- Story by Susan Lundy

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Charles McDiarmid loves to tell a good story, and he害羞草研究所檚 relishing this one.

As the managing director and co-owner of the , he is recalling his quest back in the 害羞草研究所�80s to build a prestigious Relais & Ch芒teaux hotel on an outcropping of rocks owned by his family in Tofino.

He tells the story with the same exuberance and charm exhibited while showing me around me around his beautifully appointed inn 害羞草研究所� an exquisite destination hotel and restaurant on the edge of Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 wild west coast.

In British Columbia we are blessed to have five Relais & Ch芒teaux properties, and I set out this summer to experience two of them. And while the Wickaninnish and the Wedgewood may seem polar opposite in experience 害羞草研究所� one built in remote and the other sumptuously revealed in a grand downtown building 害羞草研究所� they meet in their expression of the Relais & Ch芒teaux害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渇ive Cs害羞草研究所� of charm, courtesy, character, cuisine and calm.

Founded in France in 1954, Relais & Ch芒teaux represents the highest benchmark in hotel accommodations and fine dining, and includes a worldwide group of more than 540 privately owned hotels and restaurants. Each must pass an anonymous review process every two years in order to maintain the designation. The concept grew from the vacationing traditions of upper-class French society, who travelled to a variety of 害羞草研究所渞elais害羞草研究所� (lodges) and 害羞草研究所渃h芒teaux害羞草研究所� (castles) which, while different in architecture, scenery and cuisine, presented consistently high standards.

Years ago, when Charles was learning the ins and outs of the hotel industry working at the Four Seasons, most hotels were structured to serve the business traveller. However, over the years Charles heard a consistent theme: visiting businessmen would say, 害羞草研究所淲hen my wife and I want to get away, we go to a Relais & Ch芒teaux.害羞草研究所�

Charles began exploring these boutique hotels, noting they were all small, family-owned and highly regarded.

害羞草研究所淭hat became my goal,害羞草研究所� says Charles, whose family dreamed of constructing a hotel on their land that hugs Tofino害羞草研究所檚 Chesterman Beach. 害羞草研究所淚n my mind, that害羞草研究所檚 what we wanted to be害羞草研究所� that was the pinnacle.害羞草研究所�

The goal to build a Relais & Ch芒teaux hotel in Tofino began to take shape, but before Charles could set planning in motion, he wanted design standards for the prestigious association.

害羞草研究所淚 wondered things like 害羞草研究所� do we need to install a bidet in every bathroom?害羞草研究所�

So he started making phone calls, and over the next two years, tried to obtain a set of Relais & Ch芒teaux standards by calling myriad people in cities all over the world, leaving messages, sometimes phoning in the middle of the night to accommodate differing time zones. Charles finally got his answer from a heavily-accented woman in France 害羞草研究所� and he laughed for two days afterwards.

害羞草研究所淗ow do you become a Relais & Ch芒teaux hotel?害羞草研究所� he asked.

害羞草研究所淲ell, monsieur 害羞草研究所� either you are or you害羞草研究所檙e not.害羞草研究所�

Today the standards for Relais & Ch芒teaux are a little more exacting, says Charles, adding, 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e gone out and looked at others and discovered each is eclectic 害羞草研究所� Each property is its own unique experience.害羞草研究所�

He says: 害羞草研究所淚t strikes a chord these days. Travellers want to feel that a place respects its location. It害羞草研究所檚 an experience of the destination 害羞草研究所� not an imposing of it.害羞草研究所�

Charles, who wanted to 害羞草研究所渄ance on the table害羞草研究所� when the Wickaninnish received its designation soon after opening 1996, adds, 害羞草研究所淭o me it is the pinnacle of my dream to be welcomed into the family of Relais & Ch芒teaux.害羞草研究所�

As I stood at the window of my room at the Wickaninnish, looking out over the length of sand and pounding surf that is Chesterman Beach, I thought, 害羞草研究所淪peaking of pinnacles 害羞草研究所� this is my dream vacation.害羞草研究所� True to its honouring of the 害羞草研究所渄estination,害羞草研究所� the Wickaninnish is a celebration of West Coast art and culture. Every single detail 害羞草研究所� from the exquisite yellow cedar table in the brand new wine cellar and tasting room to the remote-controlled curtain above the bathtub in my room 害羞草研究所� speaks to extraordinary thoughtfulness and sumptuous luxury.

Cuisine at The Pointe Restaurant is nothing short of miraculous, with the same care and attention to detail going into every dish, served in a spectacular, ocean-edged, art-infused room with floor-to-ceiling windows. This is the wild West Coast at its very finest.

In a seemingly different experience, the Wedgewood unfolds as a luxurious oasis in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Greeted at the entrance by sharply dressed valets, visitors step off of Hornby Street and enter a lavish-yet-cosy, chandelier-lit lobby that oozes with rich colours and provides a stark contrast between inside and out.

Everything from the golden-hued antiques and stately furniture to the artwork on the walls in our expansive king suite and the fine china (Wedgewood Fine Bone China!) in the stunning Bacchus restaurant gently evokes a sense of 害羞草研究所済rand English manor.害羞草研究所�

The has been a member of Relais & Ch芒teaux since 2008, and general manager Glenn Eleiter says the designation 害羞草研究所渆nsures our clients will experience something wonderful when they walk through our doors. It is confidence-inspiring for guests and staff alike.害羞草研究所�

Indeed, as my husband and I sat on the private balcony of our suite, sipping glasses of ros茅 and enjoying the sights and soothing sounds of a park and water feature below, the experience is definitely wonderful. While the Wedgewood easily expresses all of the Relais & Ch芒teaux five Cs, we were almost speechless at the level of service (courtesy) provided by the staff. Every need was met, often before we knew we needed it.

Glenn concurs. Of the five Cs, he says, 害羞草研究所淭hey are all important and it is difficult to place one ahead of another, but we receive accolades from our clients for our warm, authentic welcome and the attentiveness that we provide at every encounter, so 害羞草研究所榗ourtesy害羞草研究所� is one of our strengths.害羞草研究所�

He adds, 害羞草研究所淏ut, I [also have to mention] the cuisine in Bacchus that our Executive Chef Montgomery Lau prepares with his culinary team 害羞草研究所� we are a culinary-forward hotel with Bacchus being at the very heart of the property.害羞草研究所�

Our two meals at Bacchus 害羞草研究所� dinner and breakfast 害羞草研究所� were simply spectacular.

The restaurant/lounge at Bacchus is rich and romantic with antique furniture, warm, dark cherry wood and Murano crystal fixtures. A large painting of Bacchus, the Greek god of wine and revelry, presides over the lounge.

The night we dined there, the large, street-facing windows were open to the warm night air and a pianist gently set a backdrop of familiar tunes. We supped on a range of delicately presented seafood, sampling poached steelhead salmon, halibut, pan-roasted scallops and lobster linguine, and sipped sparkling ros茅 and later a Ch芒teaux La Gorce from the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 superb Bordeaux selection.

And like the Wickaninnish, the Wedgewood is family owned and operated, with the daughter of founder Eleni Skalbania 害羞草研究所� Elpie Marinakis Jackson 害羞草研究所� currently the co-owner and managing director.

Eleni Skalbania founded the Wedgewood in 1984, when she purchased and re-worked an old apartment hotel, transforming it into its current glory.

害羞草研究所淲e strike the perfect balance between world-class amenities and product with sincere and caring people providing personal service at the highest of levels,害羞草研究所� says Glenn.

Indeed, my experience sampling just two of BC害羞草研究所檚 has me fired up to check out the others.