Hotels, resorts in Sabah urged to emulate Sutera Harbour

KOTA KINABALU: Hotels and resorts in Sabah are urged to emulate Sutera Harbour and adopt rigorous safety control by adopting the ISO standard.

“I urge other properties, hotels and resorts to offer this kind of service to their guests and customers as this is important for the safety of (their) guests,” said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Christina Liew.

Christina earlier attended the presentation ceremony of MS ISO certifications 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) and 21101:2014 Adventure Tourism Safety Management Systems (ATSMS) to the resort at the Sutera Harbour Marina Country Club on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the resort’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Gilbert Ee said that in March 2023, they decided to develop a more rigorous safety control by adopting the ISO standard.

“Over the last 10 months in 2023, more than 360 manhours, some 57 of our employees together with the consultant Think BIG and NIOSH have put in relentless effort to identify key areas in developing the safety processes, documentations, audit, training and compliances,” he said.

He added that Sutera@ Mantanani, The Pacific Sutera Hotel, The Magellan Sutera Resort, and Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf and Country Club, has been rewarded dual certifications: ISO 21101:2014 for Adventure Tourism and Safety Management System (ATSMS) and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health Safety Management System (OHSMS).

“We were also informed by NIOSH that the properties have secured the first-ever certifications for integrated management systems in Malaysia.

“This places us at the forefront of safety standards not only in our region but also among pioneers in the Asean Region within the island resort and hotel categories.

“These prestigious certifications, granted by NIOSHCert, underscore our obligation not only on safety compliance but also a reflection on long term commitment to maintain high safety standards in Sutera Harbour Resort,” he said.