01
Leadership
Developing thoughtful leaders who bring professional excellence, ethical judgment, and an understanding of tourism’s lasting effects on people and place.
Leadership · Stewardship · Community
Extraordinary places.
Enduring responsibility.
Advancing thoughtful tourism, strong communities,
and extraordinary places.
For the places we love. For the generations to come.↓
Our purpose01 / A shared responsibility
More than destinations.
Places that matter.
The places we travel to experience are living landscapes, vibrant communities, and a shared inheritance that deserves our care.
The Tourism Leadership & Sustainability Foundation is a philanthropic organization in development. Our mission is to advance leadership, education and responsible stewardship in tourism and hospitality—strengthening communities, expanding opportunity, and preserving the extraordinary places we share for future generations.
The convictions behind our work02
Stewardship
Safeguarding landscapes, natural resources, dark skies, and cultural heritage through responsible planning, preservation, and meaningful public access.
03
Community
Helping tourism-dependent communities remain vibrant and livable through educational opportunity, workforce development, and attention to housing and quality of life.
Our vision
A future in which tourism enriches lives,
communities thrive, and treasured places
are protected for generations to come.
From purpose to impactFocused investments.
Focused investments.
Meaningful partnerships.
TLSF is being designed as a selective funder and convener, bringing academic knowledge, industry experience, and local perspectives together across four areas.
01University partnerships
& scholarship
& scholarship
Supporting hospitality and tourism teaching, applied research, academic partnerships, and scholarships.
Potential opportunities include a sponsored professorship or hospitality education program. Partnerships will be developed as the foundation takes shape.
02Leadership education
& collaboration
& collaboration
Advancing mentorship, professional development, and executive education, with substantive gatherings that connect educators, industry leaders, and community voices.
03Research & destination
stewardship
stewardship
Supporting independent, practical research on responsible development, resource protection, visitor management, dark skies, and destination resilience.
04Education & community
opportunity
opportunity
Expanding access to internships, hospitality careers, and workforce education, alongside initiatives addressing the pressures facing gateway communities—including attainable workforce housing.
These areas describe the foundation’s intended focus. Specific programs and partnerships are in development.
Canyonlands National Park, UtahGreen River Overlook · NPS / Rhodes SmarttIntroducing our first initiativeThe Places
The Places
We Share.
A thriving destination should also be a place where people can build a life.
The Places We Share Initiative will bring residents, tourism and hospitality professionals, researchers, and stewardship partners together around the future of gateway communities.
Its focus: protecting distinctive landscapes and local character while improving opportunity and quality of life for the people who call these places home.
Our first planned gatheringOn the horizonDEC2026 In planning
The inaugural gatheringPlaces We Share
Places We Share
Symposium
Hoodoo Hotel · Moab
A planned gathering of community, tourism, conservation, and academic perspectives to explore the future of the places we share.
Hosts, speakers, and format will be announced. Registration is not yet open.
An enduring commitmentGrounded in experience
Thoughtful leadership.
A lasting legacy of care.
The foundation was conceived by Dr. James Mabey, whose experience in international hospitality, higher education, and lifelong engagement with natural landscapes informs its commitment to leadership, stewardship, and community.
TLSF is envisioned as an independent, founder-led charitable organization with lean administration, clear governance, and selective institutional and community partnerships.
Text document · No sign-up requiredNewsroom
Press releases
Official announcements and updates from the Tourism Leadership & Sustainability Foundation.
Urgent Call for Supplies: Redtail Air Flies Flood Relief to Montezuma Creek
Redtail Air Adventures and the Tourism Leadership & Sustainability Foundation are collecting donations in Moab and delivering supplies to flood-affected families.
Let’s begin a conversationThe future of these places
The future of these places
is something we share.
Interested in educational collaboration, community partnerships, or the Places We Share Symposium? We’d welcome a conversation.
Connect with the foundation info@thetlsfoundation.org