An award-winning chef who has cooked for presidents, royalty, and celebrities, Manuel Rodriguez brings two decades of culinary talent and experience to his role as Corporate Director of Food & Beverage for Innisfree Hotels. 

Originally hailing from Washington, D.C., Rodriguez moved to Florida in 2020 to direct food and beverage operations at Innisfree’s SpringHill Suites in Panama City Beach, one of the country’s most popular oceanside destinations. The classically trained chef quickly showed that his organizational skills, managerial talents, and passion for culinary excellence were worthy of a much bigger assignment. In 2021, Innisfree promoted Rodriguez to his current role, overseeing all dining and drinking experiences at the company’s Gulf Coast properties in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

Rodriguez, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, has a deep knowledge of South American, Caribbean, Italian, Greek, Spanish, and American cuisines, allowing him to incorporate local ingredients and flavors into exciting and delicious dining concepts at more than two dozen Innisfree properties.  

Before joining the Innisfree family, Rodriguez was a sought-after executive chef and private caterer in the nation’s capital. His work has earned a slew of impressive awards and accolades, including Regional Chef of the Year, the Embassy Chef Challenge People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice Awards, and Top Latin American Restaurants in D.C. In his free time, Rodriguez enjoys golfing, fishing, giving back to his community, and being with his family.