Hal and Lois Herman Endowment for the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute

Hal Herman

This fund was established by Hal and Lois Herman in 2005 for the purpose of supporting the Center for Tourism Research and Development including promotional, marketing and OPS costs in the College of Health & Human Performance at the University of Florida.

Hal Herman is Chairman of Worth International Communications Corporation, a worldwide publishing company. He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Degree from the University of Florida, where he was selected by the yearbook to the school’s “Hall of Fame.” While on campus, he was managing editor of the Alligator and served in editorial positions on other publications. Hal was also active with a host of other organizations at the University.

Worth International publishes RECOMMEND Magazine, for which Hal serves as Chairman and Founding Editor. In addition, the company has a Custom Publishing Division, whose past and present clients include the State of Florida, Government of Mexico, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, Busch Entertainment Corporation, Spirit Airlines, Loews Hotels and a number of Florida Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

He is past President of the former Surfside-Bal Harbour-Bay Harbor Islands Chamber of Commerce, past President of the Advertising Federation of Greater Miami, and a past Vice Chairman of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Advertising Federation.

He is past Chairman of the Florida Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors of International Travel and Tourism Research Association.

Hal is a former Florida Ambassador to the Southeast U.S./Japan Association (appointed by former Governor Reuben Askew) and former member of the Florida Council on International Development.

He has received numerous awards and recognition for his civic and industry work, including the prestigious Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation and the Award of Excellence from Hospitality Sales and Marketing International. In 2008, he was named an “Alumnus of Distinction” by the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications for outstanding professional achievement.

In addition, Hal was on the Board of Governors of the Order of Orchid and is past Chairman of the Florida Derby Festival. He is past President of the SKAL Club of Greater Miami and former Chairman of the Florida Tourism Association. Hal served as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of VISIT FLORIDA, INC. (the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation) for nine years. In 2004, he was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Tourism Research and Development at the University of Florida, as well as a member of the Alumni publication’s editorial review board, and a member of the Board of Advocates for the School of Journalism and Communications.

Hal is the chair-elect of the Broward Leadership Council of the American Diabetes Association, chaired that group’s 2007 Valor Awards event. In 2010, he received a Valor Award. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Women In Distress and serves on a number of committees. That group honored him as the Community Volunteer in 2009.