Harris Rosen

Harris Rosen (born September 9, 1939 in Manhattan, New York City, New York) is an American Jewish businessman and investor. He founded Rosen Hotels & Resorts in 1974, and serves as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer.

Rosen is widely known in the Central Florida area due to his philanthropy, and was named the Orlando Sentinel's Central Floridian of the Year in 2011.

Early life
Rosen was born in 1939 in Manhattan. He attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from their School of Hotel Administration. He then served in the United States Army for three years in Germany and South Korea.

Career
Rosen started his career at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City as a convention salesman, and worked at other hotels including various Hilton Hotels, and the New Yorker Hotel. Rosen eventually joined the Walt Disney Company as Director of Hotel Planning. In 1974, Rosen left Disney and purchased his first hotel, a Quality Inn on International Drive in Southwest Orlando (Orange County). That purchase marked the beginning of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, which now administers seven hotels, resorts and retreats in the Orlando metropolitan area.

Today, Rosen Hotels & Resorts administers 6,300 rooms, has 3,500 employees, and is valued at over $500 million.

Philanthropy
In 2002, Rosen donated a 20 acre site and $25 million to the University of Central Florida to develop the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

His efforts extend far beyond UCF, including large involvement in Tangelo Park. These efforts include scholarships for members of the community who are accepted to vocational school, college or university in the state of Florida, and an alternative spring break for Cornell students who wish to spend their vacation mentoring students from Tangelo Park.

Rosen currently serves as a charter member of the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees.