Hospitality leaders to be inducted into UCF Rosen College Hospitality Hall of Fame
The University of Central Florida will induct Jeff Polk, the executive behind Universal Orlando Resort's Epic Universe and Frank Santos, the financial architect of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, into its Hospitality Hall of Fame.
With billions of dollars inspiring exciting new theme parks, resorts and attractions in Central Florida, the hospitality industry is growing and changing more quickly than ever.
Since 2007, the UCF Rosen College Hospitality Hall of Fame has honored over 28 distinguished industry leaders whose vision and contributions have significantly influenced the hospitality and tourism sectors in Central Florida and the international hospitality community.
Previous inductees include executives from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and leading hospitality organizations worldwide.
The induction is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Meliá Hotels & Resorts offers a premium travel experience at an affordable price
Summer is right around the corner — and that means it's time to start dreaming up your next great escape. Whether you're craving a tropical retreat or a family-friendly adventure, Meliá Hotels & Resorts has you covered. For laid-back comfort by the sea, unwind at the all-inclusive Meliá Caribe Beach, or embrace serenity and self-care at the adults-only Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort, designed with wellness in mind. Prefer a getaway with a bit of Disney magic? Meliá Orlando Celebration is just the place for your next unforgettable family vacation. Wherever you choose, don't forget to upgrade your experience with Meliá Hotels & Resorts' exclusive service, The Level, which ensures an indulgent and altogether unforgettable experience. Read on to find your perfect Meliá Hotels & Resorts match! Meliá Caribe Beach Resort Photo courtesy of Meliá Hotels International Advertisement In the heart of Punta Cana lies a family-friendly premium hotel – surrounded by exotic gardens, beside the turquoise Caribbean Sea, and featuring white sand beaches. Meliá Caribe Beach Resort is an all-inclusive spot that is the perfect affordable and fun destination to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. From the moment you step into Meliá Caribe Beach Resort, you are transported into a vacation filled with exceptional amenities, immersive experiences, flavorful dining and leisure activities for the whole family. Kids and adults alike can enjoy Blast!, a waterpark where you can spend hours of fun. The kids will want to go back day after day! For those looking for a more exclusive experience, The Level at Meliá Caribe Beach offers unparalleled amenities: Guests receive personalized service including high-end rooms, VIP lounge access, a private breakfast area, complimentary room service, an exclusive beach area and a private pool. Plan your next tropical getaway with Meliá Caribe Beach Resort today. Book now! Advertisement Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort David Massey The Level Suite at Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort David Massey Looking to spend some time on your overall wellness? The relaxing, adults-only Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort is for you. This wellness-inclusive sanctuary offers a Wellbeing 360 experience focusing on the five unique spaces: social, silent, sensorial, culinary and personal. Enjoy beachfront yoga or a sound healing experience that includes meditation that will leave you glowing with relaxation. Experience a personal skincare workshop to learn more about your best treatments, or enjoy a one-of-a-kind, soul nourishing guided sensory journey called Walking Around the Moon. Don't forget to add a mindful wellness breakfast to your itinerary, as well as a grounding meditation session. Advertisement Spend the day at the Yhi Spa: This sustainable retreat is committed to environmentally conscious operations, ethical sourcing and continued innovation in wellness, and was recently awarded the Gold Status accreditation from Sustainable Wellness Global. Or indulge in The Level, where the wellness rooms are powered by DELOS, which includes Deepak Chopra meditations and spa treatments. After you're fully relaxed, be sure to savor a meal at the newest Dominican restaurant, YUMAY. Inspired by the Taíno word for 'sacred place of abundance,' this menu is thoughtfully curated – featuring standout dishes such as lechón al burén with passion fruit mojo, charcoal octopus with pigeon pea cream, cassava cake with custard apple cream, and other examples of vibrant Caribbean gastronomy. Plan your wellness escape at Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort. Book now! Advertisement Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel Photo courtesy of Meliá Hotels International If a magical family vacation is what you're looking for, you can book your next memorable getaway at Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel in Orlando, Florida. This centrally located hotel is near all the must-see attractions and theme parks, and even offers transfers to and from the theme parks, for one less thing to worry about on vacation. Guests can upgrade their experience with The Level, a bespoke service offering exclusive guest perks, including priority check-in, breakfast, tailored concierge services, private lounge access, and more. The Level guests can choose from three distinct suite options: The Level Wellness One-Bedroom Suite, The Level Wellness Two-Bedroom Suite, or The Level Family Suite. Each gives families plenty of space to enjoy and relax. The Level at Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel Photo courtesy of Meliá Hotels International Not only is Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel family-friendly, it is pet-friendly too! It doesn't matter the size or weight of your dog, they are happy to accommodate up to two dogs per room. Even your pup will enjoy all the amenities or a doggy bed in your room, a pet menu, courtesy of bistro The Wilson Restaurant, and a pet-friendly guidebook. After all, they're on vacation, too! Plan your next family vacation at Meliá Orlando Celebration Hotel. Book now!
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Orange County's tourist tax take was good, not great in April
Orange County's tourist tax collections were better in April than a year ago, but not as good as the year before that. The revenue generated by the county's 6% surcharge on overnight hotel stays and other short-term lodging has been a reliable measure of tourist industry health, but Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the collections, interpreted the new figures cautiously. 'It's interesting to me that even though we're in the midst of what looks to be a very good year — and we just had a very good month — we didn't beat a number from two years ago when everything was less expensive and hotel rooms cost less,' Diamond said. April 2025 collections were slightly weaker at $33.1 million than those in both April 2023 ($33.6 million) and April 2022 ($34.6 million). Epic Universe: Know before you go Still, revenue from the Tourist Development Tax, or TDT, through the first seven months of fiscal year 2025 has totaled $235.6 million, about $11.3 million ahead of the pace of last fiscal year when TDT raked in a best-ever haul of $359 million. Diamond expressed concern about slowing international travel and global economic uncertainty, but also noted bright spots. 'I really want to see more Epic results,' he said, referring to Universal's heralded new theme park, Epic Universe. 'I will say I'm pleasantly surprised at the visitation level we've had before the new park even opened. That was a surprise to me and probably other people as well.' The immersive park officially opened to big crowds May 22 eager to see attractions built around training dragons, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo video games and Dracula, Frankenstein and other celluloid creeps and monsters from the movies. Tourism figures from May will be revealed in early July. 'I'll miss visiting my American friends': Angered by Trump's threats, Canadians rethink Florida travel Visit Orlando also offered a somewhat mixed outlook for summer travel in an emailed response about the latest numbers. Hotel bookings from May through July are currently pacing 1% behind the same time period last year, but the short-term rental market is showing 'robust growth' with bookings 15% ahead of last year, said Casandra Matej, CEO of the region's tourism marketing agency. She said the average daily room rate was $223.44 in April, driven largely by a surge in leisure travel. The rate was $208.50 in April 2024. shudak@
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jellystone Park Locations Offer Families a Growing Array of Glamping Accommodations
Editor's note: A limited number of complimentary and discounted stays are available to qualified journalists, influencers and content creators. Submit requests here: SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts offer much more than organized family activities with Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, and Cindy Bear and some of the best water attractions in the campground industry. They also feature an ever-expanding array of family glamping units from beautifully appointed cabins to covered wagons, yurts, safari tents, treehouses, and other unique accommodations.'We offer everything from small cabins to huge bunkhouses and lodges that are popular for family reunions, weddings, anniversaries, and other special celebrations,' said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, the Southfield, Michigan-based company that franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts across the United States and Canada. With more than 75 franchised locations, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts operates in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. The Jellystone Park location in Glen, N.H., complements its cabin lineup with cozy glamping pods that sleep up to four as well as its unique Bear-A-Dise Bungalows, tiny home-type cabins that sleep two adults. The Jellystone Park location in Carver, Mass., complements its standard cabin lineup with miniature Bear Cub Glamping Pods that look like tiny cabins while the location in Tabor City, N.C., offers glamping options that include both cabins and yurts. Meanwhile, the Jellystone Park location near Dallas in Burleson, Texas complements its one- and two-bedroom cabins with furnished glamping tipis, covered wagons, and repurposed grain silos. The furnished tipis, which sleep up to 7, include a plush king-size bed, a set of queen/twin