The Long Run

What The Long Run does

The Long Run is a London-based non-profit membership organization founded in 2009 that supports a global community of sustainable tourism operators — primarily eco-lodges, tour operators, and wildlife conservation areas — at the intersection of nature conservation and tourism. Its core product is the proprietary Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) Standard, a certification framework built around the 4C methodology (Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce); Version 3.0, released in 2024 after a global public consultation, expanded the standard from 89 to 125 criteria and benchmarks it against UN SDGs, IUCN Green List, B Corp, and the Global Biodiversity Framework. The organization supplements certification with structured peer collaboration through Regional Hub Meetings (East Africa, Asia Pacific), a monthly Field Notes newsletter, and a library of reports and training resources.

The Long Run is financed primarily through recurring membership dues (pricing is not publicly disclosed) and voluntary contributions from its member ecosystem. Members collectively report $17.3 million invested annually in conservation, community, and culture projects, protecting 23 million acres of biodiverse landscapes and marine areas, supporting 350,000+ people through education, infrastructure, and employment, and celebrating 116 cultures via heritage funding. Operating with a lean team of 18 employees, The Long Run extends its reach through strategic partnerships with conservation NGOs (Wildlife Alliance, Conservation International, Panthera, Projeto Onçafari) and hospitality groups (Minor Hotels, YAANA Ventures) that anchor flagship initiatives such as the Cardamom Tented Camp and a 138,500-hectare Marine Protected Area around Cempedak Private Island.

Name

The Long Run

Legal name

The Long Run

Website

https://thelongrun.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Long Run is a London-based non-profit membership organization that certifies and convenes a global community of sustainable tourism operators (eco-lodges, tour operators, conservation areas) through its proprietary GER Standard and 4C framework (Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Tourism Certification

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable tourism certification
• Conservation membership network
• Eco-lodge community
• Nature-based tourism standards
• Regenerative tourism framework

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Long Run operates as a membership organization with fees from eco-lodges, tour operators, conservation areas, and travel businesses that join the community and seek GER certification.
2. The Long Run collects member dues and voluntary contributions: Members collectively invest $17.3 million annually in conservation, community, and culture projects as reported on their website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Long Run is a non-profit membership organization that unites sustainable tourism businesses, eco-lodges, wildlife conservation areas, and tour operators under a proprietary 4C framework (Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce). It certifies members through the Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) Standard Version 3.0, a 125-criteria assessment framework benchmarked against UN SDGs, IUCN Green List, and B Corp standards. The organization operates a global community with regional hub meetings, training resources, and peer collaboration.

Product overview

The Long Run is a membership organization operating a platform-plus-framework model centered on its Global Ecosphere Retreat® (GER) Standard certification. The core offering is the GER Standard—a comprehensive 4C framework (Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce) with 125 criteria that member eco-lodges, tour operators, and conservation properties adhere to. Supporting this are Regional Hub Meetings for peer collaboration, a Stories & Reports resource hub, and Resources & Training materials. The membership community includes eco-lodges, travel businesses, and conservation areas that collectively protect biodiverse landscapes, support local communities, and promote sustainable tourism worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) Standard: The organization's industry-leading certification standard for sustainable tourism, emphasizing the balance of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce.

Products and services

• Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) Standard The Long Run's industry-leading certification framework emphasizing a balance of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce (4Cs), which underpins sustainable tourism operations. Version 3.0 contains 125 criteria across five sections and is benchmarked against SDG, IUCN Green List, IUCN Nature-Based Solutions Standards, Global Biodiversity Framework, B Corp, and ESG frameworks.
• Membership Community A global community of tourism industry change-makers including eco-lodges, tour operators, wildlife conservation areas, and experiences committed to the 4C framework and accelerating positive impact. Membership is offered globally with annual dues supporting the organization's operations and collective conservation efforts.
• Regional Hub Meetings Collaborative gatherings bringing together members to work through operational challenges, share experiences, and exchange insights across regions (East Africa, Asia Pacific, etc.). Available as part of the membership offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 million acres of biodiverse landscapes and marine areas protected and regenerated annually by members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wildlife AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife Alliance provides forest protection, rangers, and community programs for Cardamom Tented Camp partnership. This three-way partnership (Wildlife Alliance + YAANA Ventures + Minor Hotels) funds rangers who protect Botum Sakor National Park from poaching and logging.
• YAANA VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYAANA Ventures provides tourism expertise for the Cardamom Tented Camp partnership, combining conservation with hospitality experience.
• Minor HotelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinor Hotels provides financial backing to build for impact at Cardamom Tented Camp rather than quick returns, supporting long-term conservation goals.
• Dekeyser & Friends FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nay Palad Hideaway for community outreach focused on sustainability-driven projects including the Compostela Village Project in Cebu, Philippines.
• Conservation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Cempedak Private Island to establish a 138,500-hectare Marine Protected Area in the Riau Islands.
• Projeto OnçafariminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pousada Trijunção for Maned wolf conservation project in Brazil's Cerrado biome.
• PantheraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingita Sabi Sand supports leopard researchers, helping reconstruct over 850 leopard life histories and collect 90,000 research data points.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EarthCheck: EarthCheck is a science-based certification and benchmarking program specifically for the travel and tourism industry. It directly competes with The Long Run for eco-lodge and hotel sustainability certifications across hospitality operators worldwide.
• The International Ecotourism Society (TIES): TIES is a non-profit membership organization promoting ecotourism principles and best practices globally. It serves a comparable member base of nature-based tourism operators and shares The Long Run's advocacy-and-community orientation.
• Travelife: Travelife provides sustainability certification and training for hotels, tour operators, and destinations, with strong penetration in Europe and Asia. It is a direct competitor for tour-operator and accommodation certification spend that could otherwise go to The Long Run.
• Preferred by Nature: Preferred by Nature (formerly NEPCon) offers tourism sustainability certification and capacity-building services globally. It directly competes for nature-based tourism operators seeking certification aligned with conservation outcomes.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): GSTC sets and manages global baseline criteria for sustainable tourism and is the most widely referenced certification framework by governments and booking platforms. It directly competes with The Long Run's GER Standard for adoption by tourism operators seeking credible sustainability credentials.

Broad incumbents

• B Lab (B Corp Certification): B Lab certifies companies across industries against social and environmental performance. The GER Standard is benchmarked against B Corp, and several tourism operators hold both certifications, positioning B Corp as both a complementary framework and a competitor for sustainability mindshare.
• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance certifies sustainable tourism businesses alongside forestry, agriculture, and consumer products. Its broader brand recognition and resources position it as a larger incumbent in the sustainable tourism certification space.

Emerging players

• Green Destinations: Green Destinations certifies sustainable destinations and tourism businesses, with strong adoption among European municipalities and smaller operators. It represents a niche competitor focused on destination-level sustainability certification adjacent to The Long Run's operator-level scope.
• Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA): ATTA is a membership and trade association serving adventure travel operators worldwide. While focused on the adventure segment broadly, it overlaps with The Long Run's tour-operator membership base and offers similar peer-learning and advocacy value.

Others

• Conservation International: Conservation International is a global conservation NGO that partners with tourism operators (including Long Run members like Cempedak) to establish protected areas. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant — both a strategic partner and an alternative voice shaping sustainable-tourism standards and funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-long-run-org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Long Run