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October 9, 2026 |
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Thank You to Our Back of the House Sponsors |
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CFHLA Foundation Releases 2025 Community Impact Report |
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The CFHLA Foundation’s 2025 Community Impact Report reflects a year of meaningful investment in the people, schools, and communities that help make Central Florida thrive.
In 2025, the Foundation provided $241,750 in total giving, including $160,300 in scholarships supporting future hospitality leaders and $81,450 in grants and charitable contributions benefiting education, workforce development, and community organizations. CFHLA members also collected more than 306,000 essential items for local students and strengthened 111 Adopt-A-School partnerships across the region.
Behind every dollar, donation, and partnership is an opportunity to make a difference—helping students access the resources they need, opening doors to educational and career opportunities, and strengthening the communities where our members live and work.
This impact is made possible by the generosity and commitment of our CFHLA members, partners, donors, and volunteers.
Together, we are doing more than giving back. We are investing in people, building pathways to success, and helping shape a stronger future for Central Florida’s hospitality industry and the communities it serves. |
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Congratulations to CFHLA Leadership Mentoring Class V! |
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This week, CFHLA celebrated the graduation of 16 emerging hospitality leaders from the CFHLA Leadership Mentoring Program, Class V, recognizing their commitment to professional growth and the 32 industry professionals who shared their time, knowledge, and expertise as mentors throughout the year.
Launched in 2022, the program is helping shape the future of Central Florida’s hospitality industry by developing diverse talent, strengthening leadership skills, and creating pathways to executive-level opportunities. Since its inception, more than 65 hospitality professionals have graduated from the program, with each mentee benefiting from the guidance of at least two leaders representing CFHLA lodging and allied member businesses.
As part of the celebration, Class V participated in a leadership discussion featuring representatives from local destination marketing organizations and government who shared career insights, practical advice, and ways to become more engaged in the Central Florida community.
Congratulations to our 16 Class V graduates:
Megan Synnott, Human Resources Manager - Training & Compliance, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort
Othman Yacoubi, IT Infrastructure Manager,
CFHLA extends its heartfelt appreciation to the 32 hospitality leaders who served as mentors, investing their time, sharing their expertise, and providing guidance to help shape Central Florida’s next generation of hospitality leaders. Their willingness to share their experiences and support the professional growth of others is at the heart of this program’s success.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our mentors and sponsors for helping build the next generation of hospitality leadership. By investing in mentorship and developing tomorrow’s leaders today, CFHLA is helping build a stronger, more connected hospitality industry for generations to come. |
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Celebrating 30 Years of Hospitality Excellence at Caribe Royale Orlando |
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Congratulations to the Caribe Royale Orlando on celebrating your 30th anniversary this week, along with 11 of the original team members who are still working for the property today!
Since opening in 1996, the AAA Four Diamond all-suite resort has continued to evolve, most recently with significant enhancements to its dining, villa accommodations, and guest experiences. |
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On behalf of CFHLA, we extend our sincere appreciation to Amaury Piedra, Vice President of Operations and Managing Director, for his continued partnership and leadership within our hospitality community.
We also want to recognize the Don & Lorraine Freeberg Foundation for its tremendous support of the CFHLA Foundation and its commitment to investing in the next generation of hospitality professionals. Through this partnership, more than $400,000 has been distributed over the past decade for deserving students who are pursuing future careers within the hospitality profession. Each of these students has received life-changing opportunity, including full-ride scholarships and internships.
Congratulations again to the entire Caribe Royale Orlando team on three decades of success! We truly enjoyed celebrating this exciting milestone with you and cheers to 30 more!
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Honoring Valencia College's Legacy at Red, Black, and Boundless Gala |
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CFHLA was proud to support Valencia College at the Foundation’s Red, Black, and Boundless Gala this past weekend, celebrating six decades of transforming lives, creating opportunities, and strengthening Central Florida through education.
With more than 200,000 alumni and nearly 70,000 students enrolled annually, Valencia College continues to play a vital role in our region’s success, preparing students with the skills and experience needed to strengthen our workforce and support the future of hospitality.
CFHLA is grateful to Valencia College President Dr. Kathleen Plinske, Dr. Carla McKnight, and Foundation Board Chair Sheri Torres for their leadership, hospitality, and continued partnership in advancing hospitality and culinary education.
For more than 30 years, CFHLA has partnered with Valencia College to support its Hospitality and Culinary programs. Through the generosity of our members, CFHLA has contributed more than $142,100 in gifts and in-kind contributions to the Valencia College Foundation. Since 2001, the CFHLA Foundation has awarded more than $209,250 in student scholarships to Valencia students. Additionally, $72,100 in scholarships has fully funded 12 employees completing Valencia’s accelerated Residential Maintenance or HVAC training programs.
These investments represent more than financial support, they open doors to education, strengthen career pathways, and help develop the skilled professionals who will shape Central Florida’s hospitality industry for years to come. We are proud of this longstanding partnership and the lasting impact it continues to make in our community. |
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CFHLA Connects with Future Hospitality Leaders at Bethune-Cookman University |
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This week, several of our CFHLA leaders visited Bethune-Cookman University and met with university executive leadership and students in the Hospitality Management program, within the College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about BCU’s hospitality programs, connect directly with students preparing for careers in the industry, and discuss new opportunities to partner with the university and Central Florida’s hospitality community.
As CFHLA continues to expand its educational partnerships from across the region and state, we remain focused on creating pathways for all students to gain industry experience, build professional relationships, and discover career opportunities across Central Florida’s world-class hospitality industry.
We look forward to building this new partnership with Bethune-Cookman University and supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders. |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OCTOBER MEMBERS OF THE MONTH |
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CFHLA is proud to recognize Daniel Vidal of Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate as our Lodging Member of the Month for October!
Daniel’s dedication to CFHLA is reflected in his leadership on our Engineers’ Council, his participation in signature events, and his consistent willingness to share his time and expertise. His engagement has helped strengthen connections among hospitality professionals and supported the collaboration that keeps our industry moving forward.
We are grateful for Daniel’s continued involvement and the leadership he brings to CFHLA and the broader hospitality community.
CFHLA is also excited to recognize Julie Schroeder of Your Environment’s Solution as our Allied Member of the Month for October!
Julie’s commitment to CFHLA goes well beyond membership. From supporting signature events and participating in the Patriot Day Adopt-A-Station Program to serving on the Engineers’ Clay Shoot Fundraising Committee, she consistently finds ways to contribute to our association and community.
Her generosity, thoughtful feedback, and willingness to lend a hand make her a valued partner and an important part of CFHLA’s hospitality network. We sincerely appreciate Julie’s continued support and the positive impact of her involvement.
Once again, we are honored to recognize and celebrate Daniel and Julie as our October Members of the Month! |
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CONNECT WITH CFHLA |
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About CFHLA
The mission of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association is to represent the Central Florida Hospitality Industry, by setting the standard of excellence through advocacy, collaboration, education, recognition, and service. |