The Hospitality Industry remembers Rosen for his innovative hospitality work and passionate charitable work.
Harris Rosen, founder and president of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, passed away the morning of Nov. 25, 2024 at the age of 85.
Frank Santos, vice president of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, released a statement on behalf of the family on Nov. 25. “It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of Harris Rosen, who left us this morning at the age of 85, surrounded by family and loved ones. Harris was an angel to so many here on earth, and now he takes his place among the angels in heaven. A beloved father, grandfather, and a pillar of our community, his boundless generosity and love touched countless lives through his 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 kindly asks for privacy during this difficult time. Thank you.”
The Hospitality Industry Responds
President and CEO of American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Rosanna Maietta also shared a statement following the news, expressing her admiration for his immense influence and unwavering commitment to the industry.
“Harris Rosen was an inspirational figure and a shining example of the passion and drive that hoteliers need to succeed. His love for the industry made him the largest independent hotelier in Florida, but he showed us the true meaning of hospitality through his philanthropic work,” she said. “His generous donation to the University of Central Florida built the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which was just ranked best in the nation for the fifth consecutive year for its hospitality management and tourism program. Harris left an indelible mark on this industry and its people that will be felt for generations. We will miss him.”
Rosen’s Impact on Hospitality
Rosen founded Rosen Hotels & Resorts in 1974 and grew to be Florida’s largest independent hotelier. The collection of seven central Florida hotels provided 6% of the guestrooms available in central Florida, at 6,336. The award-winning collection includes celebrated hotels, from leisure to luxury convention properties, including Rosen Shingle Creek.
The company also owns several subsidiaries, including Millenium Technology Group, which has grown to be a leading provider of quality IT products and telecommunications services for the hospitality industry since it was founded in 1997 as an internal solution for Rosen Hotels & Resorts.
Rosen’s passion for health and wellness was well-reflected through the Rosen Hotels & Resorts brand, from its celebrated reputation as a result of its innovative and trend-setting associate wellness and preventative care programs in addition to low-cost insurance and on-site, full-service medical facilities, to the trademark Rosen’s Perfect Pizza, a whole-wheat honey crust pizza containing no trans fats sold as Rosen Hotels & Resorts properties, created by Rosen and his culinary team.
Philanthropist and Advocate
In addition to his passion for health and wellness, Rosen was a dedicated advocate for education. In 2002, he donated a 20-acre site at the foot of Rosen Shingle Creek alongside $10 million to the University of Central Florida to develop the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which has gone on to rank as number two among hospitality colleges worldwide.
His philanthropic work did not stop there. His Tangelo Park Program has provided free preschool to all 2-, 3- and 4-year olds, and all free tuition to all high school graduates in the Tangelo Park Neighborhood moving on to a trade school, community college or 4-year public or private college or university in Florida since 1993. Around 250 Tangelo Park youth have received full college scholarships to date, and the local high school graduation rates have increased from 55% to nearly 100%.
Rosen founded a similar program in the Parramore neighborhood near downtown Orlando, and in 2017 opened the Rosen Preschool at the Orange County Schools Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence as an extension.
His impact through these programs and others expands far beyond Florida to many other communities in need, such as Rosen Hotels & Resorts’ longtime contribution to relief in Haiti through on-going medical and school supplies and water filtration devices. The 2010-founded Haiti Relief Rebuild Sustain program raised $650,000 to provide aid to victims affected by the 2010 earthquake through Rosen’s personal funding and charity, and following Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Rosen contributed to efforts to rebuild over 100 Haitian homes.
Widely Celebrated
Rosen received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Shriners Humanitarian Award just last year, in 2023. He was a member of the Cornell Society of Hotelmen as well as the Waldorf Astoria Distinguished Alumni Association, a member of the dean’s advisory board of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF and the past president of Visit Orlando.
Rosen was featured on the cover page of Smart Meetings magazine in April 2018, where a profile on his work dug into his immense impact on expanding Orlando into the convention city it is today, as well as his thoughtful approach to hospitality and philanthropic efforts.
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