We empower communities and organizations worldwide to tackle pressing ecological, social, and cultural challenges by offering mentorship, promoting, and provide strategic assitance to projects that drive enduring change.

Projects - Community Cohort 2025

  • Spiti Ecosphere


    Ecosphere promotes sustainable mountain travel in the Himalayas. It offers programs that connect mindful travelers with Spiti's natural and cultural heritage while supporting local communities.

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  • Catskill Mountain Maker Camp


    The Catskill Mountain Maker Camp’s yearly gathering are transformative for a growing community of makers, artisans and enthusiasts — nurturing creativity, encouraging hands-on learning, and supporting local craftsmanship.

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  • Rwenzori Trails


    The Rwenzori Community Ecotourism Trail creates a sustainable tourism corridor. The trail aims to empower local communities, enhance livelihoods, and promote environmental and cultural preservation.

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Our goals by 2028

Ecological:

30%

reduction in carbon emissions across all community-led initiatives by 2028, through the adoption of sustainable practices and renewable energy sources, contributing to climate action and environmental stewardship.

Social:

10%

increase in the Community Well-Being and Happiness Index, reflecting improved mental health and social connectivity within our communities through targeted programs and initiatives.

Cultural:

8

projects focused on preserving local cultural heritage, involving community members in the process to ensure that local histories are shared and celebrated, aiming to increase public engagement with cultural heritage.

What is our impact?

  • We provide direct mentorship to community leaders, using decades of industry experience to help communities develop, manage, and scale their sustainable tourism initiatives for long-term success.

  • Visibility is critical for growth. Our awareness initiatives—including media partnerships, PR campaigns, and an Ad Grant program—help community projects gain global recognition, attracting visitors, investors, and local supporters.

  • We promote travel and volunteer opportunities to support community projects, encouraging hands-on collaboration and direct involvement. This fosters meaningful cultural exchange and creates a tangible, lasting impact on community-led hospitality efforts.

Partners & Accreditation

Through strategic collaborations with NYU, UN Tourism, and global sustainability leaders, the META Foundation ensures that its initiatives align with internationally recognized standards. These partnerships strengthen our ability to drive real impact, refine our methodology, and expand global awareness of sustainable hospitality practices.

NYU New York University

Our collaboration with NYU’s academic and research teams ensures that the Hospitality 3.0 Framework is built on data-driven insights, strategic innovation, and best practices in sustainable tourism development. Through joint research, mentorship programs, and curriculum integration, we continuously refine our approach to create measurable, lasting change.

UN Tourism

As an advocate for UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities, the META Foundation aligns its projects with UN Tourism’s global sustainability agenda. By participating in policy discussions, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and industry-wide collaborations, we contribute to the development of global standards for responsible tourism while amplifying the voices of community-driven projects worldwide.

Past projects

  • Collective Innovation

    A dynamic think tank at the intersection of design, hospitality, culture, and technology. Our weekly talks, explored collective approaches to groundbreaking projects in urban planning, immersive music, regenerative food systems, and more.

    Partners: Clubhouse, Endless FM, Hommage Hospitality, The Street Society, Broken Social Scene, Iceland Space Agency

  • Virtual Retreat

    A four-week virtual journey of communal and personal growth, reflection, and connection for travel professionals, with a focus on education, learning, and belonging.

    Partners: Design Hotels, Unsettled

    Technologies: Spatial Computing

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  • The Prayer Flag Project

    Production of 1080 unique virtual artifacts designed from original assets by Asha Kama, a leading Bhutanese artist, to support local educational programs, and the cleaning of the mountains in Bhutan.

    Partners: The Rubin Museum of Art, VAST Bhutan, Polygon Studios

    Technologies: Web3, Dynamic Smart Contracts

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  • Virtual Bhutan / Windhorse

    A new virtual Bhutan travel and art experience, unveiled during the closing event of Fast Company Innovation Festival. The new VR experience transported visitors to an artistic interpretation of Bhutan through the eyes of Bhutan's leading contemporary artist, Asha Kama.

    Partners: Fast Company, NeueHouse, Krista Kim, VAST Bhutan

    Technologies: Spatial Computing, Blockchain

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  • Dancing into the Future: The Next 50 Years of Hip Hop

    On the heels of HipHop’s 50th anniversary and the highly anticipated opening of the Universal Hip Hop Museum in New York, The META Foundation joined The Hopenclass and HEC Paris to curate an intensive MBA course.

    Partners: HEC Paris, UHHM, Dear Dancer, Kinetix

    Technologies: Motion Capture, Spatial Computing

    Awards: Anthem Award

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  • Virtual Hospitality Seminar

    An innovative seminar series in collaboration with Les Roches, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools. This groundbreaking initiative aims to empower students to explore and innovate new forms of 'virtual hospitality' using Web3 concepts, revolutionizing the way we connect and engage in digital spaces.

    Partners: Les Roches

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  • Fraunhofer: Hotel of the Future

    For the Fraunhofer Institute's task force, we analyzed and addressed technological, economic, ecological, and societal trends shaping the hotel industry, from conceptualizing innovative environments within future hotels to enhancing virtual spaces such as booking portals and management systems.

    Partners: Fraunhofer Institute

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  • Technical Report for the Metaverse in Tourism Council of the UNWTO

    As part of the UNWTO/ITU Metaverse in Tourism Council, the Hospitality 3.0 Framework integrates the metaverse into hospitality, fostering community, inclusivity, and responsible growth while addressing ecological, mental health, and cultural challenges.

    Partners: UNWTO

  • [UPCOMING] Tapestry of Consciousness

    Documenting and sharing ancestral knowledge and symbolism from the weaving traditions of indigenous communities in Peru and Chile to create AI-generated custom virtual and physical artifacts which support local initiatives.

    Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Indigenous weaving techniques