Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

Clinical Professor and Director

  • Boca Raton FL UNITED STATES
  • Department of Marketing - Hospitality Management

Peter Ricci is an expert in food service, lodging, incentive travel, and destination marketing.

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Spotlight

2 min

From Florida’s love/hate relationship with Spring Breakers to the recent expansion of gambling, Florida’s tourism industry is experiencing a lot of changes

It used to be the go-to place for college students looking to blow off steam, escape winter or just hang out with their friends Florida was the place to be for spring break. However, it seems parts of Florida are now saying 'thanks but no thanks' to the annual party crowds. Meanwhile, Florida said ‘yes’ to more gambling which may attract more tourists interested in placing bets and vacationing in the state. These topics have received a lot of coverage lately, and there are still outstanding questions and points to consider: What impact will spring break clampdowns and actions have on local businesses? What parts of Florida are poised to benefit the most of expanding gambling tourism? How will these developments affect Florida’s largest employer, the tourism economy? And, what else is changing in Florida’s tourism industry Florida’s tourism industry is one of the largest in the world, and it has a major economic impact for the United States and beyond. If you are a reporter following the tourism industry and how Florida’s is changing we're here to help. Peter Ricci is the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. He is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel and destination marketing. Peter is available to speak with the media about tourism in Florida and the potential for gambling. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

2 min

Is South Florida soon to be the next Las Vegas? Our expert can tell you if it's a good a bet or not?

There's a lot of buzz in Florida around gambling right now. Legal sports betting, live roulette and live craps might soon become a reality in the Sunshine State, adding to the economic bonanza and possible social consequences that comes with allowing these activities to expand. Expectations are high, and it's an idea getting a lot of coverage. In less than a month, in-person sports betting, craps and roulette will, presumably, begin at all South Florida casinos and elsewhere in the state, though that anticipated launch may hinge on a favorable ruling from the Florida Supreme Court. The launch is expected to drive tourists and businesses to South Florida and elsewhere in the state, create jobs, and bring in billions of dollars in revenue.  Though investors and hotel owners might not want to push all their chips in just yet. There are serious legal issues that still need to be overcome as well as opposition from the Seminole Tribe and the anti-casino group No Casino. The idea though, has media contacting local experts like Florida Atlantic's Peter Ricci for perspective and insight. Peter Ricci, a Florida Atlantic University professor who specializes in hospitality and tourism industry trends, thinks that South Florida will see an uptick heading into the Super Bowl, but most of what he hears from local businesses and hospitality employees is uncertainty rather than excitement. “What I’ve heard is questions about ‘when is it starting?'” he said. ” … ‘Are they hiring for blackjack dealers? What does this mean? Will they expand the hotel?’ All these questions but nothing specifically pro or con about actual sports betting itself.” November 13 Sun Sentinel Whether Florida can become the next Las Vegas is up to the courts, but if you are a reporter following this ongoing story we're here to help. Peter Ricci is the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. He is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel and destination marketing. Peter is available to speak with the media about tourism in Florida and the potential for gambling. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

2 min

Is the sun set to shine again on a rebounding Florida tourism economy?

It was a tough couple of years for the Florida tourism industry. With flights restricted, travel discouraged and theme parks closed or limiting the number of guests, Florida felt the full economic brunt of the pandemic when the tourists stopped coming. To put it in perspective: In 2020, Walt Disney World took a $7 billion loss. But with COVID all but a memory, the rebound already is in full swing with visitors and their disposable income returning to the Sunshine State. Florida tourism exploded to record numbers as the state has welcomed 104.5 million visitors so far this year, a 15.3 percent increase over the same time period in 2021, according to the offices of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Visit Florida. In the third quarter alone, Florida welcomed 35.1 million tourists – a 6.9 increase from the same period in 2021 and the fifth quarter in a row that saw overall visitation surpassing pre-pandemic levels. About 32.6 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in the third quarter period of 2022.  Islander News December 2022 But still after such a slowdown, should we be cautious? What can tourism operators, hoteliers and the rest of the hospitality industry expect for 2023? With COVID no longer a deterrent, will a shaky economy be the next shoe to drop? Or, after being stuck at home for so long, will visitors help places such as Disney, Universal and LEGOLAND become recession-proof? These are great questions, and if you are a journalist covering the 2023 tourism season in Florida, let us help. Peter Ricci, Ph.D., is a clinical associate professor and director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. He is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel and destination marketing. Peter is available to speak with the media about space-travel tourism as well as other topics, including the labor shortage in hospitality and tourism. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

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Biography

Peter Ricci is a hospitality industry veteran with over 20 years of managerial experience in segments including: food service, lodging, incentive travel, and destination marketing. While filling the role of hotel general manager for almost a decade, Ricci served as a part-time educator before entering academia full time as both a clinical associate professor and administrator.

