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407-332-5212, mary@deatrickpr.com

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ORLANDO (April 8, 2013)– Food and wine that capture the fusion of free-spirited nature with the stylish sophistication of the Pacific Northwest are the inspiration behind a tasty trip along the Oregon Trail during the next Vine & Dine event at the Rosen Centre and its award-winning Everglades restaurant. This latest exclusive, one-of-a-kind dining experience begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 26.

Everglades Head Chef Fred Vlachos will create a unique, five-course “Oregon’s Town & Country Affair” inspired by the scenic Dundee Hills wine country of the Beaver State and the contemporary style that defines its most populous city, Portland. Each course will be paired with wines that include famous Pinot Gris and Pinot Noirs from the best of Oregon’s 300 or so wineries such as Chehalem, Lange Estate (Wine & Spirits magazine 2012 Winery of the Year) and Shea Vineyards, which are blessed with grapes similar to those grown in the Alsace and Burgundy regions of France because of the region’s similar soil and climate.

Chef Fred will start off the evening with an elegant King Prawn salad accented by Raspberry and Cardamom coulis, followed by a traditionally rustic Morel Chicken Pot Pie. The intermezzo is a plum sorbet that sets the stage for Venison Steak with Oregon Black Porter Sauce. The main course will be accompanied by Shea Vineyard Estate 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, voted seventh on Wine Spectator magazines “Top 100 of 2012.” Concluding the experience is a beautiful Pear Tarte Tatin, which takes the French dessert classic made with apples and gives it a true Oregon twist using pears and hazelnuts.

“Oregon’s Town & Country Affair” will be followed by two more Vine & Dine events in coming months. “It’s All a Blend” on Friday, May 17 will showcase blended wines and fusion food. Then on Friday, June 28, Chef Fred will create a wine-and-dinner pairing of the century, of sorts: “Robert Mondavi’s 100th Birthday” honors the wine icon’s best wines and favorite dishes.

Each Vine & Dine event begins with a reception in Everglades Bar featuring a welcome wine or unique wine cocktail. The group then adjourns to Everglades restaurant – offering a comfortable, yet refined setting that evokes the natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere of the Florida Everglades – for a multi-course gourmet dinner highlighted by fresh, seasonal ingredients and wines expertly selected to complement the cuisine. During dinner, guests may engage in casual conversation about wines with an experienced wine maker or knowledgeable sommelier chosen for each event. Guests can also enter to win exciting raffle prizes, such as bottles of wine, wine-related items or hotel stays. An intimate dining experience, each Vine & Dine event is limited to no more than 40 guests, ensuring personal attention for each attendee.

The cost of each Vine & Dine dinner is $75 per person, plus tax and 20 percent gratuity. Diners may make their evenings even more special by spending the night in a deluxe guest room for a special rate. As with all Everglades dining experiences, valet parking is complimentary. For Vine & Dine reservations and more details, call 407-996-8560. For more information, visit www.evergladesrestaurant.com or www.rosencentre.com.

Vine & Dine dinners can be customized for private group events. The Everglades restaurant’s extensive wine list, which features an array of wines from all regions, winemaking styles and price points, allows the culinary team to work with event and meeting planners to arrange unique experiences within any

budget. The restaurant also offers an extensive selection of organic wines from wineries that share the hotel’s passion for protecting the environment and creating quality products in a sustainable manner.

Rosen Centre has received Meetings & Conventions’ prestigious Gold Platter Award, which is given to select properties throughout the nation that demonstrate creative and culinary excellence. Just minutes away from the Orlando International Airport and the area’s most popular theme parks and attractions, Rosen Centre is located at 9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. For more information, visit www.rosencentre.com or call (800) 800-9840.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212, mary@deatrickpr.com
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ORLANDO (April 8, 2013) – Typical American family life used to be a hard-working Dad coming home from work to a dutiful wife who had drink in hand, dinner in the oven and the kids done with homework and dressed for bed. Weekends often meant golf and cocktails with the guys, maybe a massage to rub out the rat-race stress.

Well, let’s just say those days are, for the most part, a bygone era. But this Father’s Day, Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando is giving Dads a true retro taste of what being pampered used to be like: two nights at a luxurious AAA Four Diamond hotel with discounts on room rate, rounds of golf and spa treatments.

