Located 25 minutes from Charlottetown, and perched atop the centuries-old sand dunes and waters of Tracadie Bay, lies the $40-million Blackbush Beach Resort, the brainchild of Tim Banks, CEO of developer, construction and design firm APM MacLean.APM MacLean/Supplied
Blackbush Beach Resort, perched atop the centuries-old sand dunes and shimmering Atlantic waters of Prince Edward Island’s Tracadie Bay, blends bright and airy modern design with sustainable infrastructure and the influence of the surrounding land.
Located 25 minutes from Charlottetown, the $40-million resort is the vision of Tim Banks, chief executive officer of APM MacLean, a development, construction and design firm in the nearby rural community of Brackley.
The resort’s hotel, the 30-room Hotel Acadia, as well as the beach cottages available for rent, are some of the newer offerings in luxurious, sustainable accommodation on the island – a response to the growing demand for high-end ecotourism around the world.
A recent survey from travel app Booking.com found 53 per cent of travellers are now conscious of tourism’s environmental and community impacts. At the same time, a report from market researcher Grandview Research revealed that sustainability has become a “core priority for Millennial and Gen Z travellers,” with 40 per cent of travellers in Canada looking for hotels with “innovative sustainability practices.”
That shift bodes well for Blackbush and other eco-conscious destinations across Atlantic Canada.
A hotel rooted in community and nature
Opened in 2024, “Blackbush is a 30-year dream come true,” says Mr. Banks, who was born and raised on the island and owns a home in Grand Tracadie.
When the original Hotel Acadia was built in 1872, Tracadie was a thriving fishing village and community gathering place. Locals and visitors came to the hotel to play golf, ride horses or experience the natural hot springs.
In 1906, Hotel Acadia was destroyed by a fire of unknown cause, and village life quieted down without visitors.
Today, the area is a destination once again. Blackbush Beach Resort guests can create an entire stay without leaving the grounds or the natural beauty of the resort’s surroundings.
The resort includes two seafood-forward restaurants, respectively called Fin and Fluke, curated activities that highlight local businesses, arts and culture, yoga classes at the property’s Space Movement Studio, as well as water circuits and wellness treatments at the Oasis Spa. In addition, there’s an event and wedding rental space called Down By the Bridge.
Blackbush Beach Resort’s 30-room Hotel Acadia in P.E.I. features two seafood-forward restaurants, curated activities, yoga classes, a spa and an event and wedding rental space.APM MacLean/Supplied
Conservation key in adapting architecture
The resort’s architecture and modular design mimics the surrounding sand dunes and coastal topography.
When developing the property, APM MacLean prioritized land conservation and reduced land disturbance. The firm used local timber and assembled large portions of the buildings off site so as not to disrupt the neighbouring PEI National Park.
Energy-efficient infrastructure such as solar panels power the property’s waste management systems. In addition, gravel roads and permeable driveways are part of Blackbush’s “gentle footprint” philosophy to make a minimal impact on the surrounding land and its ecosystems.
The roads and driveways help preserve the water table – the fluctuating geographic layer below the soil surface where freshwater flows through rocks and dirt – by absorbing natural snowmelt and rainwater, rather than draining into the ocean.
Regenerative tourism appeal to travellers willing to pay
The commitment to place and people is a tenet of regenerative tourism, the ecotourism practice that preserves the local environment and invests in the local economy, community and culture.
“Environmental sustainability is a big part of Destination Canada’s mission,” says Rebecca Godfrey, senior vice-president and practice lead of CBRE Tourism Consulting, who has also worked with Destination Canada, the government’s national tourism organization. “I’ve seen a lot of interest in regenerative tourism. It’s a rising trend from coast to coast.”
She says countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom have shown interest in unique regenerative tourism projects in Canada, which is looking to attract foreign investment.
Regenerative tourism is also a guiding principle of Tourism PEI’s five-year growth strategy, which aims to position the province as a year-round travel destination. The island’s ambitions dovetail with a record-breaking summer for Canada’s tourism sector, which posted $59-billion in 2025 revenue, and as Atlantic Canada shows some of the highest increases in hotel occupancy rates across the country, according to Destination Canada.
“There is a huge global push for opportunities that are obviously more authentic, but also are somehow giving back to the community,” Ms. Godfrey says.
Travellers are now willing to pay a premium for regenerative tourism experiences, says Beth McMahon, president and CEO of Hotels Canada.
“Luxury is growing quite well as a segment worldwide – it’s doing really well in North America,” she says. “A lot of luxury properties have deep connections to sustainability. There’s an expectation [from guests].”
The pre-eminent example on the Atlantic coast is Newfoundland’s Fogo Island Inn, a long-booked-ahead luxury retreat recognized around the world for its impeccable design, service and regenerative tourism principles. Other similar properties that offer more than accommodations include Mysa Nordic Spa and Resort on St. Peter’s Bay in PEI, as well as Trout Point Lodge in East Kemptville, N.S.
The resort’s architecture and modular design reflects the surrounding sand dunes and coastal topography. The developer prioritized land conservation and reduced land disturbance when building the property, using local timber and assembling parts of the building off site.APM MacLean/Supplied
The challenges of shoulder season and climate
While Atlantic Canada is emerging as a key travel destination, the region’s shoulder season, between October and May, is still an issue.
“There are challenges in the accommodation model when you rely so heavily on seasonal demand,” Ms. McMahon says. “We have been seeing an extension of the shoulder season [in Atlantic Canada].”
Blackbush Beach Resort employs 150 people, says Mr. Banks, which is important from an economic standpoint.
“What matters is that many of these are year-round jobs. That’s critical for this part of the island, where too much of the economy has historically been seasonal,” he says.
The commitment to community extends beyond Tracadie, too.
“If Blackbush is successful, it won’t be because it’s unique. It will be because it proves that this kind of model can work here,” Mr. Banks says. “If that happens, I think others will follow, in ways that reflect their own communities and landscapes.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Atlantic Canada shows some of the highest hotel occupancy rates across the country, according to Destination Canada. The region shows some of the highest increases in hotel occupancy rates.