Kota Kinabalu: Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) emerged as a top winner at the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Awards 2025, securing three golds, one silver and one bronze across multiple categories.
The Yayasan Sabah Group of Companies subsidiary won gold in the Sabah Best Practice in Tourism Award (Accommodation), Sabah Best Practice in Tourism Award (Tourism Product), and Sabah Tourism Champion Leadership Award (Organisation); silver in the Sabah Tourism Champion Sustainability Award; and bronze in the Sabah Tourism Champion Leadership Award (Individual).
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The accommodation, located within the Danum Valley conservation area, was built under strict guidelines to protect the natural environment, said BRL Chief Executive Officer Freddie Coleman when sharing the lodge’s achievements.
The award ceremony was officiated by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin at a resort.
Also present were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai and STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit.
The lodge’s walls were pre-fabricated in Lahad Datu before being transported to the site for final assembly due to strict regulations, he said.
He added that the lodge has undergone a series of transformations to improve its environmental practices, focusing on durable and sustainable materials.
The move ensures the lodge remains a leader in eco-tourism and hospitality in the region, he said.
The lodge also recognises the need to integrate sustainability into its operations, alongside existing practices such as sustainable architecture, waste management, and energy and water conservation.
Following consultation with a specialist, effective microorganism mudballs were introduced – a practice now well-known as part of the lodge’s green initiatives, he said.
The lodge has also launched corporate social responsibility initiatives in local schools and formed a heritage troupe trained by the Dusun Subpan Segama Cultural Association of Lahad Datu.
The initiative aims to increase local procurement to support the community and reduce the lodge’s carbon footprint, he said.
He also commended Abdul Sail Jamaludin, now chief operating officer, for winning bronze in the Sabah Tourism Champion Leadership Award (Individual).
The award honours individuals whose leadership and dedication have made a significant impact on Sabah’s social, economic, cultural or environmental well-being.
Sail, who has three decades of experience running the lodge, was a versatile leader who managed a small team of 10 to 15 staff in the early days.
Today, the workforce has grown to more than 100 employees across various departments, he said.
He attributed the expansion to the spirit of hospitality and personal touch that have remained unchanged since the early years.