Guests booking the “Who’s Your Daddy-O” Father’s Day package can stay two nights at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel between June 14-16, 2013, for just $159 plus tax, with 25 percent off greens fees at the Shingle Creek Golf Club and spa treatments at The Spa at Shingle Creek. For just $50 more — $209 plus tax – Dad and family can enjoy their two nights in an upgraded one-bedroom suite.

The offer can be booked at any time based on availability. The package includes:

• Two nights in a luxury guest room
• Late check-out at 4 p.m.
• 25 percent off greens fees at Shingle Creek Golf Club and treatments at The Spa at Shingle Creek
• Complimentary self-parking
• Complimentary fitness center
• Complimentary high-speed WiFi and Internet access in guest rooms and public areas
• Complimentary daily scheduled transportation to Universal Orlando^®, SeaWorld Orlando^®, Aquatica^® and Wet ‘n Wild Orlando^® (reservations required)

Guests can also enjoy a poolside BBQ from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, for an additional cost

Package rates do not include tax or gratuities and are based on availability. Package does not apply to convention, meeting or other related group business and cannot be combined with any other promotions, coupons or offers. To book, call 866-996-6338 and mention “Who’s Your Daddy-O Father’s Day Leisure Package” or visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com/fathers-day-package.

The Shingle Creek Golf club features an 18-hole, par 72 (7,149 yards) championship golf course designed by David Harman. The course lies along historic Shingle Creek and features interconnected waterways, undulating fairways, breathtaking 360° views and five diamond service standards.

While Dad might be familiar with the old-fashioned alcohol back rub by a burly male masseuse, guests indulging in treatments at The Spa at Shingle Creek will find a one-of-a-kind spa experience rooted in the area’s rich history, the surrounding landscape and the traditions of Florida’s indigenous people. Its signature treatments draw on the restorative powers of the area’s indigenous fauna and are reflective of Rosen Shingle Creek’s Florida roots, incorporating citrus and cedar scents in the signature salt scrub, body lotion, body butter and body spritz, while indulging guests in the warm, woodsy feel of nearby Shingle Creek.

About Rosen Shingle Creek

The AAA Four Diamond, 1,500-room Rosen Shingle Creek is conveniently located at 9939 Universal Blvd., just off the International Drive tourist district and 10 minutes from the Orlando International Airport. Among the many honors the hotel has earned is Meetings & Conventions (M&C) magazine’s Gold Platter Award, a “best of the best” award which is given only to the top catering departments at convention properties across the country. To book a room, guests may call the Rosen Shingle Creek reservations line at (866) 996-6338. For more information, visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call (866) 996-9939. For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts, visit www.rosenhotels.com.

Orange County Update – Rosen Plaza Skybridge

Rosen Hotels & Resorts celebrated a milestone March 1, 2013 as it announced plans to build a new skybridge connecting Rosen Plaza, its 800-room convention hotel, with the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) West Building. The pedestrian skybridge will be named the Gary Sain Memorial Bridge, in honor of the previous Visit Orlando President & CEO who passed away in May 2012. Sain had led the region’s main tourism-marketing agency since 2007, bringing about reorganization, a new vision and a name change to what had for years been called the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or Orlando CVB.

Construction of the $3 million bridge will be entirely funded by Rosen Hotels & Resorts, completing the final link in connecting OCCC with adjacent International Drive hotels. Rosen Plaza’s sister property, Rosen Centre, installed an aerial walkway for pedestrians in March 2011. The bridges are designed to provide meetings attendees with a safe, weather-proof and traffic-free “commute” from their guestroom to the convention center.

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ORLANDO (March 21, 2013) – While Rosen Hotels & Resorts prides itself on practicing green initiatives 24 hours a day with little fanfare or promotion, the company will be highlighting one of those hours this Saturday during the national Earth Hour celebration to help educate hotel guests about the importance of living as eco-friendly as possible.

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in which individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday March 23, 2013 to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.

The seven Orlando Rosen Hotels & Resorts properties will be turning off all non-essential interior and exterior lighting to include the rose garden and fountains at Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza. In addition, special activities such as candlelit dinners and glow drinks for guests will be served in hotel restaurants.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts and its seven Orlando hotels will be joining hundreds of millions of participants in more than 7,000 cities and towns, in 152 countries and territories, and across seven continents in showing support for the importance of sustainable action around the world.

