Agoda expands Eco Deals program
Digital travel platform Agoda announced the launch of its fourth Eco Deals program at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Malaysia, expanding its ongoing partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). In line with the forum’s theme, “Unity In Motion: Shaping ASEAN’s Tourism Tomorrow,” this initiative supports the protection of wildlife and the conservation of critical habitats in Asia.
Agoda has set a donation target of USD1.5-million, surpassing the previous year’s goal of USD1-million in 2024. This year, the program is being expanded to include Japan and Korea, covering 10 markets in total. Similar to previous editions, Agoda will donate USD1 towards WWF`s conservation efforts for every program booking made at a participating hotel.
The Eco Deals initiative will fund a wide array of conservation activities, including restoring wetlands in Japan, protecting spoonbills in Korea, and ongoing projects such as advancing tiger conservation in Malaysia, protecting whale sharks in the Philippines, conserving elephants in Thailand, safeguarding saolas in Viet Nam, restoring ecosystems in Indonesia, developing urban wetlands in Laos PDR, and supporting rangers in Cambodia. The Eco Deals program will be open to consumers for bookings from January 20, 2025, to December 19, 2025.
As part of the Eco Deals framework for 2025, Agoda is also introducing the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund in collaboration with WWF-Singapore and UnTours Foundation. The fund provides affordable and flexible investment capital to support change-making businesses addressing sustainability challenges in the tourism sector. Agoda is designating USD100,000 to the fund, with the potential to increase to USD150,000 upon reaching the USD1.5-million donation target.
Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, said, “With Eco Deals 2025, we are committed to doing even more to support efforts to protect Asia’s remarkable destinations and wildlife. In partnership with WWF, our goal is to ensure that future generations can explore the world affordably while preserving its natural beauty. The Eco Deals Program has been an important initiative for our hotel partners since its inception in 2022, offering them an accessible way to support wildlife protection and habitat conservation projects. Building on past successes, we are scaling up this year. This expansion creates enhanced opportunities for hotels to participate in this meaningful effort. Additionally, the launch of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund will provide crucial support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), empowering them to adopt sustainable practices and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry’s future.”
Through the Eco Deals program, hotel partners can offer customers discounted rates of up to 15%. In exchange, these participating partners receive the Eco Deals badge and are featured prominently across various Agoda platforms, including social media, banner promotions, customer emails, and in-app notifications, enhancing their visibility. Additionally, customers can easily find Eco Deals through Agoda’s dedicated landing pages, designed for seamless browsing on desktop and mobile devices.
The Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund is designed to provide investment capital to MSMEs in the tourism sector across several Southeast Asian markets, fostering innovation and advancing conservation to help shape the future of travel in a more sustainable way.
Under the fund scheme, eligible MSMEs seeking funding to enhance their sustainability efforts in the travel sector can apply for low-interest loans ranging from USD10,000 to USD 5,000. The fund is managed by UnTours Foundation, ensuring effective application and screening processes, while Agoda contributes financing, investment decisions, and mentorship, with WWF-Singapore assisting in environmental guidance and due diligence. Interested businesses can submit their applications via the fund’s official webpage at https://untoursfoundation.org/sustainable-tourism-impact-fund.
With its global network encompassing diverse accommodations, and experiences, Agoda furthers its dedication to a more sustainable future for travel. Collaborations with organizations like WWF and UnTours Foundation bolster Agoda’s efforts, ensuring a positive ecological and socio-economic impact can be made through every journey.