Friday, August 30, 2024 Travalyst, the not-for-profit coalition founded by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at standardizing sustainable accommodation certification across the travel industry. The coalition, which includes major travel tech providers and global platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, and Tripadvisor, has introduced a list of 49 sustainable accommodation certification schemes that meet a rigorous set of criteria developed by the organization and its independent advisory group.
Since its inception in 2019, Travalyst has been committed to promoting sustainability within the travel sector. The coalition’s latest initiative is designed to improve the alignment and credibility of sustainability certifications for hotels and other accommodations. The goal is to provide travelers with more reliable and standardized information regarding the sustainability practices of the properties they choose.
The newly introduced criteria for certification include three key components: Third-Party Audit: Each certification must undergo a third-party audit, which includes an on-site or remote online assessment of the sustainable practices reported by the property. Publicly Available Standards: The standards upon which the certification is based must be publicly accessible, ensuring transparency for consumers and industry stakeholders. Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: The certification must evaluate the impact of social, economic, or environmental factors in line with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Travalyst emphasized that these criteria are designed to create an initial threshold that supports the certification industry in meeting evolving regulatory requirements. The list of compliant certification schemes includes recognized names such as the EU Ecolabel, Earthcheck, Green Key Global, the Green Leaf Foundation, Fair Trade Tourism, and the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC’s) Hotel Sustainability Basics. Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “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.
We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to monitor the fast-evolving legislative landscape and adapt our approach to certifications accordingly.” Travalyst’s initiative is a significant step toward ensuring that sustainable tourism practices are consistently and transparently certified across the industry. By setting clear criteria and promoting alignment among certification bodies, Travalyst aims to foster greater consumer trust and support the global travel industry’s transition to more sustainable operations.
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