Hawaii Tourism Authority Looking for Marketing Support

Front Street. Courtesy of HVCB.

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has released a request for proposals to provide marketing and island support services for Hawai‘i from its US and Canadian markets.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals in accordance with the Request for Proposals for the US and Canada Leisure Tourism Destination Marketing Management Services, Solicitation No.: HTA-RFP-12-03 (RFP).

The RFP includes the following:

• Development and deployment of an annual tourism marketing plan that will increase leisure travelers and visitor expenditures for the Hawaiian Islands;
• Integration of activities with the travel trade (retail and wholesale) and consumers through multi-faceted, traditional and non-traditional means;
• Development and facilitation of partnerships or other relationships with Hawaii’s visitor industry; and
• Management of island-based destination services on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai and Hawaii Island for all visitors.

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Dept. of Transportation.

The HTA will select the offer determined to be the most advantageous to the HTA, taking into consideration multiple factors, including applicant qualifications, the merits of the proposed services, and price, in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFP.

The new contract to be awarded under this RFP will replace an existing contract that ends on Dec. 31, 2012. The desired date to award a contract under this RFP is Aug. 1, 2012. The period of performance under the new contract runs from Aug. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2014 with optional renewals for three (3) one-year periods beginning Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2017.

The written proposals are due no later than May 15, 2012 at 4:30 p.m., HAST (Hawai‘i-AleutianStandard Time).

The RFPs are available beginning Friday, March 30, 2012 and can be downloaded at http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org (click on the link to “Request for Proposals”).

Inquiries regarding this RFP should be directed to the HTA Procurement Officer for this RFP,

Mr. Winfred Pong by telephone: (808) 973-2255, or e-mail: [email protected].