Tourism Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Grad Turns Love for Orlando Into Career

Jenna Marina Lee — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:41:21 +0000

With its numerous industries to sustain a career and vibrant culture to build a life, Orlando isn’t a hard sell. Still, when it comes to promoting all this city has to offer, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who loves it more than Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage ’12.

The advertising-public relations grad spent the last decade in various sales-related positions with the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and insulated beverageware company Corkcicle (headquartered in Orlando).

That experience along with the leadership and life skills she developed at �鶹ԭ�� and her beloved hobby as the mastermind behind — an immensely popular social media account that explores new activities, restaurants and happenings in Central Florida — gave her what she needed to land her dream gig as marketing manager for Visit Orlando.

“I get to marry my love for this community and something I’m passionate about doing — marketing this city. It’s perfect for me,” Sage says. “To find this opportunity with Visit Orlando, it truly has been a dream come true.”

Universal Orlando Resort’s Jurassic World VelociCoast (Photo courtesy of Universal Destinations & Experiences)

Tourism Shapes Orlando

Sage’s mission in her role at Visit Orlando as a marketing manager, specializing in domestic tourism, is to bring visitation to the destination, period.

Orlando is the most visited destination in the U.S. bringing more than 75 million visitors. According to Visit Orlando, tourism supports 37% of all jobs in the region.

Central Florida’s tourism industry generated an economic impact of $94.5 billion in 2024, a 2.2% increase over the previous year, according to a study by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics and a leader in industry research.

As 2025 numbers work on being finalized, all signs point to the continued momentum of the region’s tourism.

It’s not hard to see why Orlando is in demand:

Standard-setting theme parks
Marquee sporting events — earning Orlando the No. 1 spot for Sports Event Cities in the U.S., according to Sport Business Journal
Vibrant arts scene
Top-of-the-line hotels and resorts
58 Michelin-recognized restaurants
Proximity to beautiful beaches and Port Canaveral’s cruise ships

Sage gives a glimpse into what goes into helping shape Orlando’s reputation as one of the world’s most desirable destinations.

Andrea Rodrigues Sage

Advertising All of Orlando

Sage’s role with Visit Orlando oversees many facets. She might be placing a billboard in Baltimore, a well-timed ad on a streaming platform, or organize a tropical oasis in the middle of New York City on a 30-degree Fahrenheit day, enticing winter-weary New Yorkers to plan their next vacation.

She recently spent a week overseeing the production of an eco-tourism campaign video shoot at several locations to highlight the area’s natural beauty, hiking and springs.

“Culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all.” — Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage ’12

“Adults with kids, adults without kids, this vacation has all your needs — culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all,” Sage says.

Competing on the Global Stage

Orlando’s prime competitors in the tourism market depends on who you’re talking to.

It could be California (theme parks), Las Vegas (conferences), or Spain and Italy (international visitation). As cruise lines have come roaring back after the pandemic, the Caribbean is now in the mix, too. Orlando doesn’t just compete with other cities for tourists, but entire states and countries.

“Our destination is amazing, but every Jan. 1 the visitor tally resets, and there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to make sure we remain top of mind,” Sage says.

As a member of �鶹ԭ��’s women’s soccer team and the Portuguese National Team, Andrea Rodrigues ’12 grew a love for travel and exploration. (Courtesy of �鶹ԭ�� Athletics)

Success Fueled by �鶹ԭ��

A St. Petersburg, Florida, native, Rodrigues was recruited to �鶹ԭ�� to play for the women’s soccer team. From 2008-12, she helped lead the Knights to five NCAA postseason appearances, including the 2011 Elite 8, three conference championships and one of the program’s highest national rankings (No. 6) in school history.

During her collegiate career, she also joined the Portuguese National Team, which exposed her to places and cultures that would ultimately spark her interests in travel and exploration today.

As an elite scholar-athlete, she points to the intangible soft skills she gained — work ethic, goal-setting, communication, collaboration and time management all at an elevated standard of excellence — as formative to her life as a working parent.

“Being a �鶹ԭ�� student-athlete has made who I am.”

“Being a �鶹ԭ�� student-athlete has made who I am,” Sage says. “I take interviews today as a 36-year-old and still talk about how it has positively shaped me. I would go from a 6 a.m. strength training to study hall to three classes to practice to a night class, still have homework and study and then travel to a road game the next day.

