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

THOMAS HILL DISCUSSES TOURISM DATA MODELS - THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION October 5th, 2018

Thomas Hill discusses Tourism Data Models –The Florida Department of Transportation

Thomas Hill, State Modeling Manager for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) spoke on Friday, October 5th to EFTI Faculty, Staff, and students about the importance of Tourism and Travel in Florida. Hill holds both his Undergraduate and Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Florida State University, and is currently working on updating the Florida Statewide Passenger and Freight Model which is in charge of monitoring the planning of freight routes and processes across the state of Florida.

Canadian students travel to UF, Disney to complete Disney International Academic Exchange Program July 10, 2018

Canadian students travel to UF, Disney to complete Disney International Academic Exchange Program

From June 28th to July 9th, 17 students from various Canadian universities spent the week in Gainesville before traveling down to Orlando to complete the Disney International Program. These students are all prart of the Disney International Academic Exchange Program at UF.

EFTI to co-host Future of Tourism conference in Petra, Jordan June 19, 2018

EFTI to co-host Future of Tourism conference in Petra, Jordan

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute will be co-hosting a conference titled “Future of Tourism in the Golden Triangle, Jordan: Destination Competitiveness, Connectivity, and Sustainability” from August 8-9, 2018 with the University of Jordan and the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority.

Tourism Analytics Program

Tourism Anayltics Program

The Master of Science in Tourism and Recreation Management (TRM) is a 30 credit hour degree and offers two concentrations and two specializations.

EFTI presents at Alachua County Hospitality Council June 6, 2018

EFTI presents at Alachua County Hospitality Council

On June 6th, 2018, Dr. Craig Schmitt spoke in front of the Alachua County Hospitality Council at their monthly meeting held at Backstreet Blues Chop House & Oyster Bar.

Chris Thompson awarded the first-ever National Tourism Leadership Award May 9, 2018

Chris Thompson awarded the first-ever National Tourism Leadership Award

Chris Thompson, CEO of Brand USA and one of EFTI’s newest board members, received the first-ever National Tourism Leadership Award presented by Skal International- USA.

Dr. Pennington-Gray featured in Newsweek Japan May 7, 2018

Dr. Pennington-Gray featured in Newsweek Japan

Dr. Pennington-Gray highlighted the work that the Tourism Crisis Management Initiative has been conducting to help the tourist to be responsible and engage in safe tourism practices and to help the industry to be prepared for terrorism attacks.

Dr. Stepchenkova awarded 2018-2019 Term Professorship May 7, 2018

Dr. Stepchenkova awarded 2018-2019 Term Professorship

The University of Florida established 750 Term Professorships university-wide to further recognize and reward faculty achievements.

Drs. Kim and Thapa travel to Maryland for NERR Symposium April 26, 2018

Drs. Kim and Thapa travel to Maryland for NERR Symposium

Dr. Jin-Won Kim, Dr. Brijesh Thapa, and graduate student Eunjung Yang traveled to Annapolis, Maryland to participate in the 2018 National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR).

Drs. Fesenmaier and Schmitt joined by advisory board members to present research at FADMO April 23, 2018

Drs. Fesenmaier and Schmitt joined by advisory board members to present research at FADMO

Dr. Craig Schmitt and Dr. Dan Fesenmaier traveled to Palm Coast, Florida to present in the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations’ 2018 Marketing Summit.

Faculty and graduate students travel to AAG Annual Meeting for research presentations April 20, 2018

Faculty and graduate students travel to AAG Annual Meeting for research presentations

From April 10-14, 2018, six graduate students and three faculty members traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana for the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting.

Advisory board previews FADMO presentations and interacts with students at Industry Insights April 16, 2018

Advisory board previews FADMO presentations and interacts with students at Industry Insights

After the morning research presentations and the business meeting in the early afternoon of April 13th, 2018, the advisory board participated in an Industry Insights session where they shared their knowledge and expertise to a group of 40+ students, faculty, staff, and the rest of the advisory board.

Advisory Board participates in research presentations, GatorEye Demonstration April 16, 2018

Advisory Board participates in research presentations, GatorEye Demonstration

In addition to the general business meeting joined by the Dean’s Leadership Council, the EFTI Advisory Board participated in research presentations and student interactions on their visit to Gainesville on April 13th.

Dr. Hernández-Guerra discusses growing network model in EFTI seminar April 9, 2018

Dr. Hernández-Guerra discusses growing network model in EFTI seminar

On April 6th, 2018, the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute hosted visiting scholar, Dr. Juan M. Hernández-Guerra, for a seminar on understanding the links between hotels and activities in a tourism destination using a growing network model.

Dr. Kirilenko travels to Singapore for United Nations GEO-6 Meeting April 9, 2018

Dr. Kirilenko travels to Singapore for United Nations GEO-6 Meeting

GEO is a regular report focused on the ongoing changes in environment, impacts of these changes on people and economics, and policies, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Drs. Pennington Gray and Schroeder travel to Finland for research presentation on crisis management March 26th, 2018

Drs. Pennington Gray and Schroeder travel to Finland for research presentation on crisis management

Dr. Pennington-Gray presented information on crisis management planning, while Dr. Schroeder presented information on tourism crisis management’s best practices.

Dr. Almeyda Zambrano travels to South America and develops new study abroad program March 26, 2018

Dr. Almeyda Zambrano travels to South America and develops new study abroad program

From March 18th to 24th, Dr. Angélica Almeyda Zambrano traveled to South America and interacted with new colleagues, developed a study abroad program focused on sustainable tourism for UF students in the Galapagos, and started discussions on a potential study abroad program on anthropology and tourism in the Galapagos.

Dr. Fesenmaier discusses global tourism industry in CGTN America interview February 21, 2018

Dr. Fesenmaier discusses global tourism industry in CGTN America interview

Interviewed by news anchor Rachel Akuffo, Dr. Dan Fesenmaier spoke about the recent trend in the global travel tourism industry in a brief “Global Business” segment on CGTN America.

Dr. Gibson and her graduate students present research at TALS Conference in Indianapolis February 20, 2018

Dr. Gibson and her graduate students present research at TALS Conference in Indianapolis

In Mid-Febraury, Dr. Heather Gibson and her PhD students traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to present and participate in a workshop at The Academy of Leisure Sciences Conference.