“We don’t claim to be the first hotel group to implement a green meetings initiative, nor do we claim to be the experts, but we can say that we have been practicing conservation efforts for many years and continue to look for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible,” said Harris Rosen, President & COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts’ three Orlando convention properties, the 800-room Rosen Plaza, 1334-room Rosen Centre and 1500-room Rosen Shingle Creek, were each designated Two Palm Green Lodges in 2009 under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s Florida Green Lodging Program. Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.

Long before Florida’s Green Lodging program was established, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has made efforts to be responsible stewards of the area’s resources. For example, each of the hotels offers guests the opportunity to use linens and towels more than once, and each has water-efficient toilets and washing machines. Outdoor lighting and back-of-house lighting is operated by sensors. Programmable thermostats, Energy-Star appliances and paper and newspaper recycling programs are among the many ways the hotels lessen their eco-footprint. Rosen Shingle Creek goes as far as to convert used cooking oil into bio-fuel to operate its golf course maintenance equipment. A website www.rosengreenmeetings.com shows meeting planners the ways in which Rosen Hotels & Resorts is already working to help the environment, provides 10 meeting planner tips for holding a greener meeting and offers numerous links to learning more about “going green.”

Rosen Hotels & Resorts also offers its associates the opportunity to conserve resources by offering Lynx bus passes via a payroll deduction program, posts a directory of associates interested in carpooling and offers alternate work schedules of four 10-hour days in certain departments to help reduce gas costs.

These energy-saving programs are imperceptible to hotel guests, proving that upscale accommodations don’t have to waste resources such as water and energy, to provide a superior guest experience. “Guests may never notice the small changes we’ve made to help save our planet, but we do them because it’s simply the right thing to do,” said Rosen. “Those guests who do take note applaud our efforts because they, too, are socially responsible citizens who are concerned about the effects man has on his environment.”

Over the past 38 years, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has grown from 256 to approximately 6,300 rooms, approximately six percent of the total guest rooms in Central Florida. Today, the Rosen family of hotels includes three award-winning meetings properties — Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza — and four leisure properties — Quality Inn International, Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando, Rosen Inn closest to Universal and Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista. All seven Rosen Hotels are located in the Orlando tourism corridor and remain committed to providing outstanding value for all guests. For more information, visit www.rosenhotels.com or call 866-33-ROSEN.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212 , mary@deatrickpr.com

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ORLANDO (March 18, 2013) – Rosen Hotels & Resorts announced today the appointment of Dr. Ronald Ryan as the new Medical Director for Rosen Medical Center, A Place for Healing and Wellness. The 12,000- square-foot medical center opened in February 2012 and is located at 7656 International Drive near the Quality Inn International hotel, one of seven Rosen properties in Orlando.

Dr. Ryan will work together with Director of Health Services, Kenneth Aldridge, RN, BSN, MS-H.S.A., and the medical team to continue enhancing medical center services for a patient base of 7,800, including 3,500 Rosen Hotels & Resorts associates and their dependents, as well as providing services to the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF. Most recently, Dr. Ryan served as Associate Medical Director and Staff Physician at Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Prior to that, he worked in urgent care at Florida Hospital’s Centra Care and Carolinas Healthcare System where he specialized in outpatient family care while running Total Family Healthcare. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala., and a doctorate in medicine from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa., then completed his residency at Florida Hospital in Orlando. He is board certified in family practice. In his free time, Dr. Ryan volunteers at Shepherd’s Hope, a local free health clinic, and serves on the board of trustees for South Lake Hospital in Clermont.

“We are continually evaluating our in-house healthcare offerings to ensure the highest quality care at the lowest cost to our associates,” said Harris Rosen, President & COO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts. “Therefore, we are proud to welcome Dr. Ronald Ryan in the role of Medical Director to manage our growing team of physicians and specialists. His expertise, as well as his dedication to personalized care, wellness and prevention, undoubtedly will be a wonderful fit for Rosen Hotels & Resorts and our associates.”

The medical center is just one part of the hotel group’s extensive in-house healthcare program which provides personalized care with a focus on wellness, healing, prevention, low premiums, minimal co-payments for office visits and prescriptions, and readily available appointments. The multi-lingual staff includes primary care medical doctors, nurse practitioner (ARNP), physician assistant, a full-time social worker, a part-time podiatrist, a part-time dietician, a part-time physical therapist and a part-time chiropractor.

Features of the Rosen Hotels & Resorts program include preventative care such as annual physicals, comprehensive screening lab tests, well-baby care, pregnancy case management, weight management and dietician services, smoking cessation, flu shots and vaccines, mental health and dental benefits, as well as exercise programs, classes and fitness groups.

