The Palm Beaches Roger Amidon, a force of the restaurant industry

Roger Amidon

General Manager, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa Past President, FRLA Palm Beach Chapter

Roger Amidon is responsible for the successful operation of Palm Beach County’s only AAA Four-Diamond, all-suite, beachfront hotel, which, at 239 rooms, boasts a prime location on its own private beach on Singer Island. Amenities include the acclaimed 3800 Ocean restaurant and the elegant Conde Nast award-winning SiSpa, all under Amidon’s expert leadership. Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa was named one of Marriott International’s “Full Service Hotels of the Year” in the eastern region for 2015. Amidon was also recognized by Marriott in 2015 as Franchise General Manager of the Year. That accolade came one year after the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association named Amidon the state’s General Manager of the Year. A longtime Palm Beach resident, he has worked with the Marriott Brand for 31 years and has nearly 40 years in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining the resort, Amidon served three years as Executive Director of Palm Beach County’s Tourist Development Council. As head of the county’s tourism office, he focused on promoting and managing tourism-related agencies and activities in Palm Beach County. Amidon was an integral part in establishing FRLA’s Palm Beach chapter of which he’s a Past President and he’s currently serving as the Vice Chairman of FRLA, statewide.

Q: Why did you feel The Palm Beaches TV was an important asset to support? We were the first hotel to install The Palm Beaches TV during its testing phase in 2018. We felt it was important to be part of this unique marketing tool because the channel is a really great complement to what our concierges provide. So when guests arrive to the hotel, they can watch on their in-room TV screen all the exceptional experiences the area has to offer. As they unpack, relax or even while working, they can watch The Palm Beaches TV to discover new experiences and feel inspired to get out and enjoy the best of everything in The Palm Beaches.

Q: What stands out about the channel? The visuals alone are so stunning and intriguing that people will want to experience The Palm Beaches for themselves. But more so, the channel is overseen by The Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, and they’ve done an incredible job including high-quality, family-friendly programming, 24/7, on the channel. Whether a guest is an avid fisherman, looking for kid-related activities or more cultural or sport experiences, the channel offers something for everyone. For a first-time visitor to the area, my recommendations include a trip to Worth Avenue, snorkeling at the Blue Heron Bridge and any waterfront dining. The channel does a terrific job showcasing these kinds of experiences and so much more. Q: How do you envision The Palm Beaches TV playing a role to increase tourism in Palm Beach County? This is a great tool for the destination to stand out. Whether you are traveling for work or play, visitors will be amazed at how much there is to do in the area. Our hope is that what guests see will entice them to return for another trip, extend a trip or invite other friends and family to the area. Moreover, people all over the world can see The Palm Beaches TV online at The Palm Beaches.TV and via Roku. But this is a tool that needs to be in front of people in specific parts of the world, like Boston, Chicago or New York, during the middle of winter. Those residents would be envious of our clear beautiful skies, warm weather and vast experiences, and would be enticed to choose The Palm Beaches for relief from the cold!

Q: How do you see the channel expanding in the future? I know The Palm Beaches TV is offered in approximately 4,500 hotel rooms throughout the County. This is a fantastic tool for a hotel that is not full service and doesn’t have concierges or may not have the knowledge about the area. These smaller hotels can utilize the TV channel as a way to present their guests with many more options to explore during their visit or to plan for a future trip.

Q: Can you share your experience with the installation process? Global media company Olympusat owns The Palm Beaches TV. Their expertise is in production and distribution. From the initial meetings to airing the channel today in all rooms on our property, the process has been easy, efficient and seamless. It was really one IT department to another, and we were up and airing The Palm Beaches TV very quickly.

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