From Ecolodge to National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

2015 Global Eco Asia - Pacific Tourism
Conference
17 - 19 November 2015,
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Theme: Ecotourism - Navigating for Success
From Ecolodge to National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World
By
Albert Teo
Sukau Rainforest Lodge / Borneo Eco Tours
Deputy Chairman / Asian Ecotourism Network AEN
Fellow / Edith Cowan University

24 Charter Members in January 2015
• Rubondo Island Camp, Tanzania
• Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
• Sayari Camp, Tanzania
• Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
• Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysian Borneo
• The Brando, French Polynesia
• The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana
• Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia
• Tierra Atacama, Chile
• Tierra Patagonia, Chile
• Tswalu, South Africa
• Zhiwa Ling, Bhutan
• Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland Grootbos,
South Africa
• Inkaterrra Machu Picchu, Peru
• Kapari Natural Resort, Greece
• Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco
• Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, Costa Rica Lizard Island,
Australia
• Longitude 131, Australia
• Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
• Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, Canada
• Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica
• Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica
http://www.borneoecotours.com | http://www.sukau.com | http://www.bestsociety.org

14 Charter Members in June 2015
• Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean
• Siwash Lake Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
• Hacienda de San Antonio, Colima, Mexico
• Cuixmala, Costalegre, Mexico
• Zarafa Camp, Selinda Reserve, Botswana
• Mara Plains Camp, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya
• ol Donyo Lodge, Chyulu Hills, Kenya
• Tutka Bay Lodge, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, United States
• Winterlake Lodge, South-Central Alaskan Wilderness, United States
• Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, Amazon Rain Forest, Peru
• Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Inca, Peru
• Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, Peru
• Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, Australia
• The Bushcamp Company, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
3

A Growing Global Footprint
Priorities
• Fill geographic gaps
• Continue to diversify collection
• Reach 50 lodges by year end
Charter Lodge
Members
New Lodge Members

A collection of extraordinary
hotels and lodges, committed
to sustainability, authenticity
and excellence.

What Makes Us “Unique”
• Unmatched brand recognition, reputation, and reach
• Rich institutional resources that provide access to
cutting-edge scientific research projects and top
scientists, explorers, and photographers around the
world
• A deep commitment to sustainable tourism best
practices and top quality experiences, maintained
through an extensive member vetting process
• Connected to a robust travel program with opportunities
for lodges to be incorporated into existing and new
itineraries
• A diverse offering of National Geographic Exclusive
experiences

Sukau Rainforest Lodge (1995)
7

History of Sukau Rainforest Lodge
8
From left: Albert Teo and Kari Kari and wife
Kari bin Ongong

Location of Sukau Rainforest Lodge
9

Route to Sukau Rainforest Lodge
10

Mission Statement
11
“To excel as an ecolodge by providing a unique
experience in hospitality interpretation and
conservation with local community
participation and leadership development.”

Accommodation
12
• Bornean minimalism concept
• Sun room; Louvre windows
• 270 square feet
• Cross air ventilation
• K-Block wall (termite proof, fire retardant,
sound insulation)

Awards and Recognitions
13

Code of Practice Since 1999
14
1. Environment
2. Education
3. Local Community
4. Culture
5. Safety
6. Marketing

Creating Value
through the Gifts of Nature:
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Green Policies
15
1. Design & Construction
2. Electricity & Lighting
3. Water Usage
4. Noise Minimisation
5. Safety & Cleanliness
6. Education & Interpretation
7. Local Community benefits

Green Policies: Design & Construction
16
1. The lodge is built on stilts five feet above ground to:
 Avoid flooding
 Prevent pest invasion
 Improve air circulation
2. Many other lodges were flooded in 1996 and in 2003.
3. The Hornbill Boardwalk is built with two elephant passes
to allow for the migration of Borneo Pygmy elephants
through the property.
4. Passive cooling design and exhaust fans installed to
extract hot air above ceilings to enhance indoor thermal
comfort of the lodge with low energy consumption.
5. An open concept is adopted to allow for unrestrained air
circulation and ventilation, thus minimising the use of
fans.

Green Policies: Design & Construction (cont.)
17
Hornbill Boardwalk
Kari Boardwalk

Green Policies: Electricity & Lighting
18
1. The lodge has as its main energy sources both electrical and
solar energy.
2. Completely self-reliant from energy since 1995 and was not
connected to the grid until 2008.
3. Electrical power is used mainly for lighting the lodge while
solar energy is utilised for heating water.
4. All night lighting is supplemented by the use of kerosene oil
lamps in the garden and along the corridors.
5. Recycled cooking oil lamps are used in the restaurant and
lounge area to provide a cozy ambience.
6. An open concept has been adopted to allow unrestrained air
circulation and ventilation, minimising energy usage and
maximising day time cooling.

Green Policies: Water Usage
19
1. The lodge is 100% self-sufficient on water.
2. Rain water is harvested, filtered and
chlorinated for kitchen and guest use.
3. Hot water is supplied by four units of 78.69
gallons of crystal solar heating systems and
all toilets are equipped with dual flush
systems.
4. The 24-feet dip pool is completely supplied
with filtered rain water.

