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Is certification worth it? Do your guests value sustainability certifications enough to boost bookings? Find out what APAC travel leaders say in the AST Sustainability Certification Survey Report is out. This report reveals key insights and takeaways for both certification programs and brands seeking a strategic edge. The survey reveals that while certifications provide credibility, many in Asia’s travel and hospitality sector question their accessibility, transparency, and relevance. For more key findings and takeaways, read the full report on our website: https://lnkd.in/gsVPNrft. On a scale of 1 to 10, how valuable do you believe a sustainability certification is for your business and for the industry? 0 = not valuable at all. 10 = totally?valuable. Drop your rating in comments below ???? Rhea Vitto Tabora | Jeremy Tran ??

What does the future of travel and hospitality look like? On February 4, 2025, we will explore this question in depth at the ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????-?????? ???????????????at Far Eastern University - ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????????in Manila. In 2023, we launched the Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) ?????????????as a platform for ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????to come together and explore ways to make tourism more sustainable. The discussions that followed have been impactful, showing just how much this industry can do to drive real, positive change for the local communities and the planet. And now, we’re bringing that same drive and purpose to ????????????????—the future hoteliers, tourism planners, travel tech innovators, and sustainability champions who will one day lead this industry. Our mission: To equip the students with the insights and inspiration to shape a better, greener industry Our theme: ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????, ?????????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ???????????????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? We’ll be breaking down some of the most exciting and challenging topics shaping the future of travel, featuring industry experts you WON’T want to miss: ? How technology is reshaping sustainable tourism, presented by Rolly Sison of Schneider Electric ? The rise of smart hotel rooms with insights from the region, led by Belle Cruz of BB8 Business Consultancy ? Creating vibrant and sustainable urban tourism, with insights from ???????? ?????????????of?Megaworld Hotels & Resorts ? And revolutionizing transportation for responsible travel, guided by Roberto Belda of Xpress Super App This isn’t just a forum. It’s a launchpad - for bold ideas - for practical solutions - and for the next-gen leaders to rise P.S. To my fellow journalists and storytellers in the Philippines, if you’re interested in covering this meaningful event, feel free to reach out. I’d love to connect! See you on February 4th. Harold Bernardo Bueno | Far Eastern University Nico Ivan Velasquez | Karlo Angelo Evangelista, FSCO Jeremy Tran ?? | Sainha | a purpose-led marketing agency for next-gen brands | Travel Asia Now #AsiaSustainableTravelForum #NextGenLeaders #SustainableTourism #FutureOfTravel #ResponsibleHospitality #SustainableTransportation

Last week at Further East, Josh Potts asked me, “Why should travel companies look to APAC for growth?” Instantly, I thought of an article that I wrote for Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) and also the powerful insights shared in presentations and discussions throughout the conference. Here’s why the APAC region is the golden ticket for travel companies looking ahead: By 2030, 3.5 billion people in Asia — roughly 40% of the global population — are projected to be in the middle class. That’s 90% of the next billion people entering this rank globally. This surge represents tens, if not hundreds, of millions of new travelers eager to explore the world. ?? Read more about the opportunity: https://lnkd.in/gyQAVA4b These travelers are younger, highly informed, and increasingly independent. As Edmund Morris highlighted, they’re looking for off-the-beaten-path experiences to avoid tourist hotspots. The demand for thoughtful travel solutions has never been greater. Here’s how destinations and companies can shape this wave: Chalana Perera emphasized that strategic tourism investment aligned with biocapacity awareness, placemaking, and land use management is critical to combating overtourism. ?? Read more about his thoughts here: https://shorturl.at/GasoT Ivory Vogt, CC-P highlighted the importance of government relations in shaping responsible travel behaviors. Her achievement with the Palau Pledge is a shining example of how collaborative frameworks can transform how travelers engage with destinations. Simon McArthur underscores that feasibility assessments can be used to test and refine strategy, and clarify pricing. APAC is a massive growth opportunity, but the approach must be conscious and responsible. Kudos to Mirjam Peternek McCartney for moderating such a thought-provoking discussion. Read more about solutions to overtourism here: https://lnkd.in/gBW43Hb9

The recent ?????????? ???????? welcomed over 1,300 delegates and 66 speakers to explore innovative solutions and sustainable practices. The event featured over 20 workshops and inspiring talks designed to ignite action. One of the sessions was "?????????? ????????????????: ?????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???? ????????????????????????????," where panelists discussed strategies for businesses to embrace sustainability. ?? Anucharaporn Tongluan from Thavorn Hotels & Resorts highlighted the need for top-down support in embedding sustainability within organizations. Aligning green initiatives with company goals can help overcome resistance and resource challenges. ?? Bjorn Courage from InterContinental Phuket Resort illustrated how eco-friendly practices enhance brand reputation and profitability. Initiatives like "Proud Kamala" not only clean beaches but also engage the community, attracting eco-conscious travelers. ?? Michelle Jie Gao from Booking.com shared insights on making eco-friendly travel options more accessible. She advocated for initiatives like third-party sustainability certifications and collaborative efforts with industry partners to drive decarbonization. ?? Our Co-founder, Rhea Vitto Tabora, shared steps for small to medium-sized businesses starting their sustainability journey and stressed the importance of transparent communication in sustainability efforts. Her message is a call to the industry: avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing and 'greenhushing.' Learn more about the innovative strategies discussed at PHIST 2024 in our recent article. https://lnkd.in/ggymgmSU Jayne MacDougall | Phuket Hotels Association Jeremy Tran ?? | Sainha | a purpose-led marketing agency for next-gen brands Travel Asia Now #LeadershipInSustainability #PHIST2024 #Phuket #SustainableTourism #ResponsibleTourism #ConservationEfforts #ClimateAction #SustainableDevelopment #GreenInitiatives #TourismInnovation

