Prince Harry’s Travalyst launches initiative to help holidaymakers choose more sustainable travel

Prince Harry Travalyst
By Linsey McNeill
25/09/2024
Home » Prince Harry’s Travalyst launches initiative to help holidaymakers choose more sustainable travel

An organisation founded by Prince Harry is planning to centralise the collection and distribution of sustainability data for key aspects of travel and tourism, which it says will help holidaymakers make ‘informed’ decisions about how and where they travel.

Travel and tourism is responsible for about 11% of global green house gas emissions, and Travalyst, a not-for-profit organisation, said its mission is to bring sustainability information to the mainstream to help people make more informed travel choices.

Speaking during Climate Week NYC on Travalyst’s fifth anniversary, Prince Harry said: “I’ve seen firsthand how travel and tourism can be a double-edged sword, both a force that has the potential to do tremendous good, or if mismanaged, inflict significant harm. These experiences, as well as years of conversation and debate around campfires with experts that I’m proud to call friends, have shaped my understanding of the critical bond between people, wildlife, and the environment we share.

“By 2030, we’re expecting 1.8 billion international arrivals each year; nearly double the numbers we saw just two decades ago. That kind of growth can only be sustainable if we prioritise not just profit, but people and places too.”

Since its launch in 2019, Travalyst has brought together a global coalition of brands including Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.comGroup, Tripadvisor and Visa. 

Earlier this month, Travalyst announced it has scaled emissions estimates for flights across billions of searches on the major booking platforms and it now aims to build on this success for the accommodation sector.

CEO Sally Davey said: “Today, there is no single source of truth for sustainability data for the tourism industry. The information that does exist is fragmented, incomplete and often behind paywalls. 

“This can leave the industry feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, and travellers confused and disengaged. We want to help change that. 

“Travalyst is working to align the industry behind the same sustainability data for accommodation providers, and then scale this information so that travellers see the full picture of where they are staying, beyond price and reviews. We aim to do this in a way that democratises access to information and ensures vital sustainability data is available to everyone.”

Travalyst also revealed it has acquired the Weeva platform, an organisation ‘that shares the same vision as Travalyst for democratising access to sustainability information in travel’. 

“Initially a vision of the Oppenheimer family, which is well known for its investments in conservation and sustainable travel, the Weeva team built a highly regarded platform that Travalyst is acquiring and aiming to integrate into its next phase of work,” it said.

Prince Harry added: “Together, Travalyst and its partners represent a combined market value of nearly $3 trillion.

“This is a massive force for good, and we’re committed to using it to ensure that travel not only sustains communities but helps them thrive.”

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