The newly created Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA) will be attending the Eco Resort Network event in Chiang Mai in May.
Its members will lead an APOLA panel session where they will share insights such as trends in the sector, oversight challenges, sustainability issues, business prospects, and how consumers in the fast-growing and culturally diverse region with 60% of the world’s population cannot be pigeon-holed. One size does not fit all.
The Vision
Despite being active for little over a year, APOLA has attracted dozens of visionary members. Many of them are award-winning properties such as Cardamom Tented Camp (Cambodia), Buahan – A Banyan Tree Escape (Bali), Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort (Thailand) and Vinetree Resorts (Yunnan, China). Some are independent operators such as 9 Hornbills, Tantawan Tented Camp, Cloud Collective and Blue Tree Phuket. Some are major brands such as Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Architects, designers and suppliers essential to the sector’s growth also play a key role. These include Kanopya, Eco Structures, Escape Nomad, as well as investment, research, communications and legal specialists.
All of them are united in advancing the outdoor lodging sector, which is growing at 10.8% a year across Asia Pacific, according to Mountain View Research – comparable figures are 12.8% in the USA and 9% in Europe.
With APOLA on the road to critical mass, it is now addressing matters to protect and enhance the reputation of outdoor lodging. What kind of property can legitimately be defined as outdoor lodging? Is there a minimum number of beds a property should have? What service standards and sustainability elements should members have, or the glamping industry at large?
Building Lightly
On sustainability issues, APOLA member John Roberts, Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation at Minor Hotels, told the audience at the association’s outdoor lodging masterclass in Phuket in August: ‘Build lightly, operate responsibly, measure and improve, engage communities’.
On financial ROI, glamping industry speakers at the masterclass suggested that build time and costs for outdoor lodging currently run at 35-50% of normal fixed-wall hotels and resorts. With ROI kicking in around three or so years, compared to approximately 10 years for a traditional hotel.
In addition to events such as the Phuket masterclass and Eco Resort Network in Chiang Mai, APOLA is launching a series of webinars. The association will address niche subjects around outdoor lodging such as legal and financial matters, site selection, energy conservation, sustainable best practice and consumer preferences.
Overlapping Trends
Certain trends for glamping in Asia overlap with the rest of the world, including:
- Above average growth rates for outdoor lodging compared to other tourism niches
- The synergy with wellness
- Good average room rates for properties that offer genuine sustainability (not greenwashing)
- Design and construction innovation
- Popularity among the discerning luxury segment and middle class families with kids
- Demand from Gen Z consumers who actively seek out sustainable operators
- The rise of pet-friendly offerings
APOLA envisions a future where outdoor lodging in the Asia Pacific region is synonymous with sustainability, cultural enrichment and great guest experiences. It hopes to build that future in partnership with like-minded organisations such as Eco Resort Network.
APOLA membership details are available at apola.io/membership.
