Welcome to Outdoor Insider - a round up of the latest outdoor lodging industry happenings by the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association. If you are a glamping operator or a supplier, enjoy a world of benefits, insights and practical tips by joining APOLA here.

Evening Breeze develops low-energy sleep climate systems designed to improve guest comfort while reducing reliance on conventional air conditioning. Rather than cooling an entire room, the system creates a gentle microclimate around the bed, circulating cool, clean air where it is needed most. The approach is particularly relevant for outdoor lodging, safari tents, jungle lodges and nature-based accommodation, where operators often seek ways to balance guest comfort with lower energy use and reduced environmental impact. 

Evening Breeze used its quiet and intuitive HVAC system at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali (pictured), acclaimed for its ‘no walls and doors’ experience. The Evening Breeze system is also being implemented at an upcoming Banyan Tree Escape, currently under development in the western part of Indonesia. 

Image shows the Buahan property and Thomas van den Groenendaal of Evening Breeze.

The MOU gives the green light for collaboration in events, knowledge exchange, communications and membership engagement. 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.

At the Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia Luxury Summit 2026, 16 June in Bangkok, APOLA Executive Committee member Shyn Yee Ho-Strangas presented research on the growing outdoor lodging sector in Asia Pacific to an audience of luxury hospitality and travel professionals. The presentation draws on the white paper produced in partnership with APOLA members, examining the opportunities and challenges of developing and managing outdoor lodging properties across the region. APOLA members can access the T+L presentation and the white paper in the APOLA members’ section.

APOLA joined the annual Eco Resort Network gathering in Chiang Mai in May, leading the opening panel on the outlook for outdoor hospitality in Asia Pacific. Moderated by Robert Hecker of Horwath HTL Pacific Asia, the discussion brought together Willem Niemeijer of YAANA Ventures, Koko Tang of Colorful Earth and Bastian Sagild of Cloud Collective. Several themes emerged:

• Community involvement is foundational, not optional
• Landscaping and guest journey costs are often underestimated
• Financing remains one of the largest barriers for new projects
• Every site presents its own unique operational challenges
• Responsibility extends beyond the property boundary to the wider destination

The event attracted eco-resort practitioners, designers and suppliers from around the world.

In Cambodia, Cardamom Tented Camp’s first artist-in-residence program (21 June to 5 July), is under way. Khmer artist Im Pesey is leading the first of three planned residencies this year. All artists in the program are being invited to reflect surrounding nature in their work. They will hold a minimum of two workshops with guests during their stays. A dedicated open-air artist’s workspace called the Art Pavilion has been created at the camp. Each artist will receive a stipend from the camp, accommodation and full board. Artists in the program will donate at least one art work created during their stay for permanent display at the camp. More.

Vinetree Honghegu Tented Resort in Yunnan has launched a new guest experience. During a family's stay, a photographer accompanies guests throughout the visit, capturing key moments across the property and surrounding landscapes. The family receives a minimum of 50 professionally edited photographs and a two-minute documentary-style family film. Further information: 1404037952@qq.com. Visit the property here.

As The Ultimate Travelling Camp (TUTC) reopens its three Ladakh camps for the 2026 season, the operation offers a useful reminder that successful outdoor lodging is often as much about logistics and community relationships as guest experience. Operating between 11,500 and 14,500 feet above sea level, Chamba Camp Thiksey, Chamba Camp Diskit and Chamba Camp Pangong are rebuilt and prepared each season in one of India's most demanding tourism environments. The model relies heavily on local employment, regional sourcing and careful management of temporary infrastructure in fragile mountain landscapes. For operators considering remote or seasonal projects, Ladakh provides a practical example of how long-term planning and local partnerships can support both commercial viability and destination stewardship. Season: 1 May – 10 October. More: https://tutc.com/

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At Basecamp Bali, a new community-led project asks a question: can outdoor hospitality become a platform for regeneration rather than simply accommodation? The property's Flip-Flop Whale installation will stand five metres high and be constructed entirely from discarded flip-flops collected from rivers, beaches and villages across Bali. The sculpture will form part of Art in the Rice Fields, a broader initiative combining art, community participation, environmental education and tourism. Local residents, schools, businesses and visitors are being invited to contribute. The collection process itself will become part of a documentary following the transformation of discarded waste into public art. Project: Flip-Flop Whale. Location: Manuaba, Bali. Theme: From Waste to Wonder. Basecamp Bali opens in 2027.