The one-year old medical center took the place of the previous 4,000-square-foot facility that was located within the Quality Inn International hotel. With an additional 8,000 square feet, the newer facility is able to provide space for more treatment rooms, more rooms for mammograms and other specialty screenings, examination rooms for specialists, a physical therapy/rehabilitation center and an adjoining fitness unit. The company also employs a wellness coordinator to oversee an ever-growing roster of free health and fitness programs offered to employees.

In terms of preventive medicine, Rosen Medical Center, A Place for Healing and Wellness, conducts prostate screening exams, mammograms for breast cancer, ultrasounds for screening aortic aneurysms and carotid artery blockages, and dexascans (DXA) for osteoporosis. Patients are regularly referred to a gastroenterologist for screening colonoscopies. A variety of other tests can be performed in-house, including X-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG), and more, as well as lab work. Programs also exist for diabetes care, prenatal care and pregnancy prevention. A comprehensive pharmacy program includes an in-house pharmacy conveniently dispensing the most common medications on-site for no or little co-pay to the associate and additional programs that provide prescriptions to purchase over-the-counter medications at prices less than retail, as well as 90-day mail order and 90-day retail programs.

In keeping with the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility, the medical center building was constructed according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified standards as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council.

About Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Over the past 38 years, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has grown from 256 to approximately 6,300 rooms, approximately six percent of the total guest rooms in Central Florida. Today, the Rosen family of hotels includes three award-winning meetings properties — Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza — and four leisure properties — Quality Inn International, Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando, Rosen Inn closest to Universal and Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista. All seven Rosen Hotels are located in the Orlando tourism corridor and remain committed to providing outstanding value for all guests. For more information, visit www.rosenhotels.com or call 866-33-ROSEN.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212 , mary@deatrickpr.com

Photography available at http://www.rosenhotels.com/press-room-media-gallery/photo-gallery/

ORLANDO (March 13, 2013, 2013) – Baseball fans eager for the start of the season and warm weather can book a Rosen Hotels & Resorts Spring Training Getaway Package to sunny Orlando now through March 31, 2013, starting at just $59.99 a night. This special package allows guests to stay minutes from ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World® Resort, where the Atlanta Braves are scheduled to host 18 spring training games this year.

The Spring Training Package is available at all four Rosen Hotels & Resorts value-priced, AAA Three Diamond properties, including the Quality Inn International, Rosen Inn closest to Universal, Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando and Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista (LBV). Guests save with an enviable rate and indulge in the following perks when they book the Spring Training Getaway Package now through March 31, 2013:

• Buy-one-get-one-free breakfast
• Two free welcome drinks
• Complimentary internet/WiFi in guest rooms and public areas.
• Complimentary daily scheduled transportation to Universal Orlando®, SeaWorld Orlando®, Aquatica® and Wet ‘n Wild Orlando® (reservations required). The Clarion Inn LBV also provides complimentary shuttle service to Walt Disney World® theme parks.
• Complimentary parking
• Deluxe accommodations with two double beds, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and electronic safe
• Kids Eat FREE Program (children 9 and under eat free with each paying adult)
• Kids stay FREE

To book online or for more details, visit www.orlandohotels4less.com or call 800-999-7300 and ask for the Spring Training Getaway package. This special package rate is based on double occupancy and does not include tax. Not valid on existing reservations, for groups, during special events, holidays or conventions. This offer may not be combined with any other rate plan or discount and is based on availability.

Each of the participating hotels has completed extensive renovations over the past year, including all new furniture that was made in America, as well as new carpet, window treatments, upgraded art work, luxurious pillow-top mattresses and stylish, yet comfortable bedding. Private bathrooms now feature granite finish vanity and modern decorative lighting. Each hotel also features a Kids Eat FREE program where kids ages 9 and younger eat from the buffet at no charge with each paying adult.

The 728-room Quality Inn International (7600 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819) offers two swimming pools and a children’s wading pool. The hotel features an all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and dinner buffet plus a deli with snacks and convenience items. Onsite dining options include the newly renovated Fountainview Restaurant featuring a breakfast and dinner buffet, Topsy Turvey Lounge and the Lite Bite Mini-Market & Deli.

