Amy Gregory Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Helps Shape the Future of Space Hospitality and Tourism

Zoemar Silva ’22 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:24:02 +0000

Born from the challenge of the Space Race, �鶹ԭ�� was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still are a place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth.

Founded to reach the moon, we’re already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America’s Space University celebrates �鶹ԭ�� Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

As Florida’s Premier University for Engineering, Technology and Innovation, �鶹ԭ�� continues to lead the way in preparing students for the industries of tomorrow — including those that reach beyond Earth.

�鶹ԭ�� students are participating in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (Mission 21), a national competition that provides students with the opportunity to design experiments for launch to the International Space Station. The initiative is co-directed by Phil Metzger ’00MS ’05PhD, planetary scientist and director of �鶹ԭ��’s participation in the program, and Amy Gregory ’11�ʳ��, associate professor and Faculty Fellow for Space Tourism at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

“We’ve been encouraging students to think beyond science and engineering,” Metzger says. “Working with Rosen College helps make this a true �鶹ԭ�� collaboration — one that shows space can connect to every discipline.”

Each campus brings a unique perspective to the challenge. On the main campus, students are developing experiments ranging from “space laundry” — testing whether clothes can be cleaned in zero gravity — to studying crystal and yeast growth in microgravity. At Rosen College, students are exploring how food and beverage preparation can adapt to long-duration space travel, experimenting with tofu coagulation, texture and preservation techniques to help define what future astronauts — and eventually space tourists — might eat in orbit.

“Up to this point, space research has focused on getting there,” Gregory says. “Our students are asking what comes next — what happens when people live and work in space? Food is at the heart of that conversation because it’s nourishment, medicine and community all in one.”

Rosen’s efforts are also being integrated into the classroom through a new food and beverage in space module within the Techniques of Food Preparation course led by Chef César Rivera Cruzado, allowing hospitality students to connect research with coursework while learning how their field intersects with science, technology and human experience beyond Earth.

“This is an area that’s growing fast,” Rivera-Cruzado says. “Space tourism is coming in less than 10 years — maybe even five — and every sector will have an opportunity to contribute. For us, that means learning what food and hospitality look like off the planet.”

Rosen College has also connected with space industry figures, including engineers, astronauts and chefs, such as José Andrés — as well as representatives from Blue Origin and Axiom Space — to explore future opportunities in space hospitality and culinary equipment development.

Together, these initiatives highlight how �鶹ԭ��’s collaborative spirit continues to propel discovery — preparing students to help define what hospitality, comfort and daily life might look like as they reach for the stars.

Timeshare Expert Receives Research Grant from Leading Industry Organization

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 18:33:30 +0000

Dr. Amy Gregory, an assistant professor at Rosen College who specializes in the timeshare industry, was awarded a research grant from the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) International Foundation to conduct a market sizing effort on the timeshare industry’s secondary market. �鶹ԭ��’s research proposal was selected from among a number of other submissions from academic institutions to support ARDA’s strategic plan to address resale issues.

ARDA, the trade organization for the timeshare industry, has launched several initiatives emphasizing resales as an important industry component and a significant organizational priority. This largely unregulated market is plagued with resale scams, which tarnishes the image of the entire industry.

Using her knowledge and previous research in the timeshare industry, will update existing research to identify active resale organizations, estimate sales volumes and determine the composition of the United States timeshare secondary market.

Learn more about at Rosen College.

Graduate Students Help Timeshare Leader Solve Business Challenge

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:42:18 +0000

This semester, Rosen College graduate students joined another timeshare industry titan to solve an important business challenge through the Masters Level Immersive Learning Project. During Fall 2014, Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) asked students to create solutions that would reduce prospective purchasers’ pre-tour apprehension and increase interest in their expanding product offerings. In addition to committing corporate and field executives’ time to overseeing the project, WVO also awarded scholarships to the students with the best ideas.

To better understand the product and process, WVO invited the students to their Bonnet Creek property and provided a tour of their corporate offices and contact center, allowing the students to “double jack” and observe actual customer interactions with WVO associates. Students worked in teams throughout the semester to identify viable solutions to the business challenge and presented their projects to Wyndham executives during their final class meeting. On Thursday, Dec. 4, the winners and scholarship amounts were announced at an awards dinner celebration.

