KOTA KINABALU: 9 November 2026
Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) won three awards at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) 2026 Series 3 (Hospitality & Tourism) and The Hospitality Celebration 2026.
Its chief operating officer (COO), Abd Sail Jamaludin, was named COO of the Year.
The lodge also placed in the Top 10 for Service Excellence – Eco/Green Resort and Resort – Eco/Green Resort.
Abd Sail, accompanied by marketing team members Sylviana Chong, Rachel Abrianna and Sonia Rahim, attended the 32nd anniversary celebration of the awards in Petaling Jaya on Oct 28.
He said the awards reflected the lodge’s dedication to hospitality, service excellence and environmental responsibility.
“We are truly honoured to receive these recognitions at the HAPA Awards 2026.
“They represent years of dedication, teamwork and our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences while preserving the natural environment in which we operate,” he said.
BRL operates in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, offering luxury hospitality within one of the world’s remarkable rainforest ecosystems.
Abd Sail said the lodge focused on service excellence, environmental responsibility and authentic guest experiences.
He said it had continuously improved its facilities and service standards while investing in staff development and strengthening sustainability practices.
“Our guests come from different parts of the world. While they appreciate comfort and personalised service, what they truly remember is the opportunity to experience nature in its purest form,” he said.
On Visit Sabah 2027, Abd Sail said the campaign offered an opportunity to strengthen Sabah’s reputation as a world-class nature-based tourism destination.
He said BRL planned to strengthen its international market presence through closer cooperation with tourism partners, travel specialists and international operators.
The lodge also planned to enhance guest experiences through specialised nature-based activities, educational programmes and personalised hospitality.
However, he said its objective was not simply to attract more visitors, but to attract those who appreciated nature and responsible tourism.
“We believe that the future of high-quality nature tourism should focus on value rather than volume.
“Our success should not be measured solely by visitor arrivals, but also by the quality of experiences we provide and the long-term benefits tourism brings to Sabah,” he said.
He said BRL also hoped to support the wider tourism industry through local employment, business opportunities and hospitality talent development.
“Our vision is for BRL to be more than an internationally recognised luxury rainforest destination. We want it to be an example of how tourism can create lasting value while safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations,” he said.