The Rosen Inn closest to Universal (6327 International Drive, Orlando, FL, 32819) offers 315 guest rooms, a swimming pool and four onsite dining choices including the Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, the Palms Dining Room (full American breakfast buffet) as well as International Pub and Lite-Bite Deli.

The Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando (9000 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819) offers 1,020 guest rooms in six high-rise buildings. Three swimming pools and a sports bar offer downtime from the theme parks. Dining options include both breakfast and dinner restaurant buffets as well as the new Smoooth Java Coffee Bar™ featuring Starbucks® coffee products. Guests who need to do a little work while on vacation may also take advantage of the hotel’s business center.

The Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista (8442 Palm Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819) features 640 guest rooms in four high-rise buildings as well as a playground and two swimming pools, one of which features the new “Ozzie the Otter Splash Zone.” A Comfort Zone Bar & Grill, a buffet restaurant and a deli market offer plenty of onsite dining options. The hotel offers guests complimentary scheduled shuttle service to four Walt Disney World® theme parks, Universal Orlando®, SeaWorld Orlando®, Aquatica® and Orlando Premium Outlets (reservations required for shopping).

The three International Drive properties offer guests complimentary scheduled shuttle service to Universal Orlando®, SeaWorld Orlando®, Aquatica® and Wet ‘n Wild Orlando® (reservations required). The I-Ride Trolley stops in front of each hotel, providing low-cost transportation to more than 75 stops in the International Drive attractions area. The three hotels are conveniently located off I-4, on International Drive, in the heart of the attractions area and just 12-15 minutes from Orlando International Airport.

For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts’ four value-priced properties, visit www.orlandohotels4less.com.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212 , mary@deatrickpr.com

For photography, visit http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/press-room/photo-gallery/

ORLANDO (March 12, 2013) – As blizzards pound much of the country, the forecast remains sunny and warm in Orlando, where travelers seeking an Orlando golf getaway will find eggs-actly the deal they’re looking for at the AAA Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek hotel and its championship 18-hole Shingle Creek Golf Club.

The “Easter Stay and Play Special” is good from March 28 through April 2, 2013 and is just $179 plus applicable taxes per night. The package includes one deluxe guest room at the AAA Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek and two rounds of golf per room night booked at Shingle Creek Golf Club. The package also includes 25 percent off the hotel’s fabulous Easter Day Buffet Brunch on March 31 and complimentary in-room WiFi and internet, which is always free with any hotel stay.

The package is subject to availability and cannot be used by groups or meeting attendees or with any other promotions or offers. To book this offer, call (866) 996-6338 or visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com.

Rated a Golf Digest four star “Best Places to “Play,” Shingle Creek Golf Club is a David Harman designed 18-hole, 7,149 yard championship course features undulating fairways and interconnecting waterways bordered by the natural backdrop of dense oaks and pines along historic Shingle Creek. Shingle Creek Golf Club features a state-of-the-art practice facility, the award-winning Brad Brewer Golf Academy, a world-class clubhouse, golf carts with GPS yardage system, complimentary valet parking, full-service golf shop, and club and shoe rentals.

The 1,500-room luxury Rosen Shingle Creek is conveniently located at 9939 Universal Blvd., just off exit 2 of the Beachline Expressway (S.R. 528) by the International Drive tourist district and ten minutes from the Orlando International Airport.

Rosen Shingle Creek’s Easter Day Buffet Brunch features unlimited champagne, a host of traditional favorites and a dessert extravaganza—all in all, more than 44 mouthwatering dishes to savor. Guests may dine any time between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. for just $64.95 per adult and $29.95 per child ages 4-12, plus tax and gratuity, with a 25 percent discount extended to guests who have purchased the Easter Stay and Play Special or those who are Florida residents. Children 3 and younger dine free. The 25 percent discount in not valid on tax, alcohol or in conjunction with any other discount or offer. Reservations are suggested; call 407-996-6338. For a complete menu, visit RosenShingleCreek.com/Easter.

For more information about the Shingle Creek Golf Club and the Brad Brewer Golf Academy, please visit www.shinglecreekgolf.com or call (866) 996-9933. For Rosen Shingle Creek, please visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call (866) 996-6338.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212 , mary@deatrickpr.com

ORLANDO (March 11, 2013) – For the sixth year in a row, students from Cornell University will come to Orlando to take part in an “alternative” spring break program in which they will mentor elementary and high school students from an underprivileged Orlando neighborhood.

