Awards & Accolades

Vancouver Island university's 2026 
Work-Integrated Learning Partner of the year 

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre is honoured to be named Vancouver Island University’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Industry Partner of the Year.

This recognition reflects our commitment to creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that connect students with real experience in hospitality and tourism. Through our partnership with VIU, we support students as they build skills, gain confidence, and explore future career paths.

Thank you to Vancouver Island University for this recognition, and to our team, whose mentorship helps make each student experience a positive and lasting one.

Best Island REsort
Times Colonist Reader's Choice Awards 2025

At Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre, every recognition begins with gratitude for our guests, our community and the people who bring this place to life each day.

In 2025, Tigh-Na-Mara was named Best Island Resort in the Times Colonist Readers’ Choice Awards, with the Grotto Spa also recognized as a Finalist for Best Spa. These honours reflect the experience guests return for, shaped by comfort, wellness and a genuine connection to the coast.

The year also included thoughtful enhancements across the resort, with targeted improvements to cottage exteriors and patios to enhance comfort and longevity, along with the addition of electric vehicle charging stations to better support guests choosing low-emission travel.

Together, this recognition and ongoing investment reflect how Tigh-Na-Mara continues to evolve with care. We remain committed to listening closely, investing thoughtfully and creating experiences that feel welcoming, restorative and enduring.

Best of the City Awards – 2025
#1 Best Hotel / Island Resort

Tigh-Na-Mara has been voted the number one Best Hotel and Island Resort in the 2025 Best of the City Awards by Victoria News, Saanich News and Oak Bay News. With more than 137,000 votes cast, this recognition is especially meaningful. It reflects the deep connection the community feels with the resort and the pride guests carry when they choose to stay with us.

This year marked an important chapter in our evolution. We introduced the Garden Oasis at the Grotto Spa, a peaceful outdoor sanctuary designed for slowing down and reconnecting with nature. We also earned our Biosphere Certification, a recognition of our long-standing commitment to sustainability and regenerative tourism. These additions honour our roots while helping us grow with intention.

Decades of memories, traditions and heartfelt hospitality continue to shape what guests love most about Tigh-Na-Mara. Rustic cottages filled with character, bright oceanview rooms, mindful spa experiences and menus shaped by local flavours all create a sense of warmth and belonging. Every detail is guided by a team that leads with heart.

Set on 22 acres of forest and shoreline, Tigh-Na-Mara brings together handcrafted log accommodations, coastal dining, the award-winning Grotto Spa, the Island’s largest seasonal recreation program and welcoming spaces for gatherings of every kind. This place is held together by people who care. To everyone who voted, and to our team who carries the spirit of this resort each day, thank you.

Tigh-Na-Mara wins the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference (BC THC), Community Contribution and Impact Award

This March it was an honour to receive the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference (BC THC), Community Contribution and Impact Award,  recognizing outstanding community involvement.  

Community Contribution & Impact is especially close to our heart.  When it comes to tourism, Tigh-Na-Mara is synonymous with Parksville.  We’ve been here since 1946 and have had the same, local ownership & management for the past 42 years.  Parksville is a small town, and Tigh-Na-Mara is one of the largest employers in our area with over 300 Team Members and growing!  We are deeply interconnected with our community in so many ways.

Community spirit or volunteerism is built into our DNA.  Our Leadership Team volunteers their time toward a number of local community organizations, charities and boards.
 

• Our largest community event is the annual Toy Drive & Breakfast held in November in support of our local Society of Organized Services who support families in need all year and especially at Christmas.  We’ve been hosting this event for 14 years, impacting thousands of our residents.  This is part of our culture.
• Our own Team Members also contribute biweekly payroll deductions toward our Bikes for Tykes program which raised funds for 25 bikes this year
• We also support dozens of other community events and charities throughout the year including:
• Adopting animals and providing guest tours with the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
• Annual Salvation Army Christmas luncheon for the past 30 years, plus weekly soup for their kitchen
• Variety the Children’s Charity including annual donation plus hosting families who require medical attention in the area
• Beach clean-up and broom-busting days
   

Tigh-Na-Mara’s 22 acres of forested property along the Salish Sea is a special place.  We recognize we are stewards for this land.  As we continue to renovate our property, we will balance our growth with the needs of our community and the environment.  We have an active Green Team wtih lots of sustainable initiatives and some exciting plans moving forward.