The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation is seeking a new digital agency to develop and design a new destination website for Rhode Island, replacing the current www.VisitRhodeIsland.com.
Services required are website redesign, website production, ongoing website support and search engine optimization. They seek a firm is able to develop a strategic approach to organizing content that inspires, informs and drives action. Additional services may include, strategic planning, content marketing strategy, persona development, and mobile first user experience development.
Tourism is an important driver of the Rhode Island economy, contributing $2.38 billion to its economy, supporting over 39,000 jobs and providing more than $1 billion in wages and salaries in 2013.
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation is committed to growing the state’s tourism industry through:
- Increasing traveler trips to Rhode Island
- Increasing average traveler spend per trip
- Increasing resident spend on tourism activities
The Commerce Corporation promotes Rhode Island in the domestic and international marketplaces leveraging multiple marketing and communications tactics, including but not limited to PR, advertising, social media, public engagement programs, group tours and sales outreach.
Commerce Corporation requires development of a unique website that can support integrated marketing campaigns that embody the incredible diversity of Rhode Island as a destination and meet the needs of each of our audiences outlined above.
OBJECTIVES
Key objectives are to create a positive user experience making it simple for site visitors to find and share information, elevate the level of engagement, increase the level of repeat visits, drive signups for e-newsletters, drive downloads for free visitor’s guides and increase overall site traffic. Companies must demonstrate a proven history of strategic and effective travel and tourism- related website development. Companies must also have experience integrating best-of-breed technologies as part of a stack that will support online listening, audience development, email marketing, content management and site analytics.
Companies will be expected to work in collaboration with the Commerce Corporation’s internal team and its agency partners that provide PR, marketing, creative services, media planning and buying, social media and public engagement support on tourism efforts.
Proposal due by September 28th to:
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Attn: Website Design and Development RFP 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101
Providence, RI 02908