“The controlled chaos I lived in then, it is innate in me and still my normal today. I have two little kids, I’m married, I have a full-time job, I work out every day, I have a hobby. It just feels right. It is a controlled chaotic environment that I love.”

Andrea Rodrigues Sage makes a weekly appearance on 106.7 FM’s morning show Johnny’s House.

Living Where the World Vacations

Rodrigues says what she appreciates most about living in Orlando is getting to explore new places in her own backyard. She started @cheatdayorlando in 2021 after becoming a mother. Since then, she has grown the account to nearly 100,000 followers and landed a regular gig on the 106.7 FM morning show Johnny’s House spreading the word about new experiences in the area.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re stagnant in Orlando — you can have a different experience just 10 minutes away,” she says. “I love that there’s something for everyone to feel like home because we have a melting pot of culture.”

Spring Break Scene

Whether you’re a local enjoying a staycation or coming to Orlando for your Spring Break, Rodrigues shares her pro tips on some new experiences worth checking out:

ICON Park will soon feature Ripley’s Crazy Golf, a glow-in-the-dark immersive indoor miniature golf course with many unconventional ways to putt.
Harlow Grove Restaurant and Lounge, a new trendy restaurant in Winter Garden, opened this month and features a rooftop terrace and elevated menu.
Maitland’s Enzian Theater is a single-screen independent cinema cafe that offers cozy, vintage decor and seating, with a full kitchen menu. For the parents out there with little Spring Breakers, consider the theater’s Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film Series, which offers free admission to kids 12 and under. Cars 2 will be featured at noon on March 22.

�鶹ԭ�� Alum’s Influence on Rise of Florida’s Space Coast

Robert Stephens — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:09:19 +0000

As the executive director at the Space Coast Office of Tourism, Peter Cranis ’84 ’88MA wants visitors and residents to experience the sense of wonder he feels every day at his job.

From the rush of a rocket launch to the thrill of catching a wave to the joy of exploring natural and wild spaces — all only a 45-minute drive from Orlando — Cranis and his team have been a driving force behind the revival of Florida’s Space Coast as a premium, sought-out destination.

In recognition for the strides the area has made since he took his leadership role in 2019, Florida Trend recently named him among the state’s 500 Most Influential People, and Space Coast Daily chose him the Person of the Year for 2025. But for Cranis, these accolades aren’t a product of one person’s merits.

“The awards mean I’ve hired the right people and allowed them to do what they do best,” he says.

�鶹ԭ�� two-time communications grad Peter Cranis was been recognized among the state’s 500 Most Influential People.

The two-time communications alum and Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Famer also served as an adjunct professor in both Nicholson and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Here he shares his experiences and knowledge.

On the growing popularity of The Space Coast:

Our tourist development tax (TDT) hit a record $26 million in 2025 — up $10 million since 2019. I can’t deny we have things here that no one else has — to the north, we can watch space launches and cruise ships heading out. If I want to clear my head at lunchtime, I can go across the street to put my toes in the sand or walk around a maritime hammock. But attracting tourists isn’t easy — even for a bucket-list destination along 70 miles of beaches.

On getting creative to address challenges:

Competition is our biggest challenge. People can visit beaches all around the state, from the Keys to Jacksonville and around the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle. Keep in mind the marketing budgets in larger destinations can be 10x higher than ours. So, everything we do has to be effective in engaging travelers.

On the different eras of “the Space Coast”:

The term “Space Coast” isn’t new. For years, people associated it with the Apollo era, back when visitors would come in hopes of meeting an astronaut. As the shuttle program wound down, there were assumptions that everything here would shut down with it. That became another big challenge: educating travelers that we’ve modernized with really nice hotels and we’ve moved into a new phase.

“No other destination has an active space center and miles of world-class beaches.”

On reviving “the Space Coast”:

The first thing I wanted us to figure out when I started in 2019 was this: How do we excite potential visitors again? We decided to lean back into “Space Coast” because those words say it all. No other destination has an active space center and miles of world-class beaches. So, we positioned that message with specific locations — “Melbourne on Florida’s Space Coast” or “Titusville on Florida’s Space Coast.” It’s a natural jumpstart into our exclusive story. And now, with SpaceX and Blue Origin, we have as many as 10 launches a month. What had become old is new again — only better.

