by Cassie Forsythe & Azeera Azeasharmel
Sabah Tourism Awards return after a hiatus since 2019 as a timely tribute to the individuals and organisations whose excellence, resilience, and dedication have driven the growth and recovery of Sabah’s tourism and hospitality industry. Held biennially, the awards recognise those who have gone above and beyond in upholding high standards of service and professionalism, while playing a pivotal role in revitalising the sector in the aftermath of the global pandemic.
The following overall winners represent the very best of Sabah’s tourism landscape, reflecting a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the continued positioning of Sabah as a premier travel destination.
Sabah Tour Innovation Award
Gold: TREC & Supu Tour (KOPEL Kinabatangan)
Sabah Hospitality Gem Award
Gold: Mari Mari Cultural Village
Silver: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (Kinabalu Park)
Bronze: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort
Sabah Best Practice in Tourism Award: Community-Based Tourism
Gold: Walai Tobilung, Kota Marudu
Silver: Kg.Tajau Laut, Kudat
Bronze: Tegudon Tourism Village, Kota Belud
Sabah Best Practice in Tourism Award: Accommodation
Gold: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Silver: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (Kinabalu Park)
Bronze: Hilton Kota Kinabalu
Sabah Best Practice in Tourism Award: Tourism Product
Gold: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Silver: Mari Mari Cultural Village
Bronze: Lankayan Island Dive Resort
Sabah Tourism Champion Partnership Award
Gold: Borneo Tourism Research Centre
Silver: Air Asia China
Bronze: Hyatt Centric
Sabah Tourism Champion Advocate Award
Gold: Jesus Cede Prudente
Sabah Tourism Champion Leadership Award (Individual)
Gold: Alexander Yee
Silver: Albert Teo Chin Kion Teo
Bronze: Abdul Sail Jamaluddin
Sabah Tourism Champion Leadership Award (Organization)
Gold: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Silver: Friends of Sea Turtles Education & Research (FoSTER)
Bronze: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges
Sabah Tourism Champion Resilience Award (Individual)
Gold: Grace Leong
Sabah Tourism Champion Resilience Award (Organization)
Gold: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort
Silver Rumah Terbalik
Sabah Tourism Champion Sustainability Award:
Gold: Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort
Silver: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Bronze: Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Special Awards:
- Kinabalu Running Club (KRC)
- Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu
- Persatuan Porter Gunung Kinabalu
- Tough Gorilla
- Sutera Harbour
Lifetime Recognition Awards:
- YBhg. The Late Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks
- YBhg. Dato’ Seri Tengku Dr. Zainal Adlin Bin Tengku Mahamood
As Sabah continues to welcome visitors from around the world, these achievements inspire both industry players and travellers alike, reflecting the vibrant, resilient, and unique spirit of Sabah’s tourism industry. Photo highlights from the event are available at Sabah Tourism’s Facebook Page and sabahtourism.com.