“It was a great experience to work with a real company and a real problem,” said Megan Hawk, a graduate student at Rosen College. “We go through all of these classes learning different aspects of the industry and being able to actually put some of the techniques to the test is a great way to analyze what we have learned.”

Sponsored by the �鶹ԭ�� Timeshare Advisory Board, this project is a collaborative effort between the timeshare industry and Dr. Amy Gregory. Each year, companies are invited to participate by identifying a business issue or opportunity for Rosen College students to solve. This learning experience helps graduate students gain a deeper understanding of the timeshare industry through visits to the sponsoring company’s offices and locations, guest lectures and valuable feedback on their ideas before submitting their final proposals.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be included in this project with �鶹ԭ�� and Wyndham Vacation Ownership,” said John Wheeler, vice president at WVO. “The level of detail and research the students put into the development of their presentations and the passion with which they all delivered the material was truly remarkable. It is great for the students to learn more about the timeshare industry as the product truly changes lives.”

Congratulations to the following students for their successful participation in the Fall 2014 Masters Level Immersive Learning Project:

First Place: Ms. Darline Dondl, Ms. Ondine Feldman, Ms. Megan Hawk & Mr. Fabio Souza

Proposal: Integrated Pre-Arrival Communications Strategies

Second Place: Mr. David Santos, Mr. Francisco Branco Cercas, Ms. Joana Coelho & Ms. Marta Martins

Proposal: Building Trust & Happiness Through Engagement

Third Place: Mr. Christopher Garcia, Ms. Stefania Piccinelli & Ms. Natalie Starr

Proposal: An Interactive Mobile Campaign Using SnapTag Technology

Honorable Mention: Mr. Sebastian Muller & Mr. Miguel Fernandez

Proposal: Scavenger Hunt

Honorable Mention: Ms. Zane Abolina, Ms. Lindsey Lee & Ms. Catarina Morais

Proposal: Exclusive Events

Timeshare Executives Pledge Support for Timeshare Education and Research at �鶹ԭ��

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:14:03 +0000

The �鶹ԭ�� Timeshare Advisory Board is making great strides since its inception in late 2011, bringing a new level of student awareness to the vacation ownership industry. Florida is home to 20% of timeshare resorts in the United States with the greatest concentration located in Orlando. In a thriving industry capital with limitless opportunities, the Timeshare Advisory Board’s efforts are focused on education, awareness and career placement for �鶹ԭ�� students.

The advisory board, comprised of 18 industry-leading executives that meet nine times per year, recently approved the establishment of a fund in support of timeshare education and research. Their contributions will provide financial support for student conference attendance, educational scholarships, research initiatives, campus events and board administration.

In addition, the advisory board hosted the 5th Timeshare Industry Forum & Career Expo at �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College on Aug. 28. Approximately 95 attendees, including students, faculty and staff, participated in a 75-minute interactive presentation and Q&A session with locally-based, senior level executives. Held the second week of every semester, the Forum is followed by a Career Expo in the Rosen College courtyard where students can meet company representatives to learn more about their organizations and employment opportunities.

This event was made possible through the support of the �鶹ԭ�� Timeshare Advisory Board and included members of Interval International, RCI, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Marriott Vacations Worldwide and Hilton Grand Vacations.

For more information about the Timeshare Advisory Board or the Forum and Career Expo, please contact .

Rosen College Names 2014 Faculty Member of the Year & Culinary Excellence Award Recipient

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 20:45:55 +0000

On Friday, August 8, received the 2014 Faculty Member of the Year Award and Chef Frank Coupland received the 2014 Robert A. Ashley Culinary Excellence Award. The honors were presented at Rosen College’s annual Faculty Retreat.

“Every year, we recognize two individuals who go above and beyond in their roles at Rosen College,” said Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “Dr. Gregory and Chef Coupland truly embody Rosen College’s values of professionalism, leadership and service, which makes them both very deserving of this special recognition.”

For more information about Rosen College, please visit .