March 16-23, Ivy League students from Ithaca, New York will spend their spring break working with youth in the Tangelo Park neighborhood of Orlando. The students will be hosted by hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen, who created the Tangelo Park Program (TPP) to benefit children and teens in the once drug- and crime-riddled neighborhood.

Created in 1994, the three-fold educational community service initiative provides free preschool for every two-, three- and four-year-old child living in the Tangelo Park neighborhood, full college or vocational school scholarships for every graduating high school senior in the area, as well as a Neighborhood Center for Families at which parents can take parenting courses and obtain counseling and other resources to help them become positive role models for their children.

The collegians will spend their days mentoring students at Tangelo Park Elementary and Dr. Phillips High School and working with preschool students at various Tangelo Park daycare facilities, and then spend their nights at Rosen’s luxurious AAA Four Diamond hotel, Rosen Shingle Creek. The students’ entire one-week stay, excluding airfare, is sponsored by Harris Rosen and the Harris Rosen Foundation.

“Not many college students would opt to spend their spring break serving the community, so we are grateful that these civic-minded young men and women have it in their hearts to make a difference,” said Rosen. “We applaud their choice to forge a different path and we guarantee they will leave here with a sense of pride and accomplishment for their sacrifice— as well as many new friends, young and old.”

Cornell students learned about Rosen’s Tangelo Park initiative after the philanthropist spoke at an entrepreneurial program at the university six years ago. After students inquired about how they could help, the Ivy League University then added Tangelo Park as one of several locations for Alternative Breaks, a program designed to provide student volunteers the opportunity to participate in alcohol and drug-free, community-based service trips during their spring and winter breaks.

Participants in the Alternative Spring Breaks program engage in reciprocal service in communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact with, learning about a variety of social issues, such as urban and rural poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness, the environment, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency. Students are immersed in culturally enriching experiences that challenge them to think critically about the social and environmental issues that shape society.

After meeting with the project’s planning committee: Harris Rosen (President & COO Rosen Hotels & Resorts), Alberta Masmoudi (Rosen Hotels & Resorts), Dr. Robert Allen (Chairman, Tangelo Park Program, former Principal of Tangelo Park Elementary School), Chuck Dziuban and Marcella Bush (both from University of Central Florida), the volunteers will begin their busy week. While at Tangelo Park Elementary, the college students will spend their mornings in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms, working with students and assisting teachers. Afternoons will be spent mentoring students from Southwest Middle School and Dr. Phillips High School. The college students will also have the opportunity to meet with the advisory board for the Tangelo Park Program, including the TPP Board of Directors: Dr. Robert Allen (President), Harris Rosen (Treasurer), JuaNita Reed (Recording Secretary); UCF Deans of College of Medicine, Health, Public Affairs, and Education, and other representatives from the University of Central Florida; as well as representatives from Orange County Public Schools, the Tangelo Park Neighborhood Center for Families, Head Start, Family Service Center, Two-Three-Four-Year-Old Program, Tangelo Baptist Church, Civic Association, YMCA, Sheriff’s office representative, Tangelo Park residents, Tangelo Park graduates and members of the Golden Stars Club.

Other activities include spending the day working with care providers and children at the ten Tangelo Park early childhood care centers that are funded through the project, helping with art projects for the Two-, Three- and Four-Year-Old program and helping with parent/students school activities.

Of those students in Tangelo who go on to four-year schools, either directly or through community college, 77% achieve a degree–far above the expectation for a community of this socioeconomic level. Of those who go on to graduate school 83% complete their programs. Tangelo students who enter community college complete their associate degree at the rate of 32%–again above the nation average. High school graduates entering vocational programs complete at a rate of 83%.

Since 1994, Tangelo Park Elementary students’ reading, writing and math scores have steadily increased. Tangelo Park Elementary School is one of very few urban elementary schools in Florida to receive an “A” grade six of the last seven years, based on the statewide scholastic FCAT exams.

Presently, the University of Central Florida is involved in a systematic study to determine the costs and benefits of the Tangelo Park Program to determine its return of investment. To date, the return appears to be $7 to society for every $1 spent.

About the Tangelo Park Pilot Program
Harris Rosen, a long-time Orlando resident, is the President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Florida’s largest independent hotel chain which includes Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre and four value-priced properties including Quality Inn International, Rodeway Inn International, Quality Inn Plaza and Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista, for a total of approximately 6,300 guest rooms.

