Community · Ecosystem & Affiliations
The Foundation is one part of a much larger hospitality and innovation ecosystem.
Proxenia participates in communities that extend across hospitality, tourism, entrepreneurship, education, research, economic development and technology. Those connections help the Foundation understand what is happening beyond its own programs and make it easier to connect people with relevant knowledge and opportunity.
A wider network
Participation in the ecosystem takes different forms.
The organizations represented here include associations in which Proxenia participates, institutions with which the Foundation shares an active community, economic and entrepreneurial organizations, educational resources and other groups that contribute to Central Florida’s hospitality and innovation environment.
A listing here does not imply a formal partnership or endorsement. Relationships may include membership, event participation, working relationships, shared initiatives, referrals, community involvement or broader ecosystem alignment. Formal partners and active collaborators are identified separately where appropriate.
Hospitality & Tourism
Industry organizations connect the Foundation to the people operating hospitality every day.
These communities provide industry perspective, professional relationships and direct exposure to the operating priorities shaping hospitality and tourism across Central Florida.
Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association
Regional hospitality leadership, hotel operations, professional development and industry advocacy.
Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
Statewide connections across lodging, restaurants, tourism, workforce and hospitality policy.
Visit Orlando
Destination leadership and a broad view of the visitor economy that makes Central Florida one of the world’s most significant hospitality markets.
Experience Kissimmee
Regional tourism and destination-development perspective within the broader Central Florida visitor economy.
Skål & Hospitality Professional Networks
Professional communities that connect hospitality and tourism leaders across disciplines and geographic markets.
International Drive Community
Businesses and organizations within one of Central Florida’s most concentrated tourism, attractions and hospitality districts.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The startup ecosystem expands the resources available to hospitality innovators.
Proxenia does not need to recreate every resource a founder may need. Entrepreneurship support organizations, incubators, investor networks and peer communities provide capabilities that become more useful when founders know how to reach them.
Florida Business Incubation Association
A statewide network of incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurial support organizations.
1 Million Cups Orlando
A founder-centered community providing peer learning, visibility and connections across Central Florida entrepreneurship.
UCF Business Incubation Program
Startup development resources, incubation expertise and connections within one of the region’s established entrepreneurial support systems.
National Entrepreneur Center
A connection point for technology, entrepreneurship and innovation activity across the Orlando region.
Building Our Tech
A regional technology community expanding access, relationships and participation across Orlando’s innovation economy.
Regional Founder & Investor Communities
Networks of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and technology professionals that contribute expertise and opportunity across the region.
Education & Research
Universities and learning institutions connect industry experience with research and emerging talent.
Central Florida’s educational institutions bring hospitality expertise, technology research, entrepreneurial education and access to students who will help shape the industry’s next generation.
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Hospitality education, research, faculty expertise and talent development within one of the world’s largest hospitality markets.
University & Research Partners
Faculty, students and research organizations across business, technology, hospitality, design and related disciplines.
Student & Emerging Talent Networks
Future operators, entrepreneurs, technologists and researchers who will carry hospitality innovation into the next generation.
Economic & Civic
Hospitality innovation is also part of the region’s larger economic story.
Economic-development organizations, chambers and civic networks connect the hospitality economy with technology, workforce development, investment, infrastructure and the broader business community.
Orlando Economic Partnership
Regional business leadership, economic development, innovation, talent and connections across Central Florida’s broader economy.
Regional Chambers of Commerce
Business communities that connect hospitality with employers, entrepreneurs and civic leadership throughout the region.
Regional Economic & Innovation Networks
Organizations working across technology, workforce, investment and community development throughout Central Florida.
Beyond Central Florida
The network should grow with the work.
Central Florida is the Foundation’s home and primary proving ground, but hospitality is a national and global industry. Over time, Proxenia intends to participate more deeply in hospitality, technology, entrepreneurship and research communities beyond the region where those relationships can strengthen the work being done here and provide useful pathways into other markets.
The goal is not to accumulate memberships for appearance. New affiliations should provide useful knowledge, meaningful relationships, access to practitioners or opportunities that strengthen the Foundation’s mission.
Community
A useful ecosystem becomes stronger when organizations know how to work across its boundaries.
If your organization works in hospitality, entrepreneurship, education, technology, research or economic development and there is a practical reason for our communities to know one another, we would welcome the conversation.