Doing the Math for Hotels

Wed, 14 May 2014 19:19:46 +0000

Rosen College students Stephanie Adkison, Yanique Bryan, Ryan Dowling, Bertram Jacques, Fernando Pasos, Eily Ridge, Michael Skinner, Barbara Tyler and Donald Warren are among the first at �鶹ԭ�� to earn a Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics.

The Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) is being offered globally to undergraduate and graduate students through a joint effort between the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Educational Institute (EI), the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE), and Smith Travel Research (STR). EI, ICHRIE and STR describe this certification as the leading hotel-related certiﬁcation for university students graduating from hospitality and tourism programs throughout the world.

In 2012, �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College partnered with STR to join its SHARE Center. Through this partnership, Rosen College students can earn a CHIA and take HFT4468 Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry to prepare for the exam.

CHIA recipients can “do the math” and interpret the results, as well as analyze various types of hotel industry data and make strategic recommendations. Certiﬁcation also conﬁrms a comprehensive understanding of benchmarking and performance reports, in addition to the current landscape of the global hotel industry.

The CHIA is based upon four core content areas:

1. Hotel Industry Analytical Foundations,

2. Hotel Math Fundamentals – the metrics used by the hotel industry,

3. Property Level Benchmarking (STAR Reports),

4. Hotel Industry Performance Reports (Trends, P&L, Pipeline and Destination Reports)

According to , a Rosen College assistant professor in the Department of Foodservice & Lodging Management, hiring companies value CHIA and ask for students with these qualifications, which is why it has been incorporated into coursework. In today’s progressively dynamic and competitive environment, all segments of the hospitality industry are increasingly reliant on revenue management strategies to improve profitability in multiple business areas. The ability to obtain this in-demand certification provides Rosen College students with an opportunity to further differentiate themselves in a saturated job market.

“I chose to get the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics not only because it shows prospective employers that I’m able to understand and grasp important industry-related data, but also because it makes me more confident in my skills knowing that I have a foundation of knowledge in one of the most important sources of information in the hotel industry,” said Michael Skinner, a senior majoring in hospitality management.

The CHIA will continue to be offered as part of HFT 4468 Revenue Management in the Hospitality Industry at Rosen College.

For more information about hospitality management education at Rosen College, please visit .

Students Present Prize-Winning Plan to Timeshare Industry

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:25:09 +0000

A team of three �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College students placed second in an inter-university scholarship competition sponsored by ARDA’s International Foundation. Senior Ryan Dowling, sophomore Shelby Brandt and senior Donald Warren, all hospitality management majors, received complimentary conference registration to attend the ARDA World Convention in Las Vegas from April 6 – 10, in addition to air fare and accommodations.

Teams of students from universities around the world were asked to submit a Resort Crisis Communication Plan in response to a case study, which was judged by a panel of industry experts, including representatives from the HR Council and the AIF Education and ARDA Communications Committees. Members of the top three teams each received the AIF Academic Outreach Scholarship and presented their proposal to the Communications Committee at the convention.

Taking on the challenge of the competition demonstrates a strong level of commitment to learning more about the industry,” said Darla Zanini, executive vice president of the ARDA International Foundation. “It also gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in a team environment. Additionally students are asked to think outside the box to develop solutions to issues our industry faces every day and if they do a good job, they will be remembered.”

The students credit their experiences and education at Rosen College for their success in the competition, emphasizing the value of networking opportunities with the timeshare industry.

One of the biggest keys to our success with this scholarship is Rosen’s placement in the heart of the timeshare industry and its carefully crafted relationships with industry,” said senior Donald Warren, a hospitality management major and member of the Rosen College team that presented at the ARDA World Convention. “Additionally the outreach and involvement of the timeshare industry at our campus, like the CFHLA Meet and Greets and the Timeshare Executive Panel, have given us valuable face-to-face interactions that many other programs and universities simply do not have access to. This gave our team a competitive advantage in learning and developing our knowledge about the timeshare industry.”

