Chef Matthew Sanchez from Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach (center) accepts a ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Award for his work with the property’s Bee Hill (microfarm). Sanchez accepted the award at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s Northeast Chapter ROSE Awards ceremony in February. ROSE Awards recognize Northeast Florida front-line hospitality employees who demonstrate excellent customer service. More than 100 nominations were submitted for the 2019 awards. Sanchez is the first lead beekeeper ever appointed at Marriott International, managing several active hives in a patch of woods behind the resort’s spa. He also manages a garden of crops adjacent to the bee colonies. Both the honey and crops are used in many of the resort’s culinary offerings.
