Airbnb Green Stays Awards 2021

Recognising eco-friendly stays around Malaysia

Meet the winning Hosts and their stays

We're pleased to present the winners of the 2021 Airbnb Green Stays Awards Malaysia. These Awards aim to celebrate and recognise small, local tourism accommodation providers in Malaysia who have incorporated sustainability practices into their daily operations and hospitality offerings.

Gold Award winners

Plateau Farm Sustainable Treehouse

About the property
The Plateau Farm Treehouse is a unique off-grid, solar-powered dwelling built mainly out of recycled and upcycled furnishings salvaged from office renovations. Guests delight in savouring farm-to-table cuisine and interacting with the animals freely roaming about. Hosts Ricki and Baida have planted hundreds of native trees within the compound and also work with a local nonprofit to house on-site a plant nursery cultivating rare and endangered species.

What the Hosts say
"Not causing harm to the natural world is one thing - actively helping repair it is another. These are things my family lives by and it was a natural step to share the way we live with others and let them experience the joys of simple living."

Plateau Farm Sustainable Treehouse

About the property
The Plateau Farm Treehouse is a unique off-grid, solar-powered dwelling built mainly out of recycled and upcycled furnishings salvaged from office renovations. Guests delight in savouring farm-to-table cuisine and interacting with the animals freely roaming about. Hosts Ricki and Baida have planted hundreds of native trees within the compound and also work with a local nonprofit to house on-site a plant nursery cultivating rare and endangered species.

What the Hosts say
"Not causing harm to the natural world is one thing - actively helping repair it is another. These are things my family lives by and it was a natural step to share the way we live with others and let them experience the joys of simple living."

Far Far Away

About the property
Hosts Terry and Yati have developed a retreat from the ground up deep in the lush wilderness of Hulu Langat. This labour of love is built out of reclaimed materials, recycles and composts waste on property and even mixes their own concrete out of sand reclaimed from their creek. The property is dotted with local fruit trees and visited regularly by gibbons and birds. The Hosts also have a small workshop on site, where they build wooden furniture and structures from recycled timbers.

What the Hosts say
"We feel a human responsibility to educate ourselves and others about sustainable environmental practices. Far Far Away was created by us for our family. The intention has always been to create a space that we are content to live in the rest of our lives. At some point, we decided to share it."

Far Far Away

About the property
Hosts Terry and Yati have developed a retreat from the ground up deep in the lush wilderness of Hulu Langat. This labour of love is built out of reclaimed materials, recycles and composts waste on property and even mixes their own concrete out of sand reclaimed from their creek. The property is dotted with local fruit trees and visited regularly by gibbons and birds. The Hosts also have a small workshop on site, where they build wooden furniture and structures from recycled timbers.

What the Hosts say
"We feel a human responsibility to educate ourselves and others about sustainable environmental practices. Far Far Away was created by us for our family. The intention has always been to create a space that we are content to live in the rest of our lives. At some point, we decided to share it."

The Resthouse

About the property
The Resthouse is a beautifully restored colonial-era house that was transported from Batu Gajah, a small town not far from Ipoh, to the scenic island of Pulau Perhentian by artist Hayati Mokhtar. Rebuilt in its entirety, with repairs made using salvaged wood and running entirely on solar power, The Resthouse is now a haven for local wildlife and eco-travellers alike. Most of the proceeds from The Resthouse goes towards funding conservation and research work for non-profit Lang Tengah Turtle Watch.

What the Hosts say
"We are proud to support an Airbnb initiative that encourages green travel in Malaysia, and honoured to be recognised for our efforts that began back in 2016. By further solidifying our position as an eco-property through this award, we will continue to provide our guests with a unique island experience—creating environmental awareness through practical daily choices, so that one returns home with more than just wonderful memories."

The Resthouse

About the property
The Resthouse is a beautifully restored colonial-era house that was transported from Batu Gajah, a small town not far from Ipoh, to the scenic island of Pulau Perhentian by artist Hayati Mokhtar. Rebuilt in its entirety, with repairs made using salvaged wood and running entirely on solar power, The Resthouse is now a haven for local wildlife and eco-travellers alike. Most of the proceeds from The Resthouse goes towards funding conservation and research work for non-profit Lang Tengah Turtle Watch.