bunk beds, a futon, as well as heating and air-conditioning. The tipis come equipped with a mini fridge, microwave, and a dinette set as well as private grill and picnic table. The location's furnished covered wagons sleep up to 6 people. They include a king-size bed and two sets of twin bunk beds, all with high-quality mattresses and linens. The covered wagons also have heating and air conditioning, a custom-made wagon wheel table with seating, a small fridge, and a microwave. Some of the Burleson location's more unique glamping units, however, are its two-story cabins that are made out of repurposed grain bins. Each grain bin cabin has a spiral staircase leading up to the second story, which features a half bath and two cozy bunk beds. The downstairs area has a full kitchen with plenty of room for preparing meals as well as a full bathroom. The Burleson location even has a 260-foot-long pirate ship with 10 two-bedroom vacation cabin suites, definitely not a typical campground accommodation. Meanwhile, the Jellystone Park location in Larkspur, Colo., complements offer elite cabins with hot tubs while the Jellystone Park in Mill Run, Penn., has two-story treehouses that look like something out of a children's storybook. The park's Appalachian Treehouse, for example, comes with its own tree shaped base, log cabin style siding, and a stone fireplace. The Jellystone Park location in Bostic, N.C., for its part, offers a variety of cabins and lodges as well as furnished lakeview glamping tents and treetop cabins, which are essentially cabins on stilts. Many Jellystone Park locations also offer bunkhouses and lodges that offer glamping-style experiences for family reunions and other special events, including the North Monmouth, Me. location, which has a beautiful four-bedroom house that sleeps up to 16 people. The house includes a fireplace and a six-burner stove. Some Jellystone Park glamping units are even larger. For example, the Fremont, Ind. location has a Three Bears Lodge that can sleep up to 19 people. Not to be outdone, the Jellystone Park location in Waller, Texas has a seven-bedroom Grand Lodge that can sleep up to 28 people. Several Jellystone Park franchisees are continuing to add more glamping accommodations. Here's a sampling of new family glamping units that will be available for rent this year: Colorado — Estes Park: This location is adding nine cabins for the 2025 season. Georgia — Bremen: This location is completing a major expansion that includes over 200 new RV sites, 71 cabins and 10 covered wagons. It is also in the process of adding a new swimming pool, water slides, a splashground, and a large lake with boats and other water features. Additionally, this location is converting its existing store into an activity center. — Cochran: This location is adding two furnished glamping tents. Ohio — Nova (Cleveland-Sandusky Market): This location added 72 premium RV sites last year as well as four cabins. Wisconsin — Caledonia: This location is adding two more of its top-of-the-line cabins, which sleep up to eight and feature a large screened porch with a fireplace and TV as well as a lofted deck. About Camp JellystoneWith more than 75 locations across the United States and Canada, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts feature fun attractions such as pools and water slides, non-stop family activities, up-close fun with Yogi Bear characters, and glamping-style accommodations. For more information about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, please visit For information on franchising opportunities, please visit About Warner Bros. Discovery Global ExperiencesWarner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences (WBDGE) is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, licensing and operating of location-based entertainment based on the biggest franchises, stories, and characters from Warner Bros.' world-renowned film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour locations in London, Hollywood, and Tokyo, the iconic Harry Potter New York flagship store, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. WBDGE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery's Revenue & Strategy division. YOGI BEAR and all related characters and elements © & ™ Hanna-Barbera (s25). Contacts: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-ResortsRitter Communications, Brad RitterBRitter@ Warner Bros. Discovery Global ExperiencesLindsay A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
