Professor Gaffney warmly welcomed attendees to the symposium, expressing gratitude to the META Foundation team for their outstanding work in organizing the event. He highlighted the journey that led to the symposium, beginning with discussions around the core principles of Hospitality 3.0.

Emphasizing the urgency of the current global crisis, Gaffney underscored the need for radical shifts in our approach, suggesting that Hospitality 3.0 serves as an emergent tool to navigate these challenges. He challenged participants to rethink the concept of sustainability and replace it with hospitality, urging for a fundamental change in perspective.

Gaffney emphasized the centrality of hospitality as a philosophy and practice, advocating for its application not only to human betterment but also to companion species and the planet as a whole. Finally, he encouraged a shift from viewing technology as a solution to recognizing it as a tool for negotiation and relationship-building, particularly in the face of complex issues like climate change. Gaffney concluded with anticipation for the engaging discussions and workshops ahead, inviting participants to join in the exploration of Hospitality 3.0 as a guiding framework for addressing our current crises.

“If we stop thinking of solutions and start thinking of negotiations, of mitigations, of relationship building, then we’re well on the way to the implementation of Hospitality 3.0 as a guiding framework for all we do.”

— Christopher Gaffney