Is it possible to use low-emission transport modes to travel in Asia considering its vast size? That was the question many of you asked me after I posted the article about the travel industry's carbon conundrum. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gmcSSJS5 My answer is: It is possible, but it will definitely be an adventure. I enjoy planning just as much as traveling itself. Here’s what I would do: ?? Plan efficient routes Charlie Cotton at ecollective recommended that it’s best to avoid cruises, short-haul flights, and cars whenever possible as they are the most carbon-intensive transportation modes. This can be achieved by designing better trips to optimize your travel route to reduce unnecessary backtracking. My favorite tool to estimate my travel's carbon footprint is provided by Sustainable Travel International. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gWg5Jkss. This helps find out the most carbon-efficient routes. ?? Combine Transport Model Use a combination of trains, buses, cycling, and walking to cover different segments of your trip. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have extensive high-speed rail networks. In countries where high-speed rails are a dream of the near future, buses, and bike tours offer a meaningful way to connect with local people. Check out Vietnam Bike Tours? and Khiri Travel for SE Asia experiences. In countries with extensive waterways, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, sailing trips offered by G Adventures are a low-emission way for coastal and island-hopping trips. ? Stay Longer in Each Location Reducing the frequency of travel between destinations can lower your overall emissions. Check out my conversation with Marc Ribail on slow travel. https://lnkd.in/gbwf7ypT I’m passing this question to other Asia’s sustainable travel experts to share their thoughts. Shivya Nath, Chalana Perera, Rhea Vitto Tabora, Chau (Cecilia) Nguyen, Koko Tang, Matteo Bierschneider, do you have any advice on traveling by low-carbon transport modes in your home country? Image: Qinghai-Tibet train, by Getty Images via Lonely Planet

In a world where millions suffer from hunger despite surplus food being discarded, it's high time the travel and hospitality industry addresses this challenge head-on. ?This paradox of food waste is even more pronounced in Asia, where 375 million people grappled with hunger in 2020, a number larger than the entire population of the United States.?Stats: UNICEF https://lnkd.in/dh9Y3_jF ?? Amidst this challenge lies an opportunity: the chance to align sustainability goals with substantial savings on food spending for hospitality businesses. In the second part of a two-part series on sustainable food systems, we'll delve into a four-step framework to make food waste a thing of the past. ?? Get the team on board by emphasizing the importance and benefits of waste reduction. United Nations-Awarded LightBlue Consulting runs workshops to train the F&B teams at hotels, and familiarize them with its proprietary Food Intel Tech (FIT). The key is to reframe mindsets: reducing food waste boosts a company's bottom line. ?? Monitor waste production and implement strategies based on data insights. As Easia Travel does not prepare food but relies on suppliers, it engages hotels and restaurants to address the issue. ?? Donate excess food to organizations like #SecondHarvestAsia and Scholars of Sustenance Foundation -Thailand. ?? Employ responsible disposal methods such as composting or anaerobic digestion to minimize environmental impact. In Indonesia, Cempedak Island uses black soldier flies for larval production, turning food kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizers to feed soil. Urban hotels in Hong Kong without composting facilities can join the movement through initiatives like Zero Foodprint Asia's SoilFeeders Program (www.soilfeeders.org) that transforms food waste into compost and support local farming communities. In Sri Lanka, Jetwing Hotels uses digesters to transform food waste into biogas through controlled microbial activity, providing an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking in staff cafeterias or hotel kitchens. ? ? Visit our website to go deeper into these case studies: https://lnkd.in/dZ7wWA9R _______________________________ Htin Yadanar Win | Matteo Galeazzi | Philippe RICHARD | Hashan C. | Dmitri Cooray | Hiran Cooray | Benjamin Lephilibert | Andrew Dixon | Leanna Crowley | Rhea Vitto Tabora | Peggy Chan | Second Harvest | Winnow | Lumitics _______________________________ #FoodWaste #Sustainability #Innovation #Hospitality #WasteReduction #sustainability #climateaction #impact #purpose #earth #sainha #planet #people #prosperity #growth #culture #strategy #hotel #luxury #opportunities #hospitality #sustainabletravel #travel?#travelindustry #responsiblebusiness #responsibletourism #AsiaSustainableTravelBriefing #AsiaSustainableTravel?#ASTB #DigitalMarketing #Innovation #Technology #Creativity #Future #Futurism #Entrepreneurship