Rosen College of Hospitality Management

What Rosen College of Hospitality Management does

Rosen College of Hospitality Management is a higher-education unit of the University of Central Florida, founded in 2003 and located on Universal Boulevard in Orlando, Florida, immediately adjacent to Universal Orlando Resort. It serves approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students through degree programs in hospitality management, lodging and restaurant management, event management, entertainment management, and theme park and attraction management, plus graduate offerings including MS in Event Leadership, MS in Travel Technology and Analytics, and a PhD in Hospitality Management. Programs are delivered on-campus in Orlando and online, with the online bachelor's portfolio ranked No. 6 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2026.

The college operates a mandatory three-internship curriculum supported by twice-yearly career fairs hosting 100+ U.S. companies, yielding a 97% graduate placement rate and a 6-to-1 job-to-student ratio. Its applied research infrastructure includes the UCF Dick Pope Institute for Tourism Studies, the Hospitality+ Center for Innovation and Training, and the Hospitality Technology Lab, which focuses on AI, service robotics, AR/VR simulation, and digital twins. The college publishes the Rosen Research Review, a peer-reviewed journal covering AI in hospitality, service robots, dynamic pricing, and tourism economics.

Revenue is generated primarily through UCF tuition, supplemented by corporate partnership investments—most notably a $10 million investment from Universal Destinations & Experiences in 2026—donor gifts such as the $1 million Darden Foundation gift in 2025, and research grants including a $4.5 million federal award for hospitality pandemic preparedness in 2023. The college has held the #1 U.S. hospitality college ranking in the ShanghaiRanking for six consecutive years (through 2025) and was ranked #2 globally by CEOWORLD Magazine in 2026. Strategic positioning combines Orlando's status as the most visited U.S. destination with employer partnerships across Universal, Disney, Hilton, Omni, Four Seasons, cruise lines, and emerging space-tourism operators Blue Origin and Axiom Space.

Name

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Legal name

University of Central Florida - Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Website

https://hospitality.ucf.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rosen College of Hospitality Management is a University of Central Florida college in Orlando serving 2,500+ students through undergraduate and graduate hospitality degree programs with a mandatory three-internship curriculum, ranked #1 in the U.S. by ShanghaiRanking for six consecutive years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAL)

Keywords

• Hospitality education programs
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Themed entertainment education
• Tourism management research
• Online hospitality degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Degree Program Fees: The college generates primary revenue through tuition charged by the University of Central Florida for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in hospitality management, lodging and restaurant management, event management, entertainment management, and theme park and attraction management. Programs are available on-campus in Orlando and through nationally ranked online delivery.
2. Scholarship and Donor Funds: Annual scholarship funding including a $1M gift from the Darden Foundation, Duncan Dickson Scholarship (established by alumni), and over $403K in scholarships awarded annually. These donor gifts support student financial aid and expand access to hospitality education.
3. Industry Partnership and Sponsorship Revenue: Strategic partnerships with organizations such as Universal Destinations & Experiences ($10M investment in the Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation) generate investment flows that support specific academic initiatives, labs, and programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rosen College of Hospitality Management delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in hospitality management, lodging and restaurant management, event management, entertainment management, and theme park and attraction management, both on-campus in Orlando and online. It also operates the Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation (a first-of-its-kind themed entertainment school in partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences, backed by $10M) and supports research through the Rosen Research Review, the Dick Pope Institute for Tourism Studies, and the Hospitality Technology Lab.

