TOURISM
Two veteran destination-marketing executives will greet the public Thursday before the Search Committee makes its recommendation.
The Visit Pensacola Search Committee has named its two finalists for the agency’s next CEO — Tony Lyle and Barry White. The public can meet both candidates on Thursday, Sept. 17, on The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St.
Who Are They?
Tony Lyle
Tony Lyle, Executive Director of Visit Galveston, brings more than 30 years of tourism industry experience. He has led Visit Galveston, a division of the Galveston Park Board, overseeing major initiatives including a research partnership with Longwoods International to track resident sentiment on tourism and the successful bid to host the 2027 Go West Summit — an international travel industry event expected to draw more than 500 attendees from 27 states, several Canadian provinces and 31 countries.
Before Galveston, Lyle served as Chief Marketing Officer for the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (Visit Lake Tahoe), a role he was promoted into in 2021 after joining the organization in 2012 as director of tourism. His earlier career included stints as director of marketing and sales for Aramark Lake Tahoe, vice president of North America for Skiset, and corporate head of international marketing and sales for Vail Resorts.
Lyle holds a Bachelor of Education with Honors in Outdoor and Science Education from Liverpool John Moores University in England.
Barry White
Barry White announced earlier this year his retirement as CEO of the Chattanooga Tourism Co., after eight years leading the destination marketing organization for Hamilton County, Tenn. During his tenure, lodging tax revenue in Hamilton County grew 43%, and tourism’s economic impact rose from $1 billion in 2017 to $1.8 billion in 2024, according to figures released by his office.
“Authentic and globally competitive.” — Darik Dawes, chairman of the Chattanooga Tourism Co. board, on Barry White’s leadership
White came to Chattanooga in 2017 after 26 years with the Augusta, Ga. Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he rose from director of sales to president and CEO and led the organization’s conversion from a public entity to a private nonprofit. He holds the Certified Destination Management Executive designation from Destinations International and is a University of Tennessee graduate.
Meet-and-Greet Schedule, The Deck at The Fish House:
- Barry White — 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tony Lyle — 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
What Happens Next: The Search Committee will meet early next week to decide on its choice, which it will present to the Visit Pensacola Board on Wednesday, Sept. 23.