20
1. Open lobby area for enjoyment of rainforest
symphony.
2. Generator has noise reducing acoustic insulation.
3. Boats equipped with four strokes engine and electric
motors (i.e. Evinrude E-TEC and Yamaha Portable
Outboard Engine)
4. Discourage the use of TV and radio in rooms and
lounge area.
5. Guests encourage to minimise noise (esp. after 9pm).
6. Vegetation retained to minimise noise.
Green Policies: Noise Minimisation

Green Policies: Education and Interpretation
21
1. Education:
•A Souvenir of Sabah 2008
•Saving Paradise 2005
•Sabah – Land of the Sacred
Mountain 1988
2. Innovation:
•Visitor Handbook on Lower
Kinabatangan Floodplain 2003
•Hornbill Boardwalk Interpretive
Information on the Flora and
Fauna 2003

Green Policies: Education and Interpretation
(cont.)
22
Sir David Attenborough
3. Conservation Fellows is a special column dedicated to
our guests whose contribution have inspired and made a
difference to conservation of the ecology in The Lower
Kinabatangan Region.
Professor Ross Dowling &
Arq. Hector Ceballos-LascurainKari Ongong & Carol Patterson

Green Policies: Local Community
Benefits
23
1. Employment and training opportunities –
over 80% are local staff members

Green Policies: Local Community
Benefits (cont.)
24
2. Supply of fish and prawns
3. Contracts – jetty, plank walk and lodge
repairs
4. Water tanks, medical projects.
5. Training ground for other lodges.

Product Innovations
25
1. Boat transfers to Sukau Rainforest Lodge for
wildlife sightings.
2. Electric motors for river cruise.
3. Guests wear sarong for dinner.
4. Dinner served on riverfront open deck.
5. Oil lamps at dinner tables use recycled
cooking oil.
6. Dip pool use water from rainwater
harvesting.
7. Elephant passes at Hornbill Boardwalk.

26
Non-Profit Organisation of BET & SRL:
Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and
Technologies (BEST) Society
• To promote sustainability of tourism.
• To promote and develop alternative employment and income.
• To provide students and teachers of ecotourism an avenue to learn
about the concepts and practice of ecotourism.
• To test and apply modern technologies and environmental
management practices in a local setting and to provide an
economic model for sustainable development principles.
• To improve human and knowledge capitals through capacity
building, skill training, technical assistance and leadership
development programs of the local leaders.
• To act as a catalyst to develop a Code of Practice on ecotour and
ecolodge operations in Sabah.
• To explore areas of co-operation and common interests among the
various stakeholders in Sabah.

27
BEST Society: Creating Value through Natural Capital
Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Project (KWICORP)
Prince Henrik and
Tengku Adlin
planting a tree
seedling year 2001
Michelle Noronha,
a volunteer and an
in-house guide at
Phase 1 Site in 2007
Mrs. Wendy
Dowling at Phase
1 Site year 2006
Phase 1 Site in
June 2009

28
BEST Society: Creating Value through Human Capital

29
BEST Society: Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship
Technical Assistance to Bavanggazo Longhouse (1996)

30
BEST Society: Capacity Building and Entrepreneurship
Educational Tour for 3 Rungus Village Tourism leaders
to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Tea, Sandakan and Sukau (2006)
Terongkongan BeachTerongkongan Beach
Restaurant
Somuil and NorzailiSomuil and Norzaili
LonghouseLonghouse

31
BEST Society: Creating Value through Business
Development
Ronnie and wife holding
finished product (August
2012)
Since 2010
Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO)
Before After
BONCO VCO LABEL
RM20/bottle
Profit increases by
500%
RM45/bottle
Brochure of Bonco VCO

32
Marketing

• Phase 1 (Kg Lugu),
Phase 2 (Kg Pandan),
Phase 3
(Kg Mandamai), Phase
4 (Kg Kobon) 2012 -
2014
• Supplied 96 water
tanks
• Benefitted 91 families
• Spent RM 63,655.25
Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships

Voluntourism
• 3 groups (2006, 2011, 2014) – 53 students
• Involved in community activities such as water living project,
tree planting, books and bed frames donation to school
children, painting community hall, cultural exchange.
34

35
Kiulu Community Based
Ecotourism Projects

36
Kiulu Community Based
Ecotourism Projects

37
Success Does Not Come Without Adversity:
Camp Lemaing
• Located in Kiau
area
• Invested over
RM200,000 to
build
• Took 3 years to
build
Photos of Camp Lemaing BEFORE the mudslide and flash flood

38
Success Does Not Come Without Adversity:
Camp Lemaing (cont.)
Photos of Camp Lemaing AFTER the mudslide and flash flood

Borneo Eco Tours / Borneo Ecotourism, Solutions and Technologies Society (BEST) 39
““I have come to the conclusion that charityI have come to the conclusion that charity
couldn’t deliver the outcomes I was trying tocouldn’t deliver the outcomes I was trying to
achieve; primarily, the alleviation of poverty”.achieve; primarily, the alleviation of poverty”.
The End of Charity 2008 by Nic FrancesThe End of Charity 2008 by Nic Frances
Winner of Iremonger AwardWinner of Iremonger Award

Sources of Income (1996 – June 2015)Sources of Income (1996 – June 2015)
Contribution from Borneo Eco Tours
RM 483,547.00 (36%)
Contribution from Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL)
RM 258,653.00 (19%)
Grand total : RM 1,342,996.00
Amount spent on community and environment projects
(As of Dec 2014) through BEST Society
RM 1,011,776.83
“Empowering Communities”
40

41
Our PartnersOur Partners

42
ConclusionConclusion
Integrating Biodiversity Conservation and Community Development Through Ecotourism
1.Vision and Mission (Core Values)
-Think Big/Global; Start Small/Local
2. Requirements
-Sustainability – Economic, Social and Environment
-Creating a separate non-profit division at some stage
3. Conservation / enhancement of biodiversity – Protecting NATURAL Capital
-Minimising negative impact on the environment
4. Developing HUMAN and BUSINESS Capitals (Internal and External)
-Internal – Leadership Development
-External – Technical, Micro Financing, Business Operations, Entrepreneurship
5. Communication – Web, Digital News, Books, Newsflash, Press Releases

43
Thank YouThank You
forfor
Your attention.Your attention.

From Ecolodge to National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

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