Tony Rodriguez
Commercial Director
Four Seasons Tenure
- Since 1996
- First Four Seasons Assignment: Assistant Manager, Valet Parking, Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Employment History
- Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach; Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club; Four Seasons Hotel Miami; Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia; Four Seasons Hotel Houston; Four Seasons Hotel Boston; Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, University of New Hampshire, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics
Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
“Jacksonville gives us the opportunity to build something with lasting impact, not only for Four Seasons, but for the city and the communities around us,” says Tony Rodriguez, Commercial Director, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville.
Rodriguez brings more than three decades of Four Seasons experience to the role, with a career spanning hotel operations, sales, marketing, digital, public relations, revenue management and reservations. His broad commercial and operational perspective has been shaped by leadership roles across Boston, Houston, Philadelphia and Florida, along with extensive experience in new openings, repositioning projects and multi-property strategy.
Most recently, Rodriguez served as Commercial Director at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, following his role as Regional Commercial Director for South Florida. Throughout his career, he has helped lead the repositioning of Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and Four Seasons Hotel Miami, opened Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, supported the opening of Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale, and contributed to the development of an integrated commercial strategy across the South Florida collection.
For Rodriguez, Jacksonville represents something more personal.
His connection to the project began during a visit to the city with his eldest son, Alexander. The two stopped at the future hotel site along the St. Johns River, where Rodriguez began learning more about the broader vision taking shape around the waterfront and Downtown Jacksonville.
“What struck me immediately was that this was about far more than opening a beautiful luxury hotel,” says Rodriguez. “There was an opportunity to contribute to something much larger, a new chapter for Downtown Jacksonville and a destination that could become an important part of the city’s future.”
That sense of possibility ultimately drew him to the project.
Today, Rodriguez sees the Hotel and Private Residences as part of a larger transformation taking place along Jacksonville’s riverfront. The property’s waterfront setting, connection to the marina and proximity to the city’s emerging sports and entertainment district create an extraordinary opportunity to develop experiences that feel both distinctly Four Seasons and unmistakably Jacksonville.
His approach begins with listening and learning to understand the development’s vision, the community’s character and the distinctive experiences that will define the property.
“We are not coming to Jacksonville to redefine what already makes the city special,” says Rodriguez. “Our role is to build on those strengths by bringing the care, craftsmanship and service Four Seasons is known for while creating experiences that feel authentically rooted here. This balance of global excellence and local character will guide how we introduce the property to the world.”
Rodriguez’s leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, clarity and accountability. He is passionate about creating cohesive teams that understand how their individual expertise contributes to a shared commercial vision, while encouraging new ideas and cross-functional thinking.
As the property takes shape, he is especially energized by the opportunity to build the team and commercial strategy from the ground up, establish strong community relationships, and create a foundation that will support the Hotel and Private Residences well beyond opening.
“The best openings are built by people who believe in the vision and in one another,” says Rodriguez. “There is tremendous momentum around this project and around Jacksonville itself. I look forward to working alongside Melissa, our partners and the entire team to create a destination that Jacksonville will be proud to call its own.”
Outside of work, Rodriguez and his wife, Susan, enjoy travelling and spending time with their children, Alexander, Kyle and Zachary. Getting to know Jacksonville has already become a family experience, from exploring its beaches and waterways to discovering its restaurants and historic communities. For Rodriguez, becoming part of the city personally is as meaningful as helping introduce Four Seasons Jacksonville professionally.
