Travalyst aims to 'align industry' with new approved assessors list

Travalyst is a not-for-profit coalition that “aims to bring sustainability information to the mainstream to help people make more informed travel choices”.

The organisation reviewed 59 assessors worldwide and approved all but 10. Among those joining the approved list are the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Sustainability Basics programme, China Hospitality Association, Green Business UK and Fair Trade Tourism.

Travalyst said: “By asking certification bodies to meet a set of criteria, Travalyst aims to enable industry alignment behind accommodation sustainability certifications. They represent the first step in a broader, ongoing effort to improve the sustainability governance of certifications for the accommodation sector.”

Approved organisations must offer a third-party audit that includes on-site and/or remote online assessment of sustainable practices reported by the property.

They must also operate to publicly available standards and evaluate the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Sally Davey, Travalyst chief executive, said: “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.”