ADB Ventures, in partnership with The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Plug and Play, today announced the launch of Travel Lab Asia (TLA), Asia’s only corporate innovation programme focused on sustainability in travel.
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan, September 20, 2019 – Travel Lab Asia is a platform for triple-bottom-line innovation in Asia’s travel industry. In its first year, it will focus on helping corporate partners source and integrate CleanTech solutions for improved business performance and environmental impact. Participating corporates will have unrivalled access to sustainability-focused technology solutions from around the world. They will receive support to articulate their sustainability-related technology needs and to develop pilot proposals with solution providers. Furthermore, they will have access to ADB’s research and counsel on environmental and social impact measurement, enabling them to tell clear and credible brand stories as regional leaders in sustainability.
CleanTech includes technology for energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and circular economy, food waste management, reduced water use and loss, waste and effluent management, water collection and distribution, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The ADB Factor
Uniquely, Travel Lab Asia includes the potential for the Asian Development Bank to fund and thereby de-risk and expedite the pilot testing of high-potential solutions in emerging markets. The Asian Development Bank will also mobilize support for CleanTech solution providers to scale up in Asia-Pacific emerging markets following successful pilots.
“Booming tourism growth has triggered a hotel, venue, and infrastructure building spree across the Asia Pacific. We have a one-shot opportunity to steer tourism facilities down a sustainable path, which we intend to seize by helping corporate partners align their bottom-line interests with sustainable development goals,” said Jason Lusk of ADB Ventures.
Corporates on Board
As many as three additional corporate partners will be considered for the program, which begins January 1, 2020. At this point, Minor Hotela, Jetwing Hotels, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts have already enrolled as charter Travel Lab Asia corporate partners.
Hiran Cooray Chairman, Jetwing Symphony PLC, said, “Jetwing is committed to sustainability and pushing the limits of what we can achieve. We are excited by this opportunity to access innovative clean technology that will help us reach the SDGs, especially with our long-standing membership with PATA.”
“Minor Hotels has always believed in giving back to society and has carried out numerous social responsible projects and activities since our first hotel opened back in 1978,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and COO of Minor International.
For more information about Travel Lab Asia, please visit https://travel-lab.asia