Listen to an amazing conversation with my friend, Dr. Peter Ricci, Hospitality & Tourism Management Director and Professor at Florida Atlantic University. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry and academia, he is passionate about advancing the knowledge and practice of the dynamic and diverse field. As a clinical professor and director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Dr. Ricci leads a team of dedicated faculty and staff who provide high-quality education and research to our students and stakeholders.

Peter's mission is to prepare the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals with the skills, competencies, and values they need to succeed in a competitive and globalized market. He also strives to foster strong industry partnerships and collaborations that enhance the relevance and impact of the program. Dr. Ricci has authored or co-authored multiple publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings on various topics related to hospitality and tourism management, and holds several professional certifications in this field. He has received multiple awards and recognition for my teaching, leadership, and service to the hospitality and tourism community.

What brings him JOY? "As an educator, I have tremendous joy in converting the student who doesn't know what they want to do to something they love."

In Florida, we have many different hospitality programs, and as you can imagine, most of us in hospitality and tourism education love to network with each other across the state. We are all launching highly qualified graduates for our hospitality and tourism workforce.