Rosen is a trustee at the University of Central Florida and donated the land and provided the funding to build the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Rosen also donated $3.5 million to build The Jack and Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Jewish Community Campus, named in honor of his parents. He is an active conservationist and makes many other charitable donations.

For more information, contact:
Mary Deatrick, DPR
407-332-5212 , mary@deatrickpr.com

For photography, visit http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/press-room/photo-gallery/

ORLANDO (March 4, 2013) – Golfers who dream of the coveted green jacket of the Masters or the Claret Jug trophy from the British Open, but don’t have the uh, “time” to pursue a career in professional golf are invited to shoot for a slightly more attainable purse at Central Florida’s version of the Majors — the 2013 NBC Sports Radio 1080 The Team Monday after the Majors Tournaments at Orlando’s Shingle Creek Golf Club.

The four men’s majors golf tournaments are: the Masters, April 11-14 at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.; the U.S. Open, June 13-16 at the Merion Golf Club in Havertown, Penn.; the British Open, July 18-21 at Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland; and the PGA Championship, Aug. 8-11, at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY. The four Monday after the Majors tournaments will be held at Shingle Creek Golf Club immediately following each Majors event: April 15, June 17, July 22 and Aug. 12, 2013. Events begin at 8:30 a.m.

The tournaments are open to pairs and feature a two-person scramble format. Registration is $89 per person for the Masters tournament on April 15 and $79 per person for each of the remaining three tournaments. Driver’s Club members enjoy a 10 percent discount on registration. A BBQ buffet lunch and on-course beverages (including beer) are included. To register, visit www.shinglecreekgolf.com or call 407-996-1559.

“The NBC Sports Radio 1080 The Team Monday after the Majors tournaments are a fun and stress-free way for anyone who enjoys the game of golf to feel like they’re a part of the action of the Majors,” said Dave Scott, Director of Golf, Shingle Creek Golf Club. “You don’t have to play like Charl, Phil or Tiger to come out, enjoy a beautiful day on our championship course and take a chance at winning some great prizes.”

Prizes for the Monday after the Majors would include, but not be limited to apparel, equipment, certificates at local establishments, UCF sports season tickets in all three major men’s sports (football, basketball and baseball) and stay and play packages Rosen Shingle Creek.

The headline sponsor for the tournaments is Orlando’s NBC 1080 talk radio. Jerry O’Neill and Michael Tuck NBC Florida afternoon drive hosts will broadcast live from the events and will be on hand to offer commentary and award prizes at the BBQ luncheon.

Driver’s Club annual membership at Shingle Creek Golf Club offers local golfers the chance to enjoy exclusive discounts, including 10 percent off registration for the NBC Sports Radio 1080 The Team Monday after the Majors Tournaments, and the lowest rates available. Available to locals only, the annual membership is just $99 and includes:

• A round of golf upon joining
• Discounted greens fees year-round
• Discounted guest greens fees year-round
• A USA-GHIN Handicap for the year
• Ten percent off food and beverage at the Par-Take and Clubhouse Grille
• Discounted practice balls
• Twenty percent off individual private golf lessons at the Brad Brewer Golf Academy
• A second round of golf on your birthday

To sign up for the Shingle Creek Driver’s Club, visit www.shinglecreekgolf.com/the-golf-club/drivers-club/ or call 407-996-9933. Restrictions apply; offer not valid for citywide groups, conventions or with other offers or discounts.

Located at the AAA Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek hotel, Shingle Creek Golf Club has been rated one of Golf Digest’s four star “Best Places to Play” and features a state-of-the-art practice facility, the award-winning Brad Brewer Golf Academy, a world-class clubhouse, golf carts with GPS yardage system, complimentary valet parking, full-service golf shop, and club and shoe rentals. The David Harman designed 18-hole, 7,149 yard championship course features undulating fairways and interconnecting waterways bordered by the natural backdrop of dense oaks and pines along historic Shingle Creek. Tournament course conditions each day ensure golfers a consistently challenging game no matter their skill level. The 1,500-room luxury hotel is conveniently located at 9939 Universal Blvd., just off exit 2 of the Beachline Expressway (S.R. 528) by the International Drive tourist district and ten minutes from the Orlando International Airport. For more information about the Shingle Creek Golf Club and the Brad Brewer Golf Academy, please visit www.shinglecreekgolf.com or call (866) 996-9933. For Rosen Shingle Creek, please visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call (866) 996-6338.