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HHP University of Florida
Faculty Member Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

Rick Merriman, B.S., M.S.

Instructor

COURSES
◼︎  LEI 6336 Tourism Planning & Development
◼︎  HMG6747 Marketing in Hospitality and Tourism (2 credits)

M.S. University of Central Florida
B.S. University of Florida

Rick Merriman currently serves on the Industry Advisory Board at the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute based at the University of Florida and is a recently retired executive with over 35 years of tourism industry experience with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. In his most recent role at Disney, Rick was Vice President of Consumer Insight for Disney Experiences where he led the organization responsible for infusing consumer-centric decision-making for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, and Disney Consumer Products. The scope of Rick’s role included consumer foresight, market assessments, new product development testing, demand estimation, brand equity studies, marketing effectiveness assessments, social listening, guest experience measurement, and key business driver analytics.
Rick’s previous roles with Disney included executive leadership of Marketing & Sales teams responsible for Marketing Analytics & Insights, Customer Relationship Management, and Contact Center Operations. He also previously worked in Revenue & Profit Management, Human Resources, Ride & Show Engineering, and was a founding member of the team that developed and launched Adventures by Disney.
Rick received a master’s degree in engineering administration from the University of Central Florida, a bachelor’s degree in industrial & systems engineering from the University of Florida, and completed the Crummer Management Program at Rollins College.

Prior to beginning undergraduate studies at UF, Rick began his hospitality career as a busser, dishwasher, prep cook, and valet parker at an upscale, independent Italian steakhouse restaurant in his hometown of Tampa, Florida. Rick’s wife, Aimée, and both of their children Brett and Matthew are all proud UF graduates as well.