Product overview

Rosen College of Hospitality Management is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in hospitality management, tourism, events, entertainment, and themed attractions. The college operates as a multi-school model comprising the Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation (in partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences), and the School of Hospitality Leadership. Core academic products include five bachelor's degree programs (Hospitality Management, Lodging and Restaurant Management, Event Management, Entertainment Management, and Theme Park and Attraction Management) and graduate programs including Event Leadership MS, Travel Technology and Analytics MS, and a PhD in Hospitality Management. The college also delivers these programs online, with its online bachelor's programs ranked in the top 10 nationally. Research facilities include the Hospitality Technology Lab focused on emerging technologies. The institution is located adjacent to Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida, positioning it as a primary talent pipeline for the hospitality and attractions industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospitality Management (BS) Comprehensive undergraduate degree program covering all aspects of hospitality and tourism management, preparing students for leadership roles across the global hospitality industry.
• Lodging and Restaurant Management (BS) Specialized undergraduate degree focusing on hotel operations and food service management, preparing students for careers in lodging and restaurant sectors.
• Event Management (BS) Undergraduate degree program preparing students to plan, organize, and manage meetings, conventions, conferences, and special events across various industries.
• Entertainment Management (BS) Degree program focused on management principles and practices specific to the entertainment industry, including theme parks, attractions, and live entertainment venues.
• Theme Park and Attraction Management (BS) Specialized degree preparing students for careers in themed entertainment and attraction management, covering theme park operations, immersive experiences, and attraction development.
• Event Leadership (MS) Graduate-level program designed for professionals seeking advanced leadership skills in the events and meetings industry.
• Travel Technology and Analytics (MS) Graduate program combining travel and tourism expertise with technology and data analytics skills for the modern tourism industry.
• Hospitality Management (PhD) Doctoral program for advanced research in hospitality management, preparing scholars for academic careers and industry research positions.
• Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation First-of-its-kind academic unit launched in partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences, backed by $10 million investment. Combines immersive experience education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership to prepare future leaders in themed entertainment. Includes a Hospitality Technology Lab focused on AI, service robotics, AR/VR simulation, and digital twins.
• Rosen College Online Bachelor's Programs Suite of online undergraduate degree programs ranked No. 6 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Business Programs rankings. Includes online bachelor's programs in entertainment management, event management, hospitality management, lodging and restaurant management, and theme park and attraction management, taught by the same faculty as on-campus programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% job placement rate upon graduation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universal Destinations & ExperiencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Universal Destinations & Experiences invested $10 million to co-found the Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation at Rosen College — a first-of-its-kind academic model combining immersive experience education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership for themed entertainment careers. The partnership includes a Hospitality Technology Lab for AI, service robotics, AR/VR simulation, and digital twins. Building on more than 20 years of collaboration, this initiative further positions Rosen College as the primary talent pipeline for Universal and the global attractions industry.
• UCF/Universal Creative LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Long-standing talent pipeline initiative providing Rosen College students with behind-the-scenes experience at Universal Orlando. Students gain hands-on industry access through creative lab programs that directly support career pathways in themed entertainment. This program predates and feeds into the $10M Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation investment.
• FukuokaGominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FukuokaGo is Fukuoka City's destination marketing organization. Rosen College students Andrea (Dany) Melo and Madelyn Kerst completed international internships with FukuokaGo in summer 2026, promoting the city to international travelers, managing social media content (Instagram, TikTok), and creating the 'Friends in Fukuoka' campaign. The partnership provides students with real-world global tourism marketing experience while supporting Fukuoka's international tourism goals.
• Visit OrlandocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Visit Orlando partnered with Rosen College's MPI Knights student chapter for IMEX America 2025 in Las Vegas. Students assisted with Visit Orlando's 'Wake Up with Visit Orlando' breakfast (400+ guests), shadowed the sales team during business appointments, and attended booth presentations. The partnership gives students real-world exposure to destination marketing, client engagement, and global trade show operations while reinforcing Orlando's position as a meetings destination.
• Blue OriginminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Blue Origin is engaged with Rosen College as a space industry partner for discussions on the future of space hospitality and culinary equipment development. The collaboration supports Rosen College's pioneering research into off-Earth living, dining, and hospitality experiences for commercial space tourism.
• Axiom SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Axiom Space is collaborating with Rosen College on space hospitality research, exploring how hospitality and food science can adapt to orbital and long-duration space travel. Along with Blue Origin, Axiom Space represents Rosen College's entry into the emerging commercial space tourism sector.
• José AndrésminorOthers · 1 January 2025Renowned chef José Andrés is engaged in discussions with Rosen College regarding the future of space hospitality and culinary equipment development, supporting the college's space food and beverage research initiatives.
• UCF Florida Space Institute (Phil Metzger)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-directed the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (Mission 21) alongside Dr. Amy Gregory. Dr. Phil Metzger, planetary scientist at UCF's Florida Space Institute, brings engineering and space science expertise to the partnership, enabling Rosen students to explore food preparation and preservation in microgravity.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rosencollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/rosencollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucfrosencollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/rosencollege
• Xx.com/rosencollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rosen College of Hospitality Management