With Asia as our home, we’ve seen firsthand how locally-based organizations have worked brilliantly to address growing social and environmental concerns, often with little recognition for their efforts.
The goal of these Sustainability Awards is to change that by identifying, supporting and promoting exemplary projects that seek to innovate sustainability by providing scalable solutions to challenges we face in the region and around the globe.
Who Can Participate?
We invite two key sectors to join us on this journey:
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non-profits, NGOs, associations, cooperatives, and social enterprises
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tourism private companies such as excursion suppliers, accommodation providers, and transport companies.
Interested in applying? Read to the bottom to learn about eligibility requirements, awards and to submit your application.
By recognizing, promoting and supporting their efforts, we hope to foster collaboration that will help drive sustainable practices across the tourism industry in two key areas:
Planet & People
For tourism to achieve its highest potential of being a legitimate force for good, it must address a complex myriad of concerns ranging from waste management and water protection to wildlife trafficking and cultural preservation.
Because all of these concerns are equally vital to protecting and uplifting destinations, we’ve identified three categories under ‘People’ and ‘Planet’ respectively for which organizations can submit their candidacy.
PLANET
Initiatives that focus on environmental sustainability, conservation, and climate action.
- Carbon footprint reduction
- Mitigation and risk reduction
- Waste reduction
- Circular economy innovation
- Ecosystem restoration
- Biodiversity conservation
PEOPLE
Projects that drive social impact, empower communities, and promote inclusivity.
- Local empowerment and sourcing
- Community Development
- Engagement
- Preservation of cultural heritage sites
- Promotion of living cultural heritage
- Responsible tourism practices
Why participate?
At EXO Foundation, we believe that any project, whether small or big can generate a significant impact on sustainable development.
We will leverage our wide network in Asia, to reach out to more than hundreds of organizations and over 5,000 private tourism sector actors.
We believe that any project, big or small, has the potential to have a lasting positive impact on destinations. The following incentives are designed to support these efforts.
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Win amazing prizes to support your work !
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Gain visibility for your innovative work.
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Be part of a network of change-makers across Asia.
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Access opportunities for scaling your impact.
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Celebrate your achievements at the 2025 Awards Ceremony! 🎉
We are reaching out to you, because we are convinced that your organization will help us to drive success and sustainable tourism initiatives in our region.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that the following prizes:
$36,000 in Financial Support
Diamond winner for Planet – $7,000
Diamond winner for People – $7,000
Gold winner for Planet – $5,000
Gold winner for People – $5,000
Silver winner for Planet – $3,000
Silver winner for People – $3,000
Bronze winner for Planet – $2,000
Bronze winner for People – $2,000
In addition, all not-for-profit winners will receive a GT-sponsored post worth USD 333, generously provided by The “Good Tourism” Blog, just as in 2024.
People’s Choice Awards
$1,000 each for the most popular Planet and People projects, awarded to the projects with the highest public votes, open to both companies and NGOs.
$23,500 in Advertising & More
- Expand your projects in the minds of tourism professionals across the world by advertising your business and your sustainability to blue-chip travel agencies and tour operators across the world via EXO communications, publications and social media. (value equal to $18,000).
- Diamond winners will be awarded
- half page marketing in the Explorer Magazine (value equal to $3,200)
- Carbon Literacy course, a globally recognized workshop designed to educate and inspire companies to take meaningful action on carbon emissions.
- Two Plastic Fresco workshops (for up to 16 participants), an interactive experience that explores the full life cycle of plastics and encourages practical solutions to reduce environmental impact.
- Gold winners will be awarded Two Plastic Fresco workshops (for up to 16 participants)
- For Silver and Bronze winners, each winner will be awarded a GSTC training course equipping them with essential knowledge on sustainable tourism practices aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria.
And much more …!
How to participate?
To participate in the EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards, please take note of the following conditions:
- Geographic area: Only projects located in the following countries are eligible for the Sustainability Awards: Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea.
- The project/organization must have a clear overall commitment to positively impact local communities, economies, cultures, and environments.
- Interested applicants must submit their applications by June.
- In addition to the questionnaire, participants will also be asked to submit necessary documentation and high quality pictures pitching their projects.
