In the News - January 2026

CFHLA to Posthumously Honor David Siegel with CFHLA's Highest Honor

CFHLA is proud to announce that one of the most influential hospitality and tourism leaders in Central Florida’s history - Mr. David Siegel, founder, president, and CEO of Westgate Resorts – will be recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award.

This year’s recognition will be presented posthumously at the CFHLA Hospitality Gala on Saturday, December 13th at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort. Mr. Siegel will be the 26th exceptional hospitality leader to receive this recognition from CFHLA, after leaving a remarkable legacy following his passing on April 5, 2025.

This award is named after the first CFHLA Board of Directors Chairperson, Charles Andrews, and it is presented annually. It is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by CFHLA, and it recognizes the vision, leadership, contributions, and achievements that each leader made to Central Florida’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry, as well as our community at large.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Siegel embodied the entrepreneurial spirit that helped transform Central Florida into one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Mr. Siegel’s vision and determination built one of the largest privately held resort companies in the world, while his philanthropy and advocacy left an enduring mark on families and organizations throughout the region.

“Few individuals have had an impact on the Central Florida hospitality industry quite like Mr. David Siegel,” said Robert Agrusa, president and CEO of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association (CFHLA). “His dedication to hospitality, advocacy, and community service touched countless lives. We are grateful for his enduring contributions and privileged to recognize his legacy with the 2025 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award.”

Mr. Siegel established Westgate Resorts in 1982 with its first property on an orange grove he owned in Kissimmee, Florida, and it has since become the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. The empire he built includes more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the United States. Over 40 years, Siegel built Westgate Resorts into the largest private employer in Central Florida. Before his passing in April 2025, he announced an expansion of more than 44 resort destinations under the VI Resorts by Westgate brand.

During his career, Siegel received an honorary doctorate from Florida A&M University, ARDA’s ACE Philanthropy Award, and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of Florida. In 2013 he was inducted into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame by the University of Central Florida. Earlier this year, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) honored Mr. Siegel with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

While he will be remembered for his successful business ventures, after the passing of his beloved daughter Victoria in 2015, Mr. Siegel’s life mission radically changed toward solving the nation’s drug epidemic. He founded Victoria’s Voice Foundation to honor Victoria and advocated zealously for the widespread availability of Naloxone, lobbying Congress and raising awareness on this important issue. As a military veteran, Mr. Siegel donated more than 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of our armed services as a thank you for their service to our country. This year, the Westgate Foundation distributed grants of $1.5 million to community-focused organizations across the United States.

On behalf of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, we are honored to present Mr. David Siegel with the 2025 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award. Mr. Siegel will be remembered and celebrated during the upcoming CFHLA Hospitality Gala, where his family will accept the award on his behalf.