The Long Run and APOLA to Advance Sustainable Outdoor Lodging in Asia Pacific
New partnership will strengthen knowledge-sharing, industry collaboration and sustainability across the region
The Long Run and APOLA signed an MOU to collaborate on events, knowledge exchange, and membership engagement, targeting a glamping sector growing at 15% annually across Asia Pacific.
Robert Hecker, Executive Committee member of APOLA and Dr. Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Executive Director of The Long Run. — Photo by Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA)
The Long Run (TLR), a global membership organisation working at the intersection of nature conservation and sustainable tourism, and the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the growth of sustainable outdoor lodging in Asia Pacific.
The inaugural agreement signed 8 June establishes a working partnership between the two organisations. The MOU gives the green light for collaboration in events, knowledge exchange, communications and membership engagement.
Both TLR and APOLA aim to help outdoor lodging operators strengthen their sustainability practices.
APOLA represents and supports an outdoor lodging sector, which is growing around 15% per year in Asia Pacific, compared to 11% globally, according to various research bodies. APOLA also seeks to develop operational standards and sustainable development for the sector, which is often called ‘glamping’.
The Long Run supports a global network of nature-first lodges and travel partners, all guided by TLR’s ‘4Cs’ framework based on the primacy of conservation, community, culture, and commerce.
Both organisations see tourism as a force for good.
Outdoor lodging, when developed with genuine environmental consideration and local partnership, can be a powerful tool for rural economic development. In that regard, The Long Run’s best practice experience from sustainable lodges around the world will help our members in Asia Pacific develop responsibly and with confidence.
Robert Hecker, co-founder of APOLA
Our new partnership with APOLA reflects a shared commitment to strengthening sustainable outdoor lodging across Asia Pacific through practical collaboration, events, knowledge exchange, membership engagement and communications.
Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Executive Director of TLR
Regional hub meeting
APOLA, for example, is helping support The Long Run’s APAC Regional Hub Meeting at APOLA member Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia 15-17 June.
With the theme, “From Influence to Evidence: The 4Cs in Practice,” the event will feature conservation-driven accommodation businesses, nature-based lodges, travel businesses committed to responsible tourism, and organisations promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism in Asia.
“The hub meeting is designed for those already on their sustainability journey and those looking for a community to support their efforts,” said Zschiegner.
Through the agreement, the organisations will explore further opportunities to co-host workshops, panel discussions and training initiatives.
The partnership will also encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The aim is to help outdoor lodging operators navigate challenges such as sustainability, investment, regulatory compliance, planning permissions, guest satisfaction, and marketing.
About the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association
APOLA is an industry body driven by local professionals dedicated to uniting and empowering the Asia Pacific outdoor lodging community, championing sustainable growth, innovation, and collaboration to elevate the industry’s standards. With a forward‑looking vision of embedding sustainability and cultural enrichment at the heart of outdoor hospitality across the region, APOLA aims to fuse responsible development with the rich traditions and natural beauty of Asia Pacific destinations. Visit https://apola.io/
About The Long Run
The Long Run is a global community of nature-based tourism businesses committed to a holistic balance of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce (the 4Cs). Founded in 2009, The Long Run supports its members to deliver measurable impact and create a better future for people and planet. Together, members of The Long Run safeguard over 23 million acres of nature, improve the lives of more than 350,000 people, and prove that tourism can be a force for regeneration. By sharing knowledge, providing a practical framework, and fostering collaboration, The Long Run helps its members grow resilient businesses that protect biodiversity, celebrate cultural heritage, and strengthen communities. The Long Run’s vision is clear: a world in which business, nature, and people thrive together. www.thelongrun.org