CEO of Prince Harry's Initiative Travalyst Says He 'Restored' Her 'Hope' in Fighting Climate Change (Exclusive)

The Duke of Sussex hosted an event celebrating Travalyst's five year anniversary in New York City on Sept, 24

When Prince Harry and Sally Davey first teamed up five years ago to launch the environmental tourism initiative Travalyst, many considered their goals ambitious. Now, as they celebrate the organization’s fifth anniversary, Davey reflects on her gratitude for working with the Duke of Sussex, 40.

“When I first met Harry, I felt frustrated and disillusioned about travel sustainability,” Davey, who is the company's CEO, tells PEOPLE exclusively at an event celebrating Travalyst's five year anniversary in New York City on Tuesday, Sept, 24. “The issues seemed overwhelming. But from day one, he restored my hope.”

She adds, “I realized how remarkable he is and how committed he is to making a difference. He never imposed his own vision; instead, he said, ‘Tell me what needs to happen, and I’ll help facilitate that.’ It wasn’t about his campaigns, but about collaborating for systemic change. His approach has made all the difference, and it’s been an absolute joy to work with him.”

Related: Prince Harry's Initiative Travalyst Celebrates Its Five Year Anniversary in N.Y.C.: 'Massive Force for Good'

Reflecting on their first in-person meeting at Kensington Palace, Davey recalls entering the conversation with no expectations. To her surprise, they spent hours discussing detailed statistics on sustainability. “I thought, 'Oh my God, this guy really knows his stuff. I’m going to have to up my game,' ” she says.

“I left feeling, 'Wow, there’s something here.' There were so many memorable moments, especially when we brought partners together in The Hague and at the Invictus Games [in 2022]. Those were truly special times.”

Davey emphasizes that Harry brings a sense of joy to their work that she deeply appreciates, especially since this work can become serious. “He keeps the big vision in mind while also having fun along the way. He thinks in a systemic, long-term way, always bringing everyone back to that big vision while infusing humor into our efforts,” she says.

“His transparency and honesty about his motivations are truly refreshing,” she adds. “We’ve had crises with partners, and I often pick up the phone to talk to him. He’s always interested in how the partners are collaborating, what metrics we’re tracking, and how we can do more, faster. We have a very open-door policy.”

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During their conversation, Davey notes that just 10 weeks ago, this anniversary event seemed improbable. Yet, with the timing of N.Y,C, Climate Week and the Duke's 40th birthday, they were determined to make it work. Just before the event, they shared a moment of realization: “Wow, we did this.”

“People said we’d never pull it off — finding a venue, gathering attendees. Yet here we are, proving them wrong," Davey says. "It’s been such an auspicious occasion.”

At the event, Davey also had a special surprise to thank Harry for all his support and to celebrate his birthday.

“We gave him a beautiful gift from a local artist in the UK, and he doesn’t know it yet," she says. "He’ll open it when he gets back home [from being] with us.”

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