2026 Scholarship Committee Secures Critical Support for Future Hospitality Leaders
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This year, twenty-five dedicated CFHLA Scholarship Committee Members secured a minimum of $2,500 each in monetary and/or auction donations for the CFHLA Gives Program, which raises money for Hospitality and Culinary Student Scholarships, Employee/Family Member Scholarships and Educational Grants. It is because of their generous support, our CFHLA Foundation will be able to distribute these funds to the recipients of our student scholarships and educational grants that will be announced during our CFHLA Gives Scholarship Luncheon this fall.
Thank you, CFHLA Foundation Board Chair and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, Paul Joseph, Managing Director of the Hyatt Regency Orlando for your incredible leadership and unwavering support of this important fundraising program! We also appreciate him and his entire team, for hosting a wonderful reception this week in appreciation of the 2026 Scholarship Committee Members and their collaborative fundraising efforts.
Please join us in once again thanking each of these outstanding scholarship committee members and CLICK HERE to learn more about the Scholarship Committee.
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Welcoming Our Newest Members to
CFHLA at New Member Orientation
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This week, CFHLA was excited to welcome 25 Member businesses to our first New Member Orientation of the year!
During this 90-minute session, our newest members have the opportunity to learn more about how to maximize your CFHLA membership and get connected within Central Florida's hospitality industry.
Thank you to each of the businesses that joined us and we look forward to your involvement throughout 2026 and beyond! If you are interested in attending a future new member orientation, need a refresher, and/or seeking ways to maximize your membership, please contact Jonathan Watson, Member Services Manager, at jonathan.watson@cfhla.org.
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Last Chance to Register for St. Patrick's Day Golf Open
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Time is running out to securing your spot at one of the most festive of and fun tournaments of the year, the St. Patrick’s Day Golf Open! Only a few foursomes remain and only two individual golfer spots left.
Join us on Friday, March 13th at the ChampionsGate Golf Club for 18 holes of championship golf infused with Irish spirit at every turn. Each hole will feature festive food and beverages to keep you energized and in the St. Patrick’s Day mood. After your round, enjoy an authentic Irish culinary experience for lunch that’s sure to be the high of the day.
Every golfer will receive a Power Pack loaded with play favorites including one power drive, two mulligans, and miracle string to be used one time at any hole!
Bring your best game and your luck of the Irish as you compete for the coveted Shamrock Cup and the honor of being crowned the 2026 Grand Champion
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Downtown Orlando Lodging Leaders Meet with Newly Elected City Commissioner Roger Chapin
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This week, CFHLA hosted our first Downtown Orlando Lodging Leadership Meeting of 2026 at the Kia Center. Thank you to Allen Johnson, Chief Venues Officer for the City of Orlando, for graciously hosting the meeting!
The meeting featured newly elected and CFHLA PAC endorsed City of Orlando, District 3 Commissioner Roger Chapin. Commissioner Chapin shared his vision of collaboration with our tourism and hospitality partners moving forward. Furthermore, our lodging leaders also heard valuable updates from:
Lastly, CFHLA would like to thank our 2026 Downtown Orlando Lodging Leadership meeting sponsors including:
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Lake County Lodging Leaders Hear from Discover Lake
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This week, CFHLA also hosted our first Lake County Lodging Leadership Meeting of 2026 at the South Lake Chamber of Commerce. Thank you to David Colby, President/CEO of the South Lake Chamber and Katerina Templo, CFHLA Board Member and General Manager of the Hampton Inn & Suites Clermont for graciously hosting the meeting!
The meeting featured an in-depth guest presentation from Ryan Ritchie, Director of Lake County’s Office of Tourism, about Discover Lake’s efforts in 2025 and 2026 to drive further tourism to Lake County. Additionally, he shared more opportunities for our local hoteliers to partner with Discover Lake moving forward. Furthermore, our lodging leaders heard valuable updates from:
- Jason Siegel, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Brent Nelson, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Sports Tourism at the Greater Orlando Sports Commission
CFHLA would like to thank our 2026 Lake County Lodging Leadership meeting sponsors including:
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Nominate Your Allied and Lodging Members of the Month
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CFHLA would like to hear from you, by submitting your nomination for our monthly CFHLA Lodging and Allied Member of the Month recognition. We have so many incredible members who generously give back to our community and support CFHLA’s motto of “Members Doing Business with Members!”
