Harris Rosen, the founder, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, died on Monday at the age of 85, according to a statement from the company:
"On behalf of the Rosen family, 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."
—Frank Santos, vice president, Rosen Hotels & Resorts
American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Rosanna Maietta also issued a statement:
“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. … 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.”
A Family Business
Born to parents with roots in Austria-Hungary and Russia, Rosen grew up in New York City’s Lower East Side. His father worked at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel as a sign painter. “I was intrigued with the hotel business,” Rosen told Hotel Management in a 2019 interview. “I worked with Dad on Saturdays … he would explain the business to me and I thought it sounded like fun.”
He graduated from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and joined the team at The Waldorf-Astoria as a file clerk in the personnel department, later becoming a convention salesman, then entering the Hilton Hotels management training program. While with Hilton, he served in a variety of management roles at properties including the New Yorker, Cape Kennedy Hilton and Pittsburgh Hilton. He later became assistant GM of the Dallas Statler Hotel.
Rosen purchased his first hotel in 1974, launching Rosen Hotels & Resorts. The company now has seven properties with more than 6,300 guestrooms and suites.
In addition to founding his hotel company, Rosen founded the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, donating $10 million and 20 acres to construct the school. He also provided a $2 million scholarship endowment for UCF that was matched by the state.
Beyond Hospitality
Rosen also supported education and health initiatives, creating a self-insuring health-care program for his employees that includes an on-site medical center. Dave Chase, CEO and founder of Health Rosetta, eulogized Rosen on LinkedIn with a post describing him as a “Transformative Force for Good”: “By reimagining employee healthcare from the ground up, Rosen created what we now call the Health Rosetta Dividend—transforming wasteful healthcare spending into investments in education and community wellbeing,” Chase wrote. “His organization saved hundreds of millions on healthcare while delivering superior benefits, then poured those savings into uplifting Orlando's underserved communities.”
The Tangelo Park Pilot Program, meanwhile, provides free preschool for neighborhood toddlers and an all-expenses-paid college education—from books to board—for people living in the eponymous Orlando neighborhood who were accepted into qualifying schools. “In an area once plagued by crime where tourists were directed for drugs, hope bloomed,” Chase wrote. “High school graduation rates soared to nearly 100 [percent]. Crime plummeted 78 [percent]. Hundreds of students received full scholarships covering tuition, room, board, and books. The Rosen Scholars program produced doctors, lawyers, educators, and other professionals who returned to serve their community, creating a virtuous cycle of success and service.”