World’s Largest Lionfish Tournament returns to Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Destin-Fort Walton Beach proudly hosts Emerald Coast Open, the World’s Largest Lionfish Tournament, May 16-18, 2025. Divers from across the country will compete for over $100,000 in prizes. The event builds upon the success of previous years, with the goal of helping to manage the invasive lionfish population in the Gulf waters. In the 2024 tournament, more than 100 divers harvested nearly 12,000 lionfish, and this year’s event is expected to surpass those numbers. Competitors will vie for top prizes in
Melissa Read Honored as Destin Chamber’s Business Person of the Quarter
During the Destin Chamber’s Sept. 18 Tourism & Hospitality Lunch, Melissa Read, General Manager of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, was honored with the Chamber’s Business Person of the Quarter Award. This award is presented directly from the Chamber’s Board of Directors to a Destin area businessperson showing vision for his or her business and leadership in our community. “Melissa has done a great job turning around the direction of the convention center. She’s been willing to work with
