Prince Harry's travel company, Travalyst, has been shortlisted for another award, it has been announced. The Duke of Sussex founded the not-for-profit organisation in 2019 to make tourism more environmentally friendly.
It was confirmed on Monday that Travalyst has been nominated at the Skift IDEA Awards 2026 in the Travel Technology and Sustainability Tech category. In a statement following the news, the company said: “We're excited to announce that we've been shortlisted as a finalist in the Skift IDEA Awards 2026! Over 490 entries were submitted from around the world this year.”
Criticism over private jet use
Prince Harry's involvement in Travalyst has often been the subject of criticism, with both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex being accused of being “hypocrites” over their frequent use of private jets. The Daily Mail claimed that in the same year the company was launched, the couple made four such trips in just 11 days.
Harry said at the time, during a speech in Amsterdam following criticism, that there are occasions he needs to keep his family safe. The Duke said: “I spend 99% of my life travelling the world by commercial. Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe.”
He admitted that “no one is perfect” and said “we can all do better” when it comes to tackling environmental issues.
New director's past comments
Harry's words were questioned after the appointment of Travalyst's new director, Graham Miller, last month. Mr Miller has previously criticised frequent flyers and compared them to people who drive under the influence of alcohol, according to the Daily Mail. He said in 2020, when he was a lecturer at the University of Surrey: “There was a time when mentioning on a Monday that you'd just flown back from Milan or New York made you sound sophisticated. Now it's like boasting that you drank five pints and drove home.”
Aside from Mr Miller, the Travalyst board also welcomed three other new members, Eva Barboni, Liz Ortiguera and R. Todd Ruppert. It also bid farewell to Clea Kaske-Kuck and Dr Sally Uren.
Surprise appearance in Canada
The new award comes just days after Harry and Meghan made a surprise appearance in Canada to attend the David Foster Foundation 40th Anniversary Celebration in Victoria, British Columbia.
