THE BIG ISLAND of Hawaii, the largest in the Hawaiian chain, contains about 23 of the world's 30 ecosystems. The landscape, dominated by two dormant volcanoes, was a constant inspiration during my visit in November.

Not that I needed to leave the Fairmont Orchid for inspiration. With 540 guest rooms, 30,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and 76,000 square feet of outdoor function space, the property can easily host large groups. Its low-rise architecture, tropical gardens, and outdoor spa huts blend beautifully with the Kohala coastline.

Recently, 10 massage houses were added to the Spa Without Walls. For top execs and qualifiers, the new Fairmont Orchid's Gold Floor has 45 rooms.

The highlight was snorkeling among the Hawaiian green sea turtles. The turtles — honu in Hawaiian — also crawl ashore to a protected area for afternoon sunning. Their home is emblematic of the attitude at the Orchid, where housekeeping has switched to nonchemical cleaners created from thyme, clove, and lemongrass oils; and the landscaping team has phased out synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The environmental efforts are part of the companywide Fairmont Green Partnership Program.