating 1% of your total stay towards an Ecosystem Service Fee focussed on reinvesting in the people and ecology that comprise Tofino lands or donate directly on the Tribal Parks website.
Have some dates in mind? Book your Pacific Sands vacation today online or by calling 1.888.951.8211 for Guest Services assistance. We look forward to welcoming you!
Planning on coming to Pacific Sands? In the interest of ensuring your stay is as enjoyable as possible we would like to provide you with the following information about your stay.
If you’re part of the media and looking for Pacific Sands’ communications contact or a backgrounder, story starter, and images for your content, our Press Room is a great place to start.