RFP 26-60 Destination Marketing Organization

The City of College Park, Georgia is requesting proposals for a Destination Marketing Organization to provide tourism, convention, and trade show marketing services designed to increase hotel occupancy, visitor spending, and economic activity, with proposals due June 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST. A local-vendor preference of up to 3% applies to vendors within three percent of the lowest non-local bid for contracts under $1,000,000.

The selected DMO must be a private nonprofit organization with 501(c)(6) exempt status and demonstrate at least three years of experience in destination marketing and tourism promotion for a public entity. Core services include developing and implementing a comprehensive annual marketing strategy, conducting convention and group sales outreach, promoting local hospitality assets and attractions, maintaining stakeholder coordination with hotels and hospitality businesses, and providing detailed performance reporting. All hotel/motel tax revenues provided by the City must be used exclusively to benefit College Park, with quarterly verification of fund use and monthly performance reporting required. The DMO must submit a detailed Annual Marketing and Business Plan within thirty days of contract commencement.

The contract term is one year with options to renew for four additional one-year periods. Award will be made to the most responsive and responsible bidder, not necessarily the lowest cost proposer. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: marketing strategy and innovation (25%), experience and qualifications (20%), relevant past performance (20%), performance measurement and reporting methods (15%), and cost proposal (20%). Contractors must provide certificates of insurance including workers' compensation and commercial general liability coverage of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence, comply with Georgia's E-Verify requirements, and provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract amount. Questions are due June 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST. A non-mandatory virtual pre-bid conference will be held with meeting ID 238 393 409 119 993 and passcode jf9hy3RR. Proposals must be submitted electronically via BidNet at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/cityofcollegepark.