In addition to the scholarship competition team, a group of Rosen College students attended the ARDA World Convention with : Brendan Hawkins, Kyle Patterson (Futures in Vacation Ownership Student Club Officer), Jacqueline Hogston, Madelyn Arias, Zachary Egloff, Yanique Bryan, Alexa Levin and Shelby Brandt (Futures in Vacation Ownership Student Club Officer).

For more information about timeshare education at �鶹ԭ��, please visit .

Rosen College Graduate Students Help Timeshare Giant

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:45:46 +0000

Graduate students from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the �鶹ԭ�� are helping a major player in the timeshare industry solve a huge problem – increasing inventory in the vacation ownership secondary market. , the world’s largest and most experienced vacation exchange company, served as the inaugural sponsor of the Masters Level Immersive Learning Project at Rosen College, donating graduate student scholarships to help solve this real life business challenge.

It all started with Bob Kobek, president of , a company that services the timeshare industry. Kobek initiated the idea of the Masters Level Immersive Learning Project and chose to bring it to Rosen College based on its momentum in the area of timeshare education. Through his vision and partnership with Assistant Professor Dr. Amy Gregory, RRP, the venture became a reality when RCI agreed to sponsor the inaugural project.

“RCI is proud to sponsor and join Rosen College and Customer Count in this inaugural and hopefully annual research competition,” said Kris Jamtaas, project lead and vice president of RCI. “We hope that through their real world challenge, these grad students learned why the timeshare industry is such an interesting, exciting and rewarding business model and profession.”

Six students divided into teams of two spent the fall 2013 semester working on business proposals to help remedy the long-term effects of increasing inventory in the vacation ownership secondary market, which were then submitted to industry executives for review.

“I really enjoyed working on a practical real life problem,” said Nikki Cole, a graduate student at Rosen College. “Receiving feedback from RCI executives was a rare and wonderful opportunity for myself and fellow classmates. I look forward to seeing the benefits from this project in years to come.”

Not only was this a valuable opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in class to a real-world business problem, it helped students better understand the complex timeshare industry.

“As students, we were able to use both our professional experience and academic knowledge to potentially solve this multidimensional issue,” said Aris Marton, a graduate student at Rosen College who won the competition and received a $1,000 scholarship. “I am very thankful that in my last semester I had one of the most intensive learning programs of my graduate degree.”

The winners were announced at an awards dinner held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 at Capital Grille in Orlando, FL. Each student received a cash scholarship in varying amounts according to their performance and contributions to the project:

First Place:
Aris Marton & Brittany Johnson

Proposal: Valuation of the inventory based on the CarMax business model

Second Place:
Alex Feoli & Michael Mays

Proposal: Solution to address negative images via a brokerage opportunity

Third Place:
Nikki Cole & Dior George

Proposal: Co-op business solution uniting HOAs, owners and industry service providers

For more information about the Masters Level Immersive Learning Project at Rosen College, please contact Assistant Director of Public Relations Kathy Dorf at katherine.dorf@ucf.edu or 407-903-8151.

Hospitality Students Harp, Tanner Reach Competition Finals

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:23:30 +0000

Last month, Rebecca Harp and Lisa Tanner, two students from the �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, were chosen by the American Resort Development Association to represent �鶹ԭ�� in the 2013 ARDA Inter-University Scholarship Competition. After the latest round of judging, Harp and Tanner have been named finalists in the national timeshare education competition.

As finalists, Harp and Tanner receive free admission, plus transportation and hotel accommodations, to attend the 2013 ARDA World Global Timeshare Event in Hollywood, Fla., April 7-11, where the overall winner will be announced. Additionally, the duo is invited to attend the convention’s Breakfast of Champions and awards gala, and will receive an industry mentor for the convention and the coming year, plus a profile in ARDA’s Developments magazine.

“Congratulations to Ms. Harp and Ms. Tanner; this is an amazing opportunity for them both,” said Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College. “Their insightful business proposal clearly made an impression on the competition’s panel of industry experts, which is a testament to the caliber of students, faculty and education, here, at the �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College of Hospitality Management.”

The annual competition lets students vie for scholarships and other great academic- and career-related prizes by submitting proposals that address specific issues facing the timeshare industry. If named the overall winners, Harp and Tanner will formally present their business proposal to members of the convention.