If you would like to participate, please fill out the appropriate questionnaire for your category and send us necessary documents before June 15th.
Together, let’s transform tourism into a force for good and create a sustainable future for Asia! Please register below:
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at this email address :
[email protected]
Agenda
- Closing of applications for award nominations is June 15, 2025.
- In June, the judging panel will select the projects that will move forward as finalists.
- The public voting period will take place in July & August.
- The sustainability Awards Ceremony will be held on the end of September , where the winners will be announced and celebrated.
Judging Panel
Koko is a sustainable tourism and ESG specialist with a strong background in eco-conscious travel solutions. As Co-founder and CEO of Vinetree, she pioneered luxury wild tent camps in China. She serves as an ExCo member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and has advised the Shanghai Chongming Government on tourism. In 2022, she founded Colorful Earth to drive conservation and ESG initiatives, co-leading the Pollinator Protectors Alliance and supporting ESG standard-setting in China. She has authored sustainability toolkits, judged the British Chamber ESG China Awards, and spoken at global forums, including TEDx.
Dr. Willy Legrand is a Professor at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, specializing in sustainable management. Over two decades, he has developed courses on sustainable business, tourism, and hospitality across multiple regions. He is the lead author of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry (4th ed., 2023) and Critical Questions in Sustainability and Hospitality (2023). Prof. Legrand chairs the Hospitality Net World Panel on Sustainability, engaging experts to integrate sustainability into business. He serves on multiple boards, co-edits the Journal of Global Responsibility, and is co-editing handbooks on ESG and regenerative tourism.
Daniel Quintana has spent a decade advancing sustainable and community-based tourism across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Before joining UnTours Foundation, he co-founded I Like Local, a UNWTO-recognized platform connecting travelers with locally-run experiences. In 2021, he was named a Next Generation Leader by the World Tourism Forum Lucerne. As Director of Marketing at UnTours Foundation, he leads marketing, partnerships, and engagement for the Reset Tourism Fund, which has invested in 40+ small tourism businesses. The fund collaborates with EXO Foundation, Expedia, TUI Care Foundation, Agoda, Skyscanner, and MaCher to drive impact investment in tourism.
For over a decade, Matteo has focused on advancing sustainable tourism in Asia and the Pacific. He co-founded Wise Steps Group, comprising Wise Steps Travel (now Sejiva), a responsible tour operator; Wise Steps Consulting, a sustainability advisor; and Wise Steps Foundation, empowering rural youth. As an accredited consultant and trainer, he works across the tourism value chain with initiatives like the PLEDGE on Food Waste, ACES, and coastal tourism. Recently, he and colleagues initiated the creation of a sustainable tourism association in Indonesia to strengthen responsible tourism efforts.
Charlie Cotton, founder of ecollective, helps companies measure and reduce their carbon footprint. He launched ecollective to provide businesses with the data, strategies, and guidance needed to take measurable steps toward net zero. A self-confessed carbon geek, he specializes in working with travel companies, identifying the smartest ways to cut emissions while maintaining business efficiency. His approach empowers organizations to take meaningful, quantifiable action on the climate crisis, ensuring sustainability becomes an integral part of their operations rather than just an aspiration.
Lydia Tiasiri is an award-winning interior architect and sustainability expert, leading Green Path Consulting and Fenn Designers Studio. With degrees from Florence and New York, she holds certifications including NCIDQ, LEED, WELL, WITT, and Green Globe. She specializes in ESG consultancy and sustainable design for hospitality and commercial spaces, guiding clients toward eco-friendly practices and global certifications. As a hospitality consultant, she helps hotels implement sustainability systems, reducing environmental impact through industry-leading certifications. Her expertise spans conceptual design, technical construction, and public relations, ensuring responsible and high-quality built environments worldwide.
Dr. Mihee Kang is the Chief Assurance Officer at GSTC, a trainer, and a destination assessor. Since earning her Ph.D. in Ecotourism from Seoul National University in 1999, she has taught and researched sustainable tourism at various universities. As South Korea’s first Ph.D. in ecotourism and a UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Award recipient, she has spent over 30 years shaping sustainable tourism policy. Her expertise includes tourism standards, certification, and sustainability assessments for destinations in South Korea and beyond, contributing to the global advancement of responsible tourism practices.