So help us recognize, thank and congratulate these individuals, by submitting a nomination today!
It’s very easy to complete and the nominee must:
- Be employed by a CFHLA Member Property/Allied Member Company and in good standing.
- Be actively involved in CFHLA, including serving on at least one CFHLA Committee.
- Demonstrate involvement in community service or outreach related to the hospitality industry.
- Reflect a high level of professionalism, innovation, and exceptional service to our CFHLA Members and/or the hospitality industry.
All nominations must be submitted and signed by a CFHLA member and the nominations will be reviewed on a quarterly basis by the CFHLA Nominating Committee. Be sure to submit a nomination today!
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Orlando International Airport Welcomes Historic ZIPAIR Tokyo-Orlando Flight with Passenger Festivities
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Orlando International Airport (MCO) welcomed a historic milestone this week as ZIPAIR’s inaugural nonstop passenger charter from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport touched down, marking the first direct passenger service between Florida and the Asia Pacific.
The arrival of Flight 714 was celebrated with a runway water salute, live music, and a warm welcome in Terminal C. The new service connects two of the world’s most visited destinations, Tokyo and Orlando, both home to iconic Disney experiences.
Airport leadership noted that this milestone reflects decades of effort to position Orlando as a viable Asia-Pacific route. Our tourism partners, including Visit Orlando and Experience Kissimmee, played key roles in recruiting the service.
The charter includes four roundtrip flights operating February 28, March 5, and March 10. Leaders anticipate this initial service could help pave the way for future expansion. As Florida’s busiest airport - ninth in the U.S. and 25th in the world - MCO is well positioned to welcome even more global travelers in 2026.
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Orlando World Center Marriott Champions Workforce Development at Colonial High School
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CFHLA is proud to recognize Orlando World Center Marriott for their continued partnership with Colonial High School through our Adopt-A-School program. Recently, members of the hotel’s Human Resources team -Oriana, HR Manager, and Gabriela, Senior HR Generalist - visited the campus and connected with six classes representing multiple grade levels.
During their presentation, the HR team introduced students to the property, shared the rich history of Marriott International, and hosted an engaging Q&A session to provide insight into career opportunities within the hospitality industry. Thank you again to the Orlando World Center Marriott team for investing their time and expertise to inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders at Colonial High School!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
MEMBERS OF THE MONTH
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Please join us in once again congratulating Ray Miller, General Manager, Las Palmeras by Hilton Grand Vacations, on being recognized as our February Lodging Member of the Month. Over the past year, Ray has gone above and beyond – by demonstrating his leadership and service on the Vacation Ownership Council and continued participation at all of CFHLA’s signature events. Additionally, we are very excited to now have his wealth of knowledge and professional experience on our CFHLA Board of Directors.
We also proudly recognize Hailey Bladek, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Greenery Productions, Inc., as our February Allied Member of the Month. Hailey's outstanding involvement as a 2025 VIP Member, active participation in numerous CFHLA signature events, and dedicated time on several CFHLA committees has supported many of CFHLA’s community-wide initiatives. These contributions reflect her strong commitment to strengthening Central Florida’s hospitality industry and the work of our association.
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Meet the VIP: GFL Environmental
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Why we support CFHLA:
In 2026 GFL Environmental proudly supports CFHLA because Orlando’s hospitality industry is the heartbeat of our community. We believe in learning, growing, and collaborating alongside local hotel partners, and we value CFHLA’s role in educating and connecting leaders who help shape a stronger, more sustainable future for Central Florida.
GFL Environmental provides reliable waste, recycling, and construction hauling services for hotels and commercial properties throughout the Orlando area. As a local partner, we take pride in supporting the guest experience behind the scenes through customized service plans, flexible scheduling, and sustainability-focused solutions that help Orlando continue to grow and thrive.
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Check out the latest hospitality employment opportunities in Central Florida.
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About CFHLA
6675 Westwood Blvd #210, Orlando, FL 32821
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.
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