Harp and Tanner’s proposal, “Vacation with Friends,” capitalizes on the proven successes of affinity marketing through social organizations to address occupancy, attrition, and funding issues of a legacy timeshare resort. Their five-year business plan incorporates the repurposing of unused space, low-cost, high energy on-site experience improvements, and quantified, specific marketing efforts that improve the timeshare owners’ association bottom line.

�鶹ԭ�� Rosen College’s timeshare expert Dr. Amy Gregory will also attend the convention to lead a group a student volunteers. Students interested in volunteering and attending the annual timeshare industry conference should contact Gregory at amy.gregory@ucf.edu by Friday, March 15. Students volunteering for the conference receive complimentary conference registration, as well as some meals. Transportation will also be available for students on a first come-first served basis.

Over the past year, �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management has developed into one of the leading academic institutions for timeshare education and research. The college is currently just one of ten academic institutions in the nation to be a member of ARDA, and has established a timeshare advisory board, along with scholarship opportunities, and corporate internships with industry-leading organizations.

The U.S. timeshare business has grown to become a significant component of the hospitality industry, generating over $70 billion in economic output and employing 493,000 workers, with $23 billion in salaries, according to a 2011 Ernst & Young study. With over 20,000 vacation ownership units in the area; Orlando, Fla. is home the greatest concentration of timeshare resorts and corporations, which provides many exciting opportunities to �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and its students.

Two Hospitality Students to Represent �鶹ԭ�� in National Timeshare Competition

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:37:35 +0000

The American Resort Development Association has recently accepted a business proposal from two students at the �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which will allow seniors Rebecca Harp and Lisa Tanner to represent �鶹ԭ�� in the 2013 ARDA Inter-University Scholarship Competition. The annual competition lets students vie for scholarships and other great prizes by submitting proposals that address specific issues facing the timeshare industry.

Harp and Tanner’s proposal “Vacation with Friends” capitalizes on the proven successes of affinity marketing through social organizations to address occupancy, attrition, and funding issues of a legacy timeshare resort. Their five-year business plan incorporates the repurposing of unused space, low-cost, high energy on-site experience improvements, and quantified, specific marketing efforts that improve the timeshare owners’ association bottom line.

“We chose Ms. Harp’s and Ms. Tanner’s submission to represent �鶹ԭ�� based upon the comprehensiveness and practical viability of the proposal,” said Dr. Amy Gregory, one of the five �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College faculty members who judged the college’s submissions for the competition. “Our decision wasn’t easy, as we received several outstanding submissions from our students, but the judges ultimately chose their proposal. We wish Ms. Harp and Ms. Tanner the best of luck.”

The �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College proposal will be competing against those from nine other academic institutions, including the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Florida International University, Johnson & Wales University, University of Memphis, New Mexico State University, Bethune-Cookman University, DePaul University, University of Wisconsin-Stout, and Lynn University.

The entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including representatives from the ARDA’s HR Council and Education Committee. The top three teams will receive the AIF Academic Outreach Scholarship for each member of the team, which is comprised of registration to the 2013 ARDA Convention, including tickets to the Breakfast of Champions and Awards Gala, in addition to transportation, room and board; an industry mentor with whom to consult throughout the year; and a profile in Developments magazine and on ARDA.org. The winning teams will also present their proposal as part of a concurrent educational session at the convention.

Winners will be notified by ARDA on March 11, 2013. The conference will be held April 7-11 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla.

Students who are interested in attending or volunteering for the annual timeshare industry conference should reach out to their instructors and/or Dr. Amy Gregory (amy.gregory@ucf.edu) for more information. Students volunteering for the conference receive complimentary conference registration, as well as some meals. Transportation will be available for students on a first come-first served basis.

The U.S. timeshare business has grown to become a significant component of the hospitality industry, generating over $70 billion in economic output in 2011, and employing 493,000 workers, with $23 billion in salaries, according to an Ernst & Young study. With over 20,000 vacation ownership units in the area; Orlando, Fla. is home the greatest concentration of timeshare resorts and corporations, which provides many exciting opportunities to �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and its students.