The hospitality industry remembers Rosen for his innovative hospitality work and passionate philanthropic work.
Harris Rosen, founder and president of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, passed away on the morning of November 25, 2024 at the age of 85.
Frank Santos, vice president of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, issued a statement on November 25 on behalf of the Rosen family. “It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of Harris Rosen, who left us this morning at the age of 85 Years old. Surrounded by family and loved ones. Harris was an angel to many on earth and now holds a place among the angels in heaven for his infinite generosity and strength. Love touched countless lives through her unwavering commitment to helping underserved communities, promoting education, advancing the fight against cancer, and supporting health and wellness initiatives. The family will hold a private celebration of life and asks for privacy during this difficult time. .Thanks.”
Hospitality Industry’s Response
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Rosanna Maietta also issued a statement after the news was released, expressing her admiration for his huge influence and unwavering commitment to the industry.
“Harris Rosen is an inspirational figure and a shining example of the passion and drive a hotelier needs to succeed. His love for the industry has made him the largest independent hotelier in Florida, but he has His charity work showed us the true meaning of hospitality,” she said. “His generous gift to the University of Central Florida established the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, whose hospitality and tourism programs ranked among the best in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. Harris left an indelible mark on the industry and its people “We will miss him for generations.”
Lawson’s Impact on the Hospitality Industry
Rosen founded Rosen Hotels & Resorts in 1974 and grew it to become Florida’s largest independent hotelier. 7 Central Florida hotels offer 6% of Central Florida’s 6,336 rooms. The award-winning hotel collection includes prestigious properties ranging from leisure hotels to luxury conference hotels, including Rosen Shingle Creek.
The company also owns several subsidiaries, including Millenium Technology Group, which since its founding in 1997 as an in-house solution for Rosen Hotels & Resorts has grown to become a leading provider of quality IT products and telecommunications services to the hospitality industry.
The Rosen Hotels & Resorts brand embodies Rosen’s passion for health and wellness and has a reputation for innovative and trend-setting employee wellness and preventive care programs, in addition to low-cost insurance and on-site service. Full-service medical facility branded under the brand name Rosen’s Perfect Pizza, a trans-fat-free, whole-wheat honey-crust pizza sold as a property of Rosen Hotels & Resorts and created by Rosen and his culinary team .
Philanthropist and Advocate
In addition to his passion for health and wellness, Rosen is a passionate advocate for education. In 2002, he donated 20 acres of land at the foot of Rosen Shingle Creek and $10 million to the University of Central Florida to develop the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which is now ranked second among hospitality management schools in the world.
His philanthropy didn’t stop there. His Tangelo Park plan provides free pre-kindergarten for all 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds and free tuition for all high school graduates in the Tangelo Park community who transfer to a trade school, community college or four-year public or private school since 1993 Start opening a private college or university in Florida. To date, approximately 250 Tangelo Park teens have received full college scholarships, and the local high school graduation rate has increased from 55 percent to nearly 100 percent.
Rosen established a similar program in the Parramore neighborhood near downtown Orlando and in 2017 opened Rosen Kindergarten as an extension at the Orange County Public Schools Center for Academic Excellence.
His impact through these and other projects extends far beyond Florida to many other communities in need, such as Rosen Hotels & Resorts, which has long contributed to relief efforts in Haiti through the ongoing supply of medical and school supplies and water filtration equipment. contribute. The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Sustainment Program, created in 2010, raised $650,000 through Rosen’s personal funds and charities to provide assistance to victims of the 2010 earthquake, and after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Rosen helped rebuild more than 100 Contributed to all Haitian houses.
Well received
Rosen has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including last year’s 2023 Shriners Humanitarian Award. He is a member of the Cornell Society of Hospitality and the Waldorf Astoria Distinguished Alumni Association, and is a member of the Waldorf Astoria Dean’s Advisory Council. Past president of the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality and Visit Orlando.
In April 2018, Rosen was featured on the cover of Smart Meetings magazine, which profiled his work and delved into his impact on developing Orlando into the convention city it is today, as well as his thoughtful contributions to hospitality and philanthropy attitude.
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