Areas of Expertise

Casinos & Gaming
Travel and Tourism
Hotel Guest Services
Hospitality
Marketing
Destination Marketing
Lodging
Food Service
Incentive Travel
Hospitality Management
Employee Performance
Tourism
Restaurant Management
Tipping

Accomplishments

Distinguished Alumnus Award

University of Florida, College of Health & Human Performance, Dept. of Tourism, Recreation, and Sport

Lifetime Achievement Award

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International

Lifetime Achievement Award

Norma Bondy Lifetime Achievement Award

Education

University of Central Florida

E.D.D.

2005

University of Florida

M.S.

1989

University of Florida

B.A.

1987

Selected Media Appearances

A water tower along I-95 will soon look like a giant beach ball. But will it make a town more ‘beachy?’

Sun Sentinel  

2023-07-05

“The leisure travelers often say ‘beaches’ in the top three reasons they come to Florida, always — and that’s never changed,” said Peter Ricci, a Florida Atlantic University professor who specializes in hospitality and tourism industry trends. “So ‘beach’ is always a biggie in the title (of a city).”

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DeSantis Defies Bob Iger, Calls Disney Suit ‘Political’

Bloomeberg  

2023-04-26

The governor’s criticism of the municipal district, which was previously controlled by Disney but allowed to borrow under cheaper municipal finance rates, has some merit, according to Peter Ricci, a professor of hospitality management at Florida Atlantic University.

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JetBlue settlement with Florida mandates growth plan after Spirit takeover — but would it fly?

Sun Sentinel  

2023-03-10

“I believe that any merger between the two carriers should be what’s best for business, be that synergies in combining routes, merging a fleet of similar aircraft to create maintenance efficiencies, and in offering a better overall product to the consumer enhancing stakeholder value,” said Peter Ricci, clinical associate professor and director of hospitality management programs at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business.

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Selected Articles

Context-Based Leisure Travel Facilitation among People with Mobility Challenges: A Self-Determination Theory Approach

Journal of Travel Research

Peter Ricci et al.

2019

In response to the pressing need to psychologically empower people with mobility challenges (PwMC) to travel, this study proposes the facilitation of self-determined travel motivations as a promising approach. The variation of self-determined travel facilitation across different challenge levels is examined through a quasi-experimental design and analyzed with a new test of moderated mediation based on Hayes’ (2015a) model. The results indicate that for PwMC with significant travel challenge levels, the tourism industry should prioritize the cultivation of intrinsic travel motivations and perceived travel competence satisfaction over less-autonomous motivation dimensions and satisfaction of alternative psychological needs. Such cross-context exploration extends self-determination theory with a new moderator of challenge levels.

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Hotel guest preferences of in-room technology amenities

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology

Peter Ricci et al

2016

Advances in technology and in subsequent guest-related amenities have the potential to improve the guest experience and also increase both guestroom revenues and ancillary room revenues. Innovative technologies will be one of the prime differentiators of hotel companies in the twenty-first century. However, it is important for hoteliers to answer questions such as which technology amenities do their guests desire when choosing overnight accommodations? Further, what are the importance levels assigned by guests of these various technology amenities? This study aims to answer the question of how leisure travelers may differ or be similar to business travelers with regard to in-room technology amenities.

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Creation of a Professionalism Scale for Hospitality Students: An Exploratory Study

SAGE Open

Tammie J Kaufman, Peter Ricci

2014

The hospitality industry is dependent on a professional staff to exceed guests’ expectations. Existing research has focused primarily on the various attributes necessary for success in the hospitality industry. The primary focus of this research was professionalism and hospitality students’ self-perception of their professional attributes. Data collected from a focus group of hospitality human resource managers were used to develop a professionalism scale. The scale produced five factors that explained 53.6% of the variance in the responses. Students were more likely to agree in their preparedness for the interview process, but less in agreement of their preparedness for workplace issues. This research provides an exploratory study into a student’s perception of his or her own professional abilities and could be used as a placement tool for human resource managers and a benchmark to determine student’s …

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