Travalyst, a not-for-profit organization spearheaded by Prince Harry, has made significant strides in promoting sustainability within the travel industry. The recent announcement of 49 compliant accommodation certifications marks a key milestone in Travalyst’s mission to enhance credibility and consistency in sustainability practices across travel booking platforms.
Since its inception in 2019, Travalyst has been dedicated to educating consumers about sustainable travel options. By partnering with major players such as Booking.com, Google, Sabre, and Mastercard, Travalyst aims to mainstream sustainability information and empower travelers to make informed choices.
Travalyst has established three essential criteria for evaluating the compliance of accommodation certifications. These include the use of publicly available standards, third-party audits, and a commitment to transparent sustainability practices. By setting clear benchmarks, Travalyst ensures that certifications meet rigorous standards for credibility and trustworthiness.
Booking.com’s decision to discontinue its „Travel Sustainable“ badge in favor of prioritizing third-party certification schemes demonstrates a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the industry. According to Danielle D’Silva, Booking.com’s head of sustainability, the goal is to make sustainable options more accessible and easy to understand for consumers.
Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, acknowledges the challenges faced by both travelers and accommodation providers in navigating the complex landscape of sustainability certifications. By simplifying the process and promoting clarity, Travalyst aims to create a more user-friendly experience that encourages widespread adoption of sustainable practices.
Travalyst’s certification initiative is open to all accommodation certification providers, offering a platform for organizations like Sustonica, WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics, and Green Globe Certification to showcase their compliance. By participating in Travalyst’s program, certification bodies can gain exposure and credibility within the industry.
As Travalyst continues to expand its efforts, the introduction of the Travel Impact Mode in 2022 represents a proactive approach to addressing flight emissions. By standardizing the collection and display of carbon emissions data, Travalyst is paving the way for more sustainable travel practices and greater environmental consciousness in the industry.
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