On lessons learned in boosting your brand:

I worked 16 years with Visit Orlando, and we spent a lot of energy trying to brand Orlando apart from the theme parks. It took until probably 2012 until travelers globally really knew Orlando. That’s the nature of marketing. Be patient. When you think about it, �鶹ԭ�� followed a similar trajectory to national recognition.

On the unforgettable lesson he learned as a �鶹ԭ�� student:

I was a journalism guy, the sports editor of �鶹ԭ��’s student newspaper, The Central Florida Future. I’d call people and say, “This is Peter from The Future,” which immediately got their attention. One class, organizational communication, gave me a look into the real world of business. For a group project, we went to a company to ask leaders and employees, separately, about communication. The employees said communication wasn’t so great. The leaders said it was fine. In fact, they shut down our presentation. I’ve applied that lesson to my own work — encourage communication and listen with an open mind.

On the (hopefully) lasting lesson he shared as a �鶹ԭ�� adjunct professor:

I’d tell students to use their voices. Don’t be passive. During my career in tourism, I’ve learned a lot from young graduates and interns. Your thoughts matter. Also, learn everything possible about business in school. Some of it might seem irrelevant, but you never know when that knowledge will benefit you. Look at me.

On his job being very, very personal:

When I was 14 our family moved from Connecticut to Melbourne, Florida. I spent a lot of time at the places we’re talking about now — the beach, Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge, Lori Wilson Park. When the opportunity came up to return and live near my mom who’d been in the same house all those years, it was emotional for me. I never thought I’d have a business life along the Space Coast, but — divine intervention. It’s another reason I’m in awe every day, and why I want as many people as possible to come and be awed, too. Once you’ve experienced this, you’ll be back.

�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.

Generous Sponsorship Brings Center Stage to Life at �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Rosen College of Hospitality Management — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:03:17 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the nation’s top-ranked institution for hospitality and tourism education, proudly introduces its newest addition: Center Stage at Rosen College. This innovative space offers students a fresh, immersive learning environment that enhances their ability to engage in practical scenarios, preparing them for careers in hospitality, events and entertainment.

Center Stage is a dynamic hub where students, faculty, and industry professionals can share insights, experiences, and creative ideas. This versatile venue will allow students to produce live events, simulate trade shows and engage in various activities. It provides a platform to showcase the exceptional talent fostered within Rosen College’s globally recognized programs, including the entertainment management and event management degree programs.

“Center Stage is more than a venue — it’s a launchpad for student innovation,” Dean Cynthia Mejia says. “It is an exciting addition to our learning environment, giving students yet another opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world yet experiential settings.”

Rosen College is proud to collaborate with leading industry sponsors for Center Stage:

BeMatrix: Headquartered in Belgium, BeMatrix operates worldwide and is a global expert in modular systems for event displays.
ETP (Entertainment Technology Partners): Headquartered in Orlando, ETP is a global multi-brand entertainment technology company.
LMG: Also based in Orlando, LMG is a full-service audiovisual provider known for creating stunning live experiences through cutting-edge technologies.
Freeman: A global leader in event production and logistics, Freeman specializes in designing and executing trade shows, conferences and experiential marketing events.
Cort: A nationwide leader in furniture rental, offering high-quality furniture solutions for event spaces, office environments and temporary housing.

Center Stage will debut during the Spring 2025 semester with a variety of student-led events, showcasing the exceptional skills developed through Rosen College’s hands-on programs. Open for booking by students and faculty across all degrees, Center Stage exemplifies Rosen College’s mission to provide innovative, experience-driven education that equips students to lead the industry.

In addition to fostering creativity and collaboration, BeMatrix will equip students with access to advanced CAD (computer-aided design) technology, enabling them to design trade show layouts, stage setups and other event plans — valuable technical skills in high demand across the workforce. This new venue will complement other academic spaces like the Darden Auditorium, Walt Disney World Dining Room, Universal Orlando Foundation Library, and Anheuser-Busch Beer & Wine Lab, providing students with more opportunities to engage in production simulations, class projects, workshops and student-led events. Sponsored by leading industry partners, these spaces mirror real-world environments, offering students invaluable exposure to sector-specific practices.

