The Luminary Awards recognize UCF faculty whose research, scholarship and creative work have made significant contributions to their disciplines and extended their impact beyond the university. The award celebrates faculty whose work has earned recognition within their fields while creating meaningful impact for communities, organizations and the broader public.
“Dr. Fyall’s work connects local relevancy to global impact,” Rosen College Dean Cynthia Mejia says. “His research on accessible tourism through mega-events, the well-being impacts of tourism on residents and the vulnerability of coastal destinations to climate disruption is improving how communities around the world plan for and benefit from tourism.”
Fyall has built an internationally recognized career studying tourism, destination marketing and management. His scholarship includes eight books and 105 peer-reviewed journal articles, and The New York Times, USA Today and Forbes have featured his expertise. His research explores issues including tourism resilience, destination development, and the changing relationship between tourism and the communities and destinations it serves.
At Rosen College, Fyall teaches International Tourism Management. He previously served as associate dean of academic affairs at Rosen College.
His influence extends well beyond the classroom. Fyall is the founding editor of the Journal of Destination Marketing & Management and an elected fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. He also serves on the United Nations Pool of Experts for Global Reporting on the State of the Marine Environment, bringing UCF expertise to global conversations about the health of the world’s oceans. His research and consulting work has involved destinations, tourism organizations and governments across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the United States.
Fyall’s work reflects Rosen College’s close connection between academic research and the tourism industry. His research examines challenges that destinations and tourism organizations face as the industry continues to evolve, including sustainability and changing visitor expectations.
His work also brings an international perspective to Rosen College, connecting students and colleagues with research and conversations taking place across the global tourism community. Through his teaching and scholarship, Fyall helps students understand the forces shaping destinations and the future of the hospitality industry.
Fyall’s research also contributes to UCF’s interdisciplinary work through the Sustainable Coastal Systems faculty cluster, where researchers from across the university collaborate through UCF Coastal to address coastal challenges and their environmental, economic and societal impacts. Fyall brings a tourism perspective to research examining coastal resilience and the relationship between destinations and the communities that depend on them.
The Luminary Award adds to Fyall’s record of contributions to tourism scholarship and highlights the global reach of research being conducted at Rosen College. His recognition also reflects the college’s broader commitment to research that advances knowledge while addressing real-world challenges facing hospitality and tourism.
Through his research, teaching and leadership in the tourism community, Fyall continues to contribute to the field while helping prepare the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals.
Read about all eight honorees in UCF Honors 8 Trailblazing Faculty With 2026 Luminary Awards on UCF Today.