UF EFTI

EFTI Welcomes New Director: Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute welcomes exciting leadership changes this Summer. Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu assumes the role of Director of EFTI, as well as Chair of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management at the University of Florida.

EFTI Welcomes New Director: Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute welcomes exciting leadership changes this Summer. Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu assumes the role of Director of EFTI, as well as Chair of the Department
UF EFTI

EFTI Student and Faculty develop rural community’s resilience post-hurricane through home sharing

Although some communities are just now having to deal and learn from a crisis, this time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, facing the importance of resilience for a crisis is not a new concept for some communities. Yu-Hua “Melody” Xu is a PhD candidate whose research focuses on destination resilience, community development, and sharing economy

EFTI Student and Faculty develop rural community’s resilience post-hurricane through home sharing     Although some communities are just now having to deal and learn from a crisis, this

5 Tips for Traveling this Holiday Season

5 Tips for Traveling this Holiday Season

Two weeks ago I returned to the Gainesville Airport to travel for Thanksgiving. It was my first flight since August, which for the old pre-pandemic me was really unusual. Sometimes in a fall semester I would have been at the airport multiple times a week traveling to this conference or this meeting. I approached the terminal entrance grinning as I was back in familiar territory. My check-in agent greeted me like a long lost friend and asked “where had I been?” All was well on a beautifully sunny flying day! Then came the news that a new variant had been detected and over the next few days we saw countries that had recently just opened their borders to international travelers reinstitute travel bans, quarantines, and testing protocols. It felt as though we had just had a taste of our former traveling selves only to find that the playing field had changed once again. Read More

The Journey to a Destination: What is your travel story?

The Journey to a Destination: What is your travel story?

The Journey to a Destination: What is your travel story?

Have you flown recently during the pandemic? My lovely and dear friend Ayla expressed to me that she is very concerned about how difficult it is to get from one place to another place in the state where she lives. Ayla booked a small but efficient commuter airline in July this year. It was one of two airlines that offered non-stop service to the city she wanted to visit. She needed to drive at least one hour from where she lives to a nearby airport to take this non-stop commuter airline. The plane was boarding in the airfield itself. She needed to climb up a very steep staircase to her seat. Read More

Since 9/11, Orlando theme parks have tightened security to fend off new threats

Since 9/11, Orlando theme parks have tightened security to fend off new threats

Since 9/11, Orlando theme parks have tightened security to fend off new threats

On Sept. 11, 2001, Brian Avery was an accident investigator at SeaWorld Orlando and watching the news in a conference room when footage of the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center flashed across the screen.

Shortly afterward, SeaWorld leaders made the unprecedented decision to close the park. Guests visiting SeaWorld, as well as Disney World and Universal, “left quietly” as the parks were evacuated smoothly within an hour of the attacks, according to an Orlando Sentinel article. Read More

THE FREEDOM OF MAKING DREAMS BECOME REALITY: GO, SPACE TOURISM! 

THE FREEDOM OF MAKING DREAMS BECOME REALITY: GO, SPACE TOURISM! 

THE FREEDOM OF MAKING DREAMS BECOME REALITY: GO, SPACE TOURISM!

By: Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu

In 2000, in my first semester teaching Introduction to Travel and Tourism as a young assistant professor, I asked students in my class to imagine what the exciting future of the travel and tourism industries would be; “space tourism” was one of several mentioned categories on the list in addition to robotics and artificial intelligence, sustainable tourism, cruise tourism, dark tourism, and medical tourism.

EFTI Welcomes New Board Member Scott Taylor

EFTI WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER: SCOTT TAYLOR

Scott John Taylor will be joining the EFTI Advisory Board on July 1, 2021. Scott is the President and COO of Walk-Ons Enterprises including Walk-On Bistreaux.

EFTI Welcomes New Board Member William C. Guthrie

EFTI WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER: WILLIAM C. GUTHRIE

The Triple Gator, William C. Guthrie, Co-Chair Hospitality & Leisure Team, Foley & Lardner LLP, will be joining us as EFTI Advisory Board member on July 1, 2021.

Nearly a third of travelers would consider a cruise in 2022 Author: Alisson Clark on UF News | Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash Read the original article at UF News Despite pandemic complications, 30% of travelers would con

Nearly a third of travelers would consider a cruise in 2022

Author: Alisson Clark on UF News

Despite pandemic complications, 30% of travelers would consider cruising next year, a survey from the University of Florida shows, with fans of cruising even more willing to get onboard.

Happy National Plan for Vacation Day

Happy National Plan for Vacation Day

To celebrate National Plan for Vacation Day, we talked to UF THEM expert Heather Gibson, Ph.D., professor, about how you can still plan for a vacation this year. Since there is still a lot of worry associated with traveling due to the global pandemic, we wanted to provide those who are traveling with safe travel tips.

EFTI and THEM welcome two interns for Spring 2021! The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are proud and grateful to welcome two of our very own THEM students as interns th

EFTI and THEM welcome two interns for Spring 2021!

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are proud and grateful to welcome two of our very own THEM students as interns this Spring. Both will be working closely with Dr. Rachel Fu, our Director and Department Chair, and Karen Tavares, our Communications Coordinator.

Happy World Tourism Day 2020! The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management join the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on this 40th celebration of World Tourism D

Happy World Tourism Day 2020!

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management join the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on this 40th celebration of World Tourism Day. This year’s theme is Tourism and Rural Development.

Four new board members joined us in August 2020 The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are grateful for the contribution of the industry leaders who&nb

Four new board members joined us in August 2020

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are grateful for the contribution of the industry leaders who part of our Industry Advisory Board. We take this opportunity to thank all members who have been with us for the past years sharing their experiences and insights with our faculty, researchers, students and staff. As some of them are transitioning out (while continuing to be involved as Friends of EFTI), we have new members coming in.

howard tietjen assumes as chair of EFTI Industry advisory board The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute has gone through some exciting changes this summer, including on our Industry Advisory Board. Howard Tietjen, p

HOWARD TIETJEN ASSUMES AS CHAIR OF EFTI INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute has gone through some exciting changes this summer, including on our Industry Advisory Board. Howard Tietjen, professional with around 20 years of experience in the Travel and Tourism industry and a passion for new challenges, has started his term as IAB Chair this July.

EFTI Welcomes New Director: Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute welcomes exciting leadership changes this Summer. Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu assumes the role of Director of EFTI, as well as Chair of the Department

EFTI Welcomes New Director: Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute welcomes exciting leadership changes this Summer. Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu assumes the role of Director of EFTI, as well as Chair of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management at the University of Florida.