Highlights

• Travalyst announces first 49 sustainable accommodations.
• Booking platforms to display certifications consistently.
• Founded by Prince Harry, Travalyst is making sustainability information more accessible to travellers.

Travalyst has released its first 49 certifications for accommodations that meet the criteria. This is the start of Travalyst’s work to standardise how certifications are displayed on booking platforms to make the information more reliable and consistent.

Founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Travalyst is a non-profit global coalition of travel and tech companies. They aim to provide clear sustainability information to help travellers make informed decisions.

According to research by Booking.com, a Travalyst partner, 45% of travellers find accommodations with sustainability labels more attractive. But, travellers want uniformity; 67% think all travel booking sites should use the same certifications and labels.

Travalyst is addressing this by setting criteria for certification bodies. These criteria provide a baseline to ensure certifications keep up with evolving regulatory standards and reflect the commitment to sustainability in the accommodation sector.

The certifications meet three core criteria validated by Travalyst’s Independent Advisory Group:

• Third-Party Audit: On-site or remote assessment of reported sustainable practices.
• Public Standards: Certification criteria must be publicly available.
• Sustainability Impact: Evaluates social, economic and environmental factors aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, says, “There are a huge number of certification bodies globally that focus on sustainability within the accommodation sector. We hear time and time again that this can be overwhelming and confusing, not only for people wanting to book a more sustainable stay but also for accommodation providers and booking platforms. We’re working to make things simpler and easier to navigate.”

Travalyst will accept further applications for certification as part of an ongoing process. Davey says, “This list is the first milestone in a long-term commitment to enhancing the integrity of sustainability information for consumers and the industry at large, and we will continue to work with stakeholders to closely monitor the fast-evolving legislative landscape, and adapt our approach to certifications accordingly.”

Travalyst’s initiative is open and free for all global sustainability certifications in the accommodation sector. The list of certified certifications is available to Travalyst’s partners and the industry.

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Source: Travalyst