�鶹ԭ�� Research Shows Vacation Home Rentals Boost Florida’s Economy by $27+ Billion Annually

Susan Vernon-Devlin — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:03:50 +0000

A new report by the �鶹ԭ��’s shows the economic impact of Florida’s vacation home rental industry exceeds $27 billion.

“Our research confirms that Florida’s lodging industry for vacations, beyond traditional hotels and resorts, which include rentals like houses, apartments and condos, boosts the economy significantly. Renters remain in the state longer, some up to 30 days, and spend more money, on average $1,000 per person,” says Robertico Croes, associate dean of research at �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College. “These long-term stays also provide more than 100,000 jobs for people supporting the vacation rental businesses.”

“Renters remain in the state longer, some up to 30 days, and spend more money, on average $1,000 per person.” — Robertico Croes, �鶹ԭ�� associate dean

The report notes several other key findings:

The 2018 economic impact of Florida’s vacation home rental industry represents $16.6 billion in direct spending and $10.8 billion in indirect spending, totaling $27.4 billion.
The direct spending amounts to nearly $46 million a day and approximately $1.9 million every hour.
The direct spending supports roughly 115,000 jobs with one job created for every $144,181 spent.
In 2018, the total amount of tourists staying in vacation rental homes in Florida was 14,233,274, which equates to 11.2 percent of the total 127 million tourists that came to Florida in 2018.

The report focuses on 25 Florida counties: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gulf, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Volusia and Walton. The research shows that when combined, these 25 counties include 89.3 percent of the total amount of registered vacation rental homes like Airbnbs and condos in the state of Florida.

“Floridians have long-known that the state’s vacation home rental industry has a significant impact on our economy, but the numbers in this report are simply staggering,” says Florida Realtors President Barry Grooms, a realtor and co-owner of Sarabay Suncoast Realty Inc. in Bradenton.

“Having fresh vacation rental industry data at our fingertips affords the industry and elected officials the opportunity to make informed and data driven decisions about public policy, which is critical here in the state of Florida,” says Denis Hanks, executive director of the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association.

The data and conclusions provided in the report were derived from data received from the three primary stakeholders involved in the vacation rental home sector: homeowners, management companies and tourists/visitors.

In total, 6,240 tourists, 1,748 vacation rental homeowners and 143 vacation rental home management companies were surveyed. That survey data was then triangulated with data from Key Data, the Survey Center of the Bureau of Economic and Business Center, Airbnb, the Florida Tourist Development Tax Association, multiple county tax collectors’ offices and the Florida Department of Revenue.

The report was commissioned by Florida Realtors and conducted in partnership with the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association. .

2 from �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College Honored by Tourism Scholars Academy

Susan Vernon-Devlin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:01:45 +0000

Youcheng Wang, dean of the �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and Alan Fyall, associate dean of the college, have been awarded membership in the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. The academy says they were awarded membership due to their significant contributions to the field of tourism research.

Youcheng Wang

Wang is the William C. Peeper Preeminent Professor in Destination Marketing and has been the recipient of �鶹ԭ��’s Researcher of the Year Award, Rosen College’s Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award, as well as the Keeling Dissertation Award at the Travel and Tourism Research Association conference.

His research and consulting interest focuses on hospitality marketing and management, destination marketing and management, collaborative strategies, and technology management. He is a member of several professional associations including the Travel and Tourism Research Association and the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators. Wang is the author of four books and more than 150 scientific publications, and is a frequent speaker at international and national conferences and industry forums.

Alan Fyall

Fyall also is the Visit Orlando Endowed Chair and the interim chair of the tourism, events and attractions department at �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College. He has published widely in the areas of tourism, destination marketing and management, including 22 books.

Fyall is a former member of the Bournemouth Tourism Management Board and has conducted numerous consulting and applied tourism research projects for clients in the United Kingdom, European Union, Africa, the Caribbean, United States, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Fyall also teaches International Tourism Management and has examined 30 doctoral students around the world. He is a co-organizer with the City of Orlando of the upcoming Tourism 2030 workshop to be held in May.

Wang and Fyall will be inducted into the academy at its next biennial conference in 2021.

