Four Seasons Jacksonville Names Melissa Sims as Opening General Manager

Four Seasons has named Melissa Sims general manager of Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Jacksonville, the brand's planned 2027 debut on the St. Johns River. Sims most recently ran Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe and brings about two decades inside the company.

The appointment, announced September 23, locks in pre-opening leadership for a riverfront hotel and residences developed by Shanna Collective inside Jacksonville's Sports and Entertainment District. Commercial Director Tony Rodriguez, a Four Seasons veteran of more than three decades across Florida and beyond, joins Sims on the opening team.

What the Jacksonville property is aiming for

Four Seasons is pitching the project as a first-of-its-kind mix of hotel living and a sports-and-entertainment district, with marina access and proximity to the city's cultural and sporting venues. Sims will own operations, culture, and guest experience through opening. Rodriguez will lead commercial strategy and market positioning for both hotel rooms and residences.

• 2027 opening along the St. Johns River in Florida
• Hotel plus branded residences developed with Shanna Collective
• Direct marina access in a sports and entertainment district
• Opening GM Sims and Commercial Director Rodriguez already in place

Why the leadership hire matters for guests

Jacksonville has not been a classic Four Seasons city. Putting a GM with Santa Fe resort experience and a Florida-seasoned commercial lead on the project early signals the brand wants a soft opening that feels local, not generic waterfront luxury.

Area President Antoine Chahwan framed the hire as setting the tone with Shanna Collective and the Khan family before doors open. For travelers, the near-term takeaway is simpler: the 2027 Jacksonville hotel now has named operators shaping service culture, pre-opening hiring, and residential sales messaging as construction advances toward debut.

Watch for booking windows and residence release details closer to opening. Until then, Sims and Rodriguez are the clearest public signal that Four Seasons is treating Jacksonville as a full-brand launch, not a quiet soft add.