The PORT 2025 – Watersport & Boat Tours Operators Forum will take place Oct. 20-21 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, marking the fifth year of the industry gathering.
- Greg Fisher and Kevin O’Neil, co-hosts of the Awkward Watersport Guys Podcast, will host the two-day event for business owners, managers and aspiring operators. The forum focuses on education, networking and industry insights.
O’Neil, owner of Destiny Water Adventures, is a Master Captain and CEO who has transformed his business from a single boat operation into a diverse fleet comprising over a dozen boats, ten jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards in under two and a half years.
Fisher is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry. As CEO of both TripShock.com and WaveRez.com, he develops online platforms for tours, activities and reservation software for watersport operators. The University of Central Florida graduate earned INC 500/5000 honors from 2015 to 2018.
In 2020, Fisher and O’Neil launched the Awkward Watersport Guys Podcast to discuss topics in the commercial watersport and boating community. They started a Facebook group and conference in 2021 to bring the community together for networking and learning, which has grown to 2,100 members.
- This year’s event represents the largest show yet and remains the only event of its kind in the industry. Past forums were held in Orlando and St. Augustine.
Nearly 30 vendors will participate in the exhibitor showcase, including boat manufacturers and dealers, marketing agencies and booking software companies. Notable exhibitors include TripAdvisor/Viator, TripShock, WaveRez, Seadoo, Take My Boat Test, Yamaha and TourScale.
Educational sessions will cover pricing, marketing, operations, regulations and technology trends. The forum will also feature one-on-one mentorship, roundtables, happy hours and live evening events.
Attendance is capped at approximately 300 participants. Tickets cost $275 for operators and $400 for non-operators. Registration includes full forum access, exhibitor hall entry, two lunches, peer-to-peer learning and evening events.
The forum also serves people interested in entering the watersport and boat tour business, with sponsorship opportunities still available for interested businesses.
The event is expected to draw hundreds of professionals and vendors to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, boosting hotels, restaurants and local businesses. It also continues to position the destination as a national hub for the boating and watersport industry and supports growth and sustainability of local operators.
Attendees can fly into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, located approximately 10 miles from the convention center. Pensacola International and Northwest Florida Beaches International airports provide additional options. Group hotel rates are available at Four Points by Sheraton in Fort Walton Beach and Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village in Destin.
Registration and agenda information is available on their website. For sponsorship inquiries, contact O’Neil at 305-393-6465 or kevin@destinywateradventures.com.