The academy is housed at the School of Hotel & Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1988 and has 87 fellows worldwide.

Yes, I Waited 6 Hours in Line for a New Theme Park Ride

Emma Gisclair, �鶹ԭ�� Forum columnist — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:27:47 +0000

You may have seen it on the news this past summer—eight-hour-long lines to experience Orlando’s newest theme-park ride. I was one of those people, waiting six hours on the second day the ride was open.

Maybe that’s an absurd thing to do—six hours for a ride that lasts maybe four minutes—but I can honestly say it was worth it. Not because the ride itself is worth a six-hour wait, but because the experience is something I’ll always remember.

I arrived 10 minutes after Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure opened and the line was already wrapped around half the park. I’d been in the line for 15 minutes when employees informed us that the ride we were waiting for—Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure—wouldn’t open for another two and a half hours. Some families left to enjoy the rest of the park, the line became (a little bit) shorter, and we waited.

It was my day off, I had no other plans. I could have stayed home and binged something on Netflix, but instead I was outdoors and on my feet. I was armed with sunscreen, water and an e-book on my phone. I had one goal for the day, and I was prepared to see it through.

The first couple of hours passed by uneventfully, the line moving forward occasionally as people gave up. Employees passed out bottles of water as the sun moved overhead. News helicopters whirred above us. Families took turns using the bathroom; people scrolled through social media or played games on their phones.

But around hour three, things started to change. The ride opened and the line started moving at a steadier pace. Excitement charged the air. And people began to talk to each other. I quickly got to know the families on either side of me—in front, two teenage girls, cousins from different states whose families were on vacation together, and behind, a mom and her adult children from England. We talked about their time in Orlando and my upcoming trip to London, shared our love for Harry Potter and our expectations for the new ride.

We held each other’s spots in line when someone needed a food or bathroom break, commiserated when a sudden downpour left us drenched, and kept track of the hours we’d been in line. Snacks and handheld fans were passed around the group. A game of “Heads Up!” kept us occupied when the line came to a half-hour standstill due to a ride malfunction. And when we finally made it to the front of the line, we got to share our excitement as well.

Afterwards, no one in our group expressed regret at spending most of their day waiting for one ride. We loved the ride, which of course contributed to our satisfaction, but more importantly, I think we all felt like we’d been a part of something. We were those ridiculous people you read about on Facebook. We’d sacrificed most of our day, survived the sun and rain, and made it to the reward at the end. I think the anticipation, the camaraderie and shared enthusiasm, made the ride even better.

Then we went our separate ways. We didn’t share Instagram handles or friend each other on Facebook; I don’t remember any of their names. Our paths will probably never cross again, but we shared this experience, these memories.

And that was absolutely worth the six-hour wait.

Emma Gisclair is a library technical assistant at the �鶹ԭ�� Library’s Curriculum Materials Center. She can be reached at Emma.Gisclair@ucf.edu.

The �鶹ԭ�� Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on �鶹ԭ�� Today and then broadcast on W�鶹ԭ��-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the �鶹ԭ��.

�鶹ԭ�� Hurricane Experts Available for Media

Rachel Williams — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 19:56:58 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� faculty with expertise in disaster/crisis management, U.S. coastal flood risks, and tourism and economic impacts are available for interviews on what to anticipate if Florida is hit by Hurricane Irma, plus an evaluation of Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

Contact �鶹ԭ��’s News & Information team to speak with one of these sources.

DISASTER/CRISIS MANAGEMENT:

What does a state of emergency in Florida mean for the county and city levels?

What impact would a hurricane like Irma have on an inland city such as Orlando versus a coastal city?

What we can expect as Texas recovers in terms of transportation, communication, shelter and more, using trend data from previous major disasters?

Lessons learned from hurricanes Andrew, Sandy and Katrina, and how Harvey compares. Are we seeing the same mistakes repeated?

Contacts:

Naim Kapucu, professor and director of the School of Public Administration

Claire Knox, associate professor and director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program

Christopher Emrich, associate professor of environmental science and public administration

FLOODING:

Why are Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami most vulnerable in Florida for heavy flooding during and post hurricane?

