UK: Travalyst, the not-for-profit organisation founded by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, has brought together travel and technology brands in France this week to discuss sustainable and regenerative tourism.
Part of its annual meeting in the south of France included a virtual roundtable discussion focused on communities, in which Travalyst’s founder took part, speaking with some of the people and places impacted by travel and tourism.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, said: “Communities are the beating heart of travel, and we must do better by the people who are the custodians of the places we visit. We’ve heard from some fantastic organisations like Invisible Cities who train people affected by homelessness to be tour guides in their own city, and Global Himalayan Expedition, whose programmes have helped electrify over 200 Himalayan villages impacting over 60,000 lives for the better.
“More and more people are wanting to make informed travel choices so that the benefit of travel is felt by all. Travalyst and its partners bring a combined market value of nearly $3 trillion, and are working hard to provide that resource at a systems level.”
Travalyst, which is a member of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is working with its partners to help people make more informed travel choices when it comes to sustainability. Its work has focussed on both accommodation and air travel and includes:
- Working to bring sustainability information about accommodation providers to scale for the first time. This information goes beyond emissions and aims to encompass the full spectrum of sustainability.
- Vetting sustainability certifications for accommodation providers. Travalyst is screening them against criteria, approved by its Independent Advisory Group, and aims to have a master list of certifications soon (see our news piece below)
Travalyst to review sustainability certifications on partner platforms
- Travalyst has scaled emissions estimates through its coalition so people booking flights have access to consistent information, enabling them to make lower emitting travel choices.
Travalyst used its annual convening to also announce changes to its Independent Advisory Group (IAG) following the departure of chair, Diana Walker who has taken a role as senior advisor climate in the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate within the Biden Administration.
Travalyst’s IAG, which oversees the work delivered by the coalition, will now be chaired by Dr Anna Spenceley, who has served on the IAG since Travalyst’s inception, and is renowned for her expertise in sustainable tourism.
Award-winner for her groundbreaking research in the tourism industry, professor Sara Dolnicar also joins the group, and Sarah Holloway will step into the newly created role of IAG vice chair.
Travalyst has assembled a coalition of some of the biggest brands in travel and technology, including Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and Visa.
Image of Travalyst annual convening, supplied