Shangri-La Rasa Ria Clinches Three Major Awards at Sabah and ASEAN Tourism Ceremonies

4 February 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Shangri-La Rasa Ria has reinforced its reputation as a regional leader in sustainable luxury tourism after securing three prestigious accolades at the 13th Sabah Tourism Awards 2025 and the ASEAN Tourism Awards 2026.

The awards recognise the resort’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community engagement and excellence in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.

At the state-level ceremony, Shangri-La Rasa Ria received the Gold Sustainability Award at the 13th Sabah Tourism Awards 2025, in recognition of its EcoRia initiative. The holistic platform integrates biodiversity conservation, including the resort’s 64-acre Nature Reserve, alongside carbon reduction efforts and community-based programmes.

The resort’s achievements were further recognised at the regional level during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 in Cebu City, Philippines, where it received two honours. These were the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, acknowledging its leadership in eco-conscious tourism in Southeast Asia, and the ASEAN MICE Venue Award (Event Venue Category), which highlights the resort as a premier destination for sustainable business and professional events.

A key factor underpinning these accolades is Shangri-La Rasa Ria’s achievement as the first hotel in Malaysia and the first within the global Shangri-La Group to obtain ISO 20121 certification for Sustainable Event Management. The internationally recognised standard ensures that events hosted at the resort are planned and executed with minimal environmental impact and meaningful social benefits.

Through practices such as prioritising local sourcing, achieving waste diversion rates of over 60 per cent and improving energy efficiency, the resort has set new benchmarks for environmentally responsible meetings and events in the region.

“These awards are a testament to our team’s passion for preserving the natural beauty of Sabah while delivering world-class hospitality,” said Fiona Hagan, General Manager of Shangri-La Rasa Ria.

“Securing the ISO 20121 certification was not just about achieving a title; it was about embedding our values into a framework that ensures luxury and sustainability can coexist for generations to come,” she added.

Located on a 400-acre tropical enclave in Tuaran, Shangri-La Rasa Ria features 494 guestrooms, a championship golf course and a dedicated Nature Reserve. Through its EcoRia platform, the resort continues to lead conservation efforts, including initiatives focused on pangolin protection.