Zara's Boutique Hotel an oasis of comfort

3 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: While Zara’s Boutique Hotel stands as a beacon of social enterprise, empowering hundreds of women from rural districts to achieve economic independence, its founder, Datuk Eliza Goh, has attained a wide array of notable achievements.

Eliza has shared countless transformative stories of women who have stepped through the hotel’s doors seeking employment and a fresh start. “These include young single mothers whom we have trained and mentored to regain their confidence,” she explained. Her accomplishments are numerous and diverse, including being honoured with the Outstanding Women Entrepreneur Award at the state-level International Women’s Day 2025 celebration organised by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu.

Eliza is committed to continuing her support for rural women, including single mothers, widows, and those living in poverty, to acquire skills in hotel operations. Of course, the knowledge and skills gained can be applied beyond the hospitality sector. The most crucial aspect is for these women to develop new skills. She offers employment opportunities wherever possible.

“My greatest wish this year is to secure a grant that will enable me to run training sessions and workshops, ensuring that these target groups are reached and empowered to earn a livelihood and become self-sufficient,” she stated.

Zara’s Boutique Hotel is renowned as the world’s first entirely female-run hotel, encompassing ownership and all front-of-house operations.

“I encourage these women and guide them towards the right pathways to pursue further education and enhance their career prospects within the tourism industry,” she explained.

“Some have secured roles at prestigious five-star hotels such as Shangri-La Rasa Ria, while others have ventured as far as Dubai. Even some students who interned with us have gone on to the United States and are now establishing their lives there,” Eliza added.

In addition to hospitality training, the hotel fosters an environment that promotes women’s empowerment, socially, economically, and professionally.

“It has always been my dream to contribute to the eradication of poverty in rural families, one woman at a time,” she shared.

Reflecting on her accomplishments, she emphasised the importance of women’s economic independence, self-confidence, and self-expression in business.

“Confidence is vital in every aspect of life; it opens up limitless opportunities for success,” she stated.

Eliza also stressed on the importance of resilience, particularly in the challenging local business climate.

“One must not take things personally or become overly emotional in business, as this can significantly hinder success,” she advised.

“There is often a misconception that successful women have either had an easy path or come from family businesses. What many do not realise is that I financed this hotel entirely on my own. I hired contractors for a complete renovation and took on the role of project manager for both construction and interior design."

“Now, I oversee all aspects of hotel management, including loan repayments. It was an entirely new field for me, and at times, I doubted myself, but regardless of the challenges, I had to maintain my confidence,” Eliza stated.

She said she was grateful for the trust placed in her by the bank, having maintained her status as one of its most disciplined customers.

“I am truly grateful to those who have had faith in me for the past 15 years, and whose trust remains strong.”