Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Seeking Marketing & Management for USA Market

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has issued a Request for Proposals for destination brand marketing and management services for the United States Major Market Area, the islands’ largest visitor source market.

The Request for Proposalʻs scope of services has been modified to include destination management services, in alignment with Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s new vision of Malama Kuu Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism.

The authority’s objective is to help empower the community to have a greater voice in tourism’s future, with a focus on regenerating the environment, perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, recognizing Hawaiʻi’s multiethnic cultures, and supporting responsible economic outcomes.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) will select the company determined to be the most qualified and capable of providing a full range of comprehensive brand marketing and management services for the Hawaiian Islands.

HTA is requiring all interested applicants to register their intent to apply by Oct. 15, 2021. Details of this requirement are found in the full Request for Proposal (RFP) text.

HTA will also conduct a virtual pre-proposal conference the week of Oct. 18, 2021 on Zoom for interested applicants to be briefed on the