RFP Issued For Oregon Tourism Promotion and Destination Marketing Services

The City of Wilsonville, Oregon, invites proposals from qualified individuals or organizations (“Proposer”) for tourism promotion and destination marketing services (“Project”) for the City’s ‘Explore Wilsonville’ tourism-development strategy.

Background:

Located mid-way between Oregon’s largest metropolitan area and the state capitol, the ‘Explore Wilsonville’ tourism-promotion program seeks to position Wilsonville as an attractive destination along I-5 for overnight lodging from which to explore nearby attractions with day-long ‘pocket trips’ throughout the Portland metro region and the North Willamette Valley. Working with a tourism promotion and destination marketing services consultant firm, the City of Wilsonville’s Tourism Promotion Committee acts as the local-area Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), collaborating with Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs/ Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, Washington County Visitors Association and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association. As a city with a range of two- to four-star lodging-property options that provide approximately 600 hotel rooms located on the dual edge of the Portland metro area and “Oregon Ag/Bike/Wine Country,” Wilsonville provides easy access to both urban and rural attractions. As a city that hosts major corporations with thousands of employees and contractors, business and convention visitors seek additional leisure-trip opportunities. Thus, Wilsonville has a regional tourism-promotion agenda that reaches out beyond the city limits to promote area attractions and events while positioning Wilsonville as the destination for visitors to choose for overnight lodging.

Scope of Work:

This RFP focuses on obtaining high-quality, professional tourism promotion and destination marketing services for the relatively new ‘Explore Wilsonville’ DMO that has a footprint in both the Portland metro market and the Willamette Valley, facilitating Wilsonville’s ability to be a “dual gateway” between urban culture and agricultural heritage. The key objective of the Project is to increase overnight lodging occupancy during the non-summer shoulder-season months of the year by developing marketing campaigns that promote Wilsonville as an ideal lodging ‘base-camp’ for day-trips to explore regional attractions and events. 4 Specific tourism promotion and destination marketing services that are required by this RFP’s scope of work include but are not limited to the following: Marketing Services · Advancing and implementing marketing promotion plans that include ad-buys, creating digital and print advertising, online/website promotional features and social-media engagement. · Creating digital and print marketing collateral as needed that could include a visitor guide and map, brochures, and other products. Website Services · Hosting ExploreWislonville.com tourism website on a platform that provides high-quality presentation for all devices, including desktop, tablet and mobile phone. · Utilizing SEO and keywords strategies to generate online referrals ·Developing and maintaining original written, graphic-arts and photographic content for the tourism website, ExploreWislonville.com, and related social media channels that include easily-accessible, current/updated listings of area events and tourism attractions (20-mile radius), and feature local lodging/dining opportunities. Social Media Services ·Designing and implementing a social-media marketing strategy, including promotional emarketing campaigns and contests and posting regular updates to Facebook, etc. Public Relations Services · Managing media contacts and issuing regular news releases to feature unique content and market attractions/events. · Developing and cultivating earned media coverage through issuing press releases, pitching stories and arranging hosted tours. Photographic & Video Services · Arranging and implementing photographic and video shoots, including obtaining models and releases, for use in print and digital media. Management Services · Overseeing all aspects of ‘Explore Wilsonville’ tourism promotion program in conjunction with staff and Committee, including financial accounting. · Providing necessary management supervision of activities and maintaining registrations and insurance provisions. · Developing and operating procedures/systems in conjunction with City staff for public communications to respond timely to inquiries and fulfill requests for information via email, online, phone, US mail or in-person. · Managing subscriptions to online services, software and database services and other destination marketing associations. · Participating in-person (preferable) or telephonically in Committee meetings that average six (6) two-hour-long meetings per fiscal year. 5 ·Producing quarterly reports on a key set of metrics that include lodging property occupancy, website/social-media traffic, inquiries/information-requests, etc. Collateral, Printing & Shipping/Distribution Services · Creating and arranging production/printing of brochures and other marketing collateral. · Developing and supporting distribution channels and paying shipping costs for print collateral products to targeted rest stops, visitor centers, and other locations. Reserve/Contingency · Setting aside a portion of budget to cover unanticipated opportunities or expenses.

Due Date:  October 27, 2021, at 2:00 PM local time

Address:

City of Wilsonville

Attn: Zoe Mombert, Assistant to the City Manager

29799 SW Town Center Loop East

Wilsonville, OR 97070

Agencies to consider include Zeno Group and KCSA PR.