Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels & Co., co-chairman of the board for the Loews Corporation, and co-owner of the New York Giants, will share his perspectives at Crossroads: The Intersection of Business and Philanthropy, a moderated conversation hosted by UCF in partnership with Dr. Phillips Charities on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. in the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

Tisch is a national leader in the multi-billion-dollar hospitality industry, a pioneer in the realm of corporate citizenship and renowned philanthropist. Loews Hotels & Co., in conjunction with Comcast NBC Universal, co-owns eight properties at the Universal Orlando Resort.

8/13/2015-John Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels. NYTCREDIT: Earl Wilson/The New York Times
Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels & Co. (Photo courtesy of Earl Wilson/The New York Times)

The Central Florida community, including all UCF students, are invited to attend the program and hear Tisch share his views on a variety of subjects. A special emphasis will be placed on how successful businesses and entrepreneurs can improve their communities and address persistent issues of social concern through philanthropy. The event is free to attend but space is limited, and attendees should reserve a seat in advance at foundation.ucf.edu/crossroads.

The program will be held as a fireside chat with Tisch and moderator Barb Bowden, area managing director of Loews Hotels Universal Orlando.

During his time as chairman & CEO, Tisch has led Loews’ expansion and emergence as a prominent and respected hospitality company, with a widely praised culture that embraces the power of partnerships and engages team members, guests, communities, and owners. He was voted Hotelier of the World by HOTELS magazine.

Barbara Bowde
Barbara Bowden, area managing director of Loews Hotels Universal Orlando.

Under Tisch’s leadership, Loews Hotels developed the hospitality industry’s first comprehensive community outreach program, known as the Loews Hotels Good Neighbor Policy. The program established a company-wide commitment to good corporate citizenship and a tradition of social responsibility in the areas where Loews hotels operate.

Through the Good Neighbor program, Loews hotels have addressed issues such as hunger, literacy, sustainability and housing at a local level. The program earned Loews the President’s Service Award, the highest honor given by the president of the United States for community service directed at solving critical social problems.

The Crossroads series was launched in 2021 through the longstanding partnership between Dr. Phillips Charities and UCF. It brings nationally known, well-respected philanthropic and business leaders to Central Florida so UCF students and the Central Florida community can learn from their expertise and perspectives.

The series combines some of the greatest strengths of each of the organizations: Dr. Phillips Charities’ deeply held value of the pivotal roles played by free enterprise and philanthropy in addressing critical community needs and UCF’s commitment to unleash the potential within every individual and propel broad-based prosperity.

Dr. Phillips Charities has been a partner of UCF since 1968, the first year UCF held classes. The Dr. Phillips name has been a major economic and philanthropic presence in the Central Florida community for over 100 years.

UCF, one of the nation’s most innovative research universities, is committed to transforming lives, boosting social mobility and propelling broad-based prosperity in Central Florida and beyond.