Visit Pensacola Welcomes President and CEO Tony Lyle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 20, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Stacey | (850) 434-2142
nstacey@visitpensacola.com

Pensacola, Fla. – Visit Pensacola is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Lyle as its next President and CEO, effective October 26, 2026. Lyle brings more than 25 years of destination marketing and tourism leadership experience to the organization and the Pensacola community.

Lyle joins Visit Pensacola from Visit Galveston in Galveston, Texas, where he served as the Executive Director for the past three years. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles at destination marketing organizations, overseeing multimillion-dollar public tourism budgets, teams, boards, and strategic initiatives.

His experience includes leadership in coastal and Gulf Coast destinations, leisure and group travel, sports tourism, international travel trade, brand development, digital transformation, and research-driven destination strategies. He also brings extensive experience in public tourism funding, fiscal oversight, and transparency.

"We are thrilled to have selected Tony Lyle as our new president and CEO," said Visit Pensacola Board Chairman Sterling Gilliam. "His experience leading exceptional organizations makes him a great fit for the Visit Pensacola team, which is already performing at an impressive level. There is a tremendous opportunity ahead for Northwest Florida."

A graduate of Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool, United Kingdom, Lyle earned a Bachelor of Education in Outdoor and Science Education.

“I’m honored to join Visit Pensacola and become part of a community with such a strong sense of place and a compelling story to tell,” said Lyle. “The most successful destinations are built through collaboration, trust and a shared vision for the future. I’m looking forward to listening and learning from our tourism partners, community leaders and residents, and working together to build on Pensacola’s momentum while creating new opportunities for visitation and meaningful economic impact for Escambia County.”

Lyle will speak at Visit Pensacola’s upcoming Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 28, at 11:30 a.m., at the luncheon themed “Celebrating Our Impact. Building Our Future.” The community and media are also invited to meet Lyle at Visit Pensacola’s board meeting on Wednesday, November 18, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bowden Building.

Lyle brings a listen-first leadership approach and a reputation for building trust and collaboration among tourism professionals, community stakeholders, boards, and elected officials. His previous work has included driving group and off-peak visitation, developing sports tourism programs, strengthening international travel trade partnerships, and leading digital and emerging technology strategies.

For those interested in scheduling a meeting with Lyle, please contact Visit Pensacola Executive Assistant Sarah Samsa at ssamsa@visitpensacola.com.

About Visit Pensacola

Visit Pensacola is the official destination marketing organization for Escambia County and represents Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. As America’s First Settlement, founded in 1559, and home to the #1 beach in the U.S., as voted by Condé Nast Traveler readers, the Pensacola Bay Area blends more than 465 years of history with nearly 40 miles of sugar-white sand and emerald Gulf waters. Visit Pensacola builds tourism as a key economic driver for Escambia County through destination marketing, visitor inspiration, and support for the local hospitality community.