What the Hosts say
"We are proud to support an Airbnb initiative that encourages green travel in Malaysia, and honoured to be recognised for our efforts that began back in 2016. By further solidifying our position as an eco-property through this award, we will continue to provide our guests with a unique island experience—creating environmental awareness through practical daily choices, so that one returns home with more than just wonderful memories."

Tanah Larwina

About the property
From compost bins and electric vehicle chargers, to energy-efficient lighting and stormwater retention ponds, Tanah Larwina is a resort that brings sustainable living to life. The grounds of the retreat are decorated with fruit, timber and indigenous forest trees, which Host Faisol and his team label with care to help guests get acquainted with local flora and fauna.

What the Hosts say
"We were first inspired by the green practices we saw at various tourist accommodations and facilities while we were travelling. Since then, environmental sustainability has always been close to our hearts, and incorporating sustainable elements in our own homestay was therefore a natural decision."

Tanah Larwina

About the property
From compost bins and electric vehicle chargers, to energy-efficient lighting and stormwater retention ponds, Tanah Larwina is a resort that brings sustainable living to life. The grounds of the retreat are decorated with fruit, timber and indigenous forest trees, which Host Faisol and his team label with care to help guests get acquainted with local flora and fauna.

What the Hosts say
"We were first inspired by the green practices we saw at various tourist accommodations and facilities while we were travelling. Since then, environmental sustainability has always been close to our hearts, and incorporating sustainable elements in our own homestay was therefore a natural decision."

Durian Guesthouse

About the property
Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and experience country living at this young family's 80-year-old restored farmhouse. A 7,000 square foot permaculture farm supplies spices, fruit and vegetables for the family and their guests, and Host Thai Soon even makes household and bath soaps from scratch.

What the Host says
"We participated in these Awards with the hope that we can promote a sustainable lifestyle to others, whether they be Hosts or guests. We hope to share our values, lifestyle, and attitudes towards sustainability with our guests, and encourage them to join us in living sustainably."

Durian Guesthouse

About the property
Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and experience country living at this young family's 80-year-old restored farmhouse. A 7,000 square foot permaculture farm supplies spices, fruit and vegetables for the family and their guests, and Host Thai Soon even makes household and bath soaps from scratch.

What the Host says
"We participated in these Awards with the hope that we can promote a sustainable lifestyle to others, whether they be Hosts or guests. We hope to share our values, lifestyle, and attitudes towards sustainability with our guests, and encourage them to join us in living sustainably."

Greenhouse Eco Lodge

About the property
Situated on Mantanani Island, GreenHouse Eco Lodge offers its very own private beach, locally cultivated produce from its own greenhouse, and unparalleled hospitality from Hosts Fred and Sook Peng. Its waste reduction practices are what stands out - no single-use plastics are allowed on property, the lodge's walls were built using thousands of recycled plastic bottles, and waste water is filtered and reused.

What the Hosts say
"We wanted to set an example that there are ways to host guests and operate a tourism accommodation while at the same time minimise its impact. We love that our guests enjoy the pristine, natural beauty of this island, so it is in our own interest to keep its sensitive environment intact."

Greenhouse Eco Lodge

About the property
Situated on Mantanani Island, GreenHouse Eco Lodge offers its very own private beach, locally cultivated produce from its own greenhouse, and unparalleled hospitality from Hosts Fred and Sook Peng. Its waste reduction practices are what stands out - no single-use plastics are allowed on property, the lodge's walls were built using thousands of recycled plastic bottles, and waste water is filtered and reused.

What the Hosts say
"We wanted to set an example that there are ways to host guests and operate a tourism accommodation while at the same time minimise its impact. We love that our guests enjoy the pristine, natural beauty of this island, so it is in our own interest to keep its sensitive environment intact."

In collaboration with

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

GSTC manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism; as well as providing international accreditation for sustainable tourism Certification Bodies.

Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY)

ECOMY is the premier national non-governmental organization that is focused on sustainable ecotourism as the way forward to ensure that conservation values are upheld at all key natural heritage sites in Malaysia.

Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC)

MGTC is an agency under the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) mandated to drive the country’s Green Growth, Climate Change Mitigation and Green Lifestyle agenda.

Rebuilding tourism together

Airbnb is committed to partnering with governments and communities to find ways to harness the rise of conscious travel and deliver tangible and lasting benefits for everyone through community-based tourism.