The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is proud to announce that it has received the Forbes VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality badge by Forbes Travel, the first hotel in Langkawi to be included in Forbes Travel Guide’s responsible hospitality programme, an industry-leading sustainability standard for luxury hospitality.
This prestigious certification is awarded to properties that uphold over 100 stringent standards designed to protect the environment and support the well-being of employees, guests, and local communities. The recognition reflects the resort's unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and responsible hospitality.
The accreditation comes after a successful year in which the resort was awarded Best Hotel Pool in Malaysia in Travel + Leisure’s Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific 2025, named as one of the Top 500 Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure, and winning Best Resort in Malaysia in DestinAsian’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2025.
In 2025, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi’s ongoing commitment to balancing sustainability with natural luxury is demonstrated through its innovative guest programming and conservation initiatives. From preservation of the destination’s rich biodiversity land-to-sea, education and awareness, to the resort’s considered environmental footprint and practices.
On land, its Trails of Wonder expeditions, continue to grow awareness of the interconnected ecosystems surrounding the resort and their critical preservation. Expeditions led by resort naturalists allow guests to discover the island's captivating cultural history. Through exploration and storytelling, guests deepen their understanding of the rainforest's marvels, geology, flora and fauna, learning of the steps local communities are taking to preserve Langkawi's natural and cultural heritage and Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO Global Geopark.
In the resort’s innovative sea cucumber nursery, the property supports one of the ocean’s most underrated heroes. Known locally as ‘gamat’, the ‘vacuum cleaners of the sea’ are critical to the area’s ocean biodiversity, filtering sand and aiding natural coral generation. Prized by locals for their purported medicinal benefits, overfishing for ‘gamat oil’ to treat physical ailments has threatened their populations.
The project, led by the in-house team of marine biologists and resort Ambassador of Sustainability and the Environment, Fadzli Luqman, champions reproduction of the species supporting binary fission. Guests can spend time at the nursery inside the treehouse-shaped Eco Discovery Centre, and help to release the gamat by kayak in to the sea. The Eco-Discovery Centre continues to run educational and fun activities aimed at fostering a love for the environment and creating curiosity in young explorers.
The resort’s dedication to sustainability also plays a significant part in its culinary experiences, notably through its Nibong Garden, a vibrant sanctuary that highlights native plant species crucial to Langkawi's biodiversity and culinary tradition. Constructed from the ground up using recycled materials amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the garden not only supplies fresh ingredients to the resort kitchen but also symbolizes resilience, innovation and commitment to sustainability. It nurtures a variety of herbs including curry leaves, okra, mint, ulam raja, Brazilian spinach, wilted spinach, butterfly pea, turmeric leaves, Vietnamese coriander, and Asiatic pennywort.
Mafalda Tavares, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, comments on the resort’s accreditation. “It is an honor to be a Forbes VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality hotel, which recognizes the dedication of our Ladies & Gentlemen, and our steadfast commitment to becoming a green hotel. Through innovative guest experiences and initiatives, we are working to ensure our actions today secure a better future for tomorrow.”
“Sustainability, responsible hospitality and tourism is at the forefront of everything we do, which is why we’ve adopted a 360-degree approach to implementing this, whether it’s growing our own herbs and vegetables at Nibong Garden, championing the replanting of Langkawi’s iconic mangroves together with the Hereafter Project, or working with brands that respect and offer sustainably-sourced products in our rooms, outlets and spa such as Diptyque and Kerstin Florian,” said Tavares.
The resort’s Ambassador of Sustainability and the Environment, marine biologist Fadzli Luqman, added that the property’s educational and exploratory programs offered a unique approach to responsible hospitality and tourism.
“We have developed various educational programs for guests of all ages to experience, and not only limited to appreciating the environment around the property. Our Eco-Rangers program and Sea Cucumber Nursery, part of the brand-wide Community Footprints program, complement the experiences outside the resort, such as our partnership with Langkawi’s UNESCO Global Geopark and important work with the Hereafter Project and mangrove preservation,” said Luqman.
Luqman continues. “Guests are also able to connect with and experience local culture, craft and heritage, whether through the ancient art of batik painting, traditional soap making or replanting vibrant Ixora trees with our Plant-A-Tree program, where we continue to keep guests and mini explorers updated on the progress of their tree. Local ecology and community are supported through strong collaborations that ensures their wellbeing and livelihood.”
As part of The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the resort is working to further reduce its carbon footprint. Development is in place to enhance its waste management program, and to grow the Eco-Discovery Center to offer a wider variety of nature-based learning for adults.
