Prince Harry dealt 'huge blow' as 'crucial' Travalyst staff member steps down
The Duke of Sussex founded the non-profit in 2019Prince Harry has reportedly faced a “huge blow” as a staff member at his company, Travalyst, has stepped down.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, founded the sustainable tourism initiative back in 2019. At this time, he and his wife, Meghan Markle, were still working royals.
It began as a collaboration between five companies – Booking.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, and Visa – on a mission to “drive positive change across the entire travel ecosystem”.
Travalyst chief executive steps down
In a statement published on the non-profit’s website recently, chief executive Sally Davey announced that she will leave her post at the end of the year. She has been at the helm for five years.
The news reportedly comes just months after Travalyst also lost their chairman. Last summer, Harry’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, also reportedly left, after just three months in the job.
‘Huge blow’ for Prince Harry
A source reportedly told the Daily Mail that CEO Sally’s Davey departure was a “huge blow to Travalyst”, as she had been “crucial to its development”.
This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly.
On Travalyst’s website, Prince Harry and Sally Davey are named as the only two leaders of the company.
“I am sharing today that I will be stepping down as CEO of Travalyst at the end of this year,” Sally’s statement reads. “This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly. After months of deep reflection, I’ve reached a point in my journey where I know I need to give more time back to my family, and to myself.”
She went on to address Prince Harry directly, saying: “Thank you for your vision, belief, and encouragement. From the start you challenged us to reimagine what travel could be, restoring a sense of purpose when our industry needed it most. I will always be grateful for your support, including as my confidant and guide during this personal decision to step back.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built together. And while I’ll be stepping down as CEO, I remain as committed as ever to Travalyst’s mission and will continue to support the transition and the months ahead with care and energy.”
What does Travalyst do?
At Travalyst’s launch, Harry claimed that he had been originally inspired by a young boy he had met while on a working trip to the Caribbean. The seven-year-old had apparently told him: “Because of your country, my country’s coral reef is dying.”
Partnering with leading travel and technology companies, Travalyst works to promote sustainable travel. According to its website, the company “mobilises the travel industry to distribute trusted sustainability information at scale”.
They are involved with making sure businesses and policymakers can obtain accurate emissions data and ensuring that sustainability data is displayed on booking platforms. This way, travellers can make informed choices.
However, Prince Harry has come under criticism for acting as the face of the project. He was accused of “hypocrisy” at the time of Travalyst’s launch, due to his alleged use of private jets. In response to this backlash, Harry said that “we can all do better” and “no one is perfect”.
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