Compound flooding – the mix of heavy rainfall and storm surge seen in Houston – and how likely is it to happen on different coasts of the United States

The vulnerability aspect: How did poor design and planning play a key role in how Houston was impacted?

Contact:

, assistant professor of coastal risks and engineering (available only by phone or email through Sept. 8)

TOURISM:

How will Hurricane Irma impact tourism, hospitality, hotels and restaurants?

, associate professor and chair of the Department of Hospitality at Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

THEME PARKS:

How will Hurricane Irma impact the theme park industry locally?

How may parks prepare?

Contact:

Duncan Dickson, associate professor at Rosen College of Hospitality Management

ECONOMIC IMPACT:

What’s the potential economic impact of Irma?

How will big hurricanes impact business functions in Central Florida?

What kind of recovery cost are we talking about with Harvey?

Contact:

, director for the Institute for Economic Competitiveness, who is an economic forecaster. Snaith has served as a consultant for local governments and multinational corporations such as Compaq, Dell and IBM. Before joining �鶹ԭ��’s College of Business, he held teaching positions at Pennsylvania State University, American University in Cairo, the University of North Dakota and the University of the Pacific.

HEALTH:

What health-related issues could these communities in hurricane paths face before, during and after the storm?

Contact:

Dr. Marcia Katz, associate dean for clinical affairs and professor of medicine

�鶹ԭ�� Global Hosts Japan Summit Wednesday

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 11:00:01 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� Global will host the Southeast U.S./Japan Association’s annual summit Wednesday, Jan. 18, for an afternoon of networking and panel discussions on business, tourism, trade, education and cultural ties to Japan.

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner will offer the opening remarks of the summit, which runs from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. at the �鶹ԭ�� Global building, 4356 Scorpius St., on the main Orlando campus followed by a closing reception until 6:45 p.m. The keynote speaker is Ken Okaniwa, consul general of Japan in Miami.

Registration and admission to this year’s summit is free, however advance registration is required due to space limitations. Those interested can register at http://www.fl-seusjapan.org/RegistrationForms/reg-3.html. The agenda can be viewed here: https://www.international.ucf.edu/formsandfiles/8206/

Admission to the optional networking reception immediately following the summit requires purchase of an admission ticket. Contact SEUS/Japan for more details at 786-235-8289, info@fl-seusjapan.org or online at: http://www.fl-seusjapan.org/upcoming-events.

Founded in 1975, SEUS/Japan promotes ties of trade, investment, tourism, education and friendship between Florida, Japan, and six other southeast U.S. states through an annual joint meeting program hosted by member states and Japan.

Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis: Tourism Expansion Can Pave Way for Recovery

Dr. Robertico Croes — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:46:22 +0000

Here are the cold, hard facts about Puerto Rico’s debt crisis: Unsustainable debt of more than $70 billion. One in six people are unemployed. The wealth of many households and local businesses has depleted. More than a decade of poor, stagnant economic conditions. A documented history of failed economic strategies and policies.

Although this paints a grim picture, the future can be bright again for Puerto Rico if tourism expansion is used as a primary strategy for economic recovery. Puerto Rico needs an aggressive tourism marketing strategy as well as a tourism investment program to update and expand its current hotel inventory.

Tourism can help stimulate Puerto Rico’s economy by increasing demand, encouraging spending and creating jobs, which will generate revenue for the government to pay off its debt. Other Caribbean islands, such as the Dominican Republic, have leveraged their natural resources to build a strong tourism sector that supports job creation and economic growth.

This is the optimal time for tourism expansion in Puerto Rico. The U.S. economy is getting stronger and the Caribbean is the most desired foreign vacation choice for Americans. However, despite desirability, Puerto Rico has lost its competitive edge to other regional destinations and as a result, has ceded market share. Outdated hotel inventory is also a contributing factor – very few hotel rooms have been added to the island over the last 20 years.

The bottom line is Puerto Rico has a great product; they just have to sell it better than ever before. The future of the island depends on it.

Dr. Robertico Croes is associate dean, administration and finance, and interim chair of the Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions at the �鶹ԭ��’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He is also the author of The Small Island Paradox: Tourism specialization as a potential solution. Dr. Croes can be reached at Robertico.Croes@ucf.edu.

Visit Rosen College’s website to learn more about at �鶹ԭ��.