Global membership organisation The Long Run (TLR) and the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance sustainable outdoor lodging practices across the Asia Pacific region, formalising a framework for collaboration across events, knowledge exchange, communications, and membership engagement.

As reported by Travel World, the MOU was signed on 8 June and arrives as the outdoor lodging sector continues to expand rapidly across Asia Pacific. According to industry estimates cited by APOLA, the segment is growing at approximately 15% annually in the region, compared with an estimated global growth rate of 11%, creating both opportunity and responsibility for operators to embed sustainability from the outset.

Robert Hecker, Co-founder of APOLA, said: "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."

Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Executive Director of TLR, said: "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."

TLR supports a global network of nature-focused lodges and tourism partners through its 4Cs framework, centred on conservation, community, culture, and commerce. APOLA works to develop operational standards, sustainability frameworks, and responsible growth within the outdoor lodging sector.

As part of the collaboration, APOLA is supporting TLR's Asia Pacific Regional Hub Meeting, scheduled for 15 to 17 June at Cardamom Tented Camp, themed "From Influence to Evidence: The 4Cs in Practice." Beyond events, the partnership will co-host workshops, panel discussions, and training programmes to help operators address challenges spanning sustainability, investment, regulatory compliance, planning approvals, guest experience, and marketing.

Discover the full details of The Long Run and APOLA's Asia Pacific sustainability partnership in the full story.