Proposals are due on or before 5:00pm Central Standard Time on April 21, 2023.
Objective
This Request for Proposals is being issued to seek qualified firms who have a working knowledge of the tourism industry and can demonstrate the necessary experience to produce messaging and advertisement design and provide placement strategy for our destination marketing organization and its respective leisure travel market which includes but is not limited to the Mississippi State University Alumni and prospective students. Although it is our intent to contract with the company that best meets the qualifications to complete the scope of work, Starkville Visitors & Convention Council may terminate the negotiations if they are unsuccessful in reaching an agreement on all matters including scope of work and cost.
Starkville Visitors & Convention Council intends to contract with a qualified agency to support its continued recovery efforts, stemmed from the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. This contract will be funded through federal ARPA dollars for Mississippi Tourism Recovery, II.
This RFP in no way commits Starkville Visitors & Convention Council to award a contract, to pay any costs in preparation of a proposal, or to contract for the goods and/or services offered.
Although it is Starkville Visitors & Convention Council’s intent to contract with the person/company that best meets the qualifications to complete the scope of work, Starkville Visitors & Convention Council may terminate the negotiations if they are unsuccessful in reaching an agreement on all matters including the scope of work and cost.
Scope of Services
Starkville Visitors & Convention Council wishes to employ an outside agency to produce an overall creative strategy spanning at least 24 months, including destination marketing and messaging; design and creation of various collateral pieces, both for use as print and digital; and integrated marketing activities, including digital marketing, social media strategies, traditional print, broadcast media and others relevant components.
The agency should recommend an overall media creation and placement strategy to clearly position Starkville to visitors as an affordable and safely open destination for those who enjoy traveling, specifically in its top drive markets. It will be imperative to ensure this scope of services adheres to any changing public health guidelines and is conveyed in an informed manner.
The selected agency’s responsibilities will include the below:
• Update and print destination brochures, sales kits, and other relevant Starkville marketing materials.
• Create a portfolio of new marketing assets, including photos, videos, and testimonials, for use in promotional materials and sustainable travel campaign.
• Create campaigns for niche visitor segments based on behavior and travel trends (road trips, girlfriend getaways, SEC sports fans, etc.).
• Execute digital, print, broadcast, and social media marketing campaigns through location and behavioral targeting.
• Update and/or add in-market signage/kiosks at main attractions and hotels.
• Create and place billboard ads in key visitor markets.
• Provide monthly reporting and metrics to the Starkville Visitors & Convention Council to demonstrate the ROI for the campaigns and to ensure key KPI’s are met.
About Starkville Visitors & Convention Council
Starkville Visitors & Convention Council is a research-driven destination management and marketing organization with annual collections of approximately $730,000, derived from the collection of a 2% lodging tax for properties located in the City of Starkville as well as 15% of a 2% food and beverage tax.