Thornton to Lead All Food and Beverage Operations of Luxury Oceanfront Resort
AMELIA ISLAND, FL (March 2024) – The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is delighted to announce the appointment of Collin Thornton as Director of Food and Beverage. In this new role, Thornton will leverage his extensive culinary experience to lead all food and beverage operations for the resort, service staff, and back of house teams, while refining the guest experience across all seven dining outlets, overseeing culinary programming and events, and driving continued success for The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
“We are thrilled to welcome Collin Thornton to the team as Director of Food and Beverage,” said Greg Cook, General Manager. “We are confident that with his comprehensive knowledge, diverse experience leading top luxury resort culinary programs and passion for the industry, our property and restaurants will continue to provide exceptional experiences in Amelia Island.”
Thornton has over 18 years of experience in the food and beverage sector, working with some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, as Executive Chef. Most recently, he served as the Regional Director of Food and Beverage at Big Cedar Lodge, Bass Pro Shops, in Branson, Missouri, where he was instrumental in managing 19 food and beverage centers with 650 employees. Thornton also opened his own restaurant in Branson, where he managed Ozarks Brasserie – a 220 seat smart, fine dining restaurant. His tenure in these roles demonstrates a consistent track record of effectively managing significant culinary operations and successfully executing new food and beverage concepts across multiple outlets.
A native of Canada, Thornton has received several awards throughout his career, including the title of grand champion at the Royal Winter Fair Chef challenge in 2013 and 2014 in Toronto, Canada. He is also an association member of Les Toques Blanches; Maitre Rotisseur of Chaine des Rotisseurs, Bailliage Canada, and the Vice Conseillier Culinaire of Chaine des Robtisseurs, Bailliage Laguna Beach.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is home to seven dining outlets including the AAA Five-Diamond Salt restaurant with Chef Okan Kizilbayir, seafood focussed, all day dining restaurant Coast, classic American restaurant Tidewater Grill, evening lounge The Lobby Bar, oceanfront restaurant Coquina, coffee and brew bar First Drop, and beach bar The Dune Bar that provide craft cocktails and fresh coastal cuisine inspired by the island’s Eight Flags heritage. The resort also plays host to the annual Amelia Island Cookout, taking place this year from October 18 – 20, and a range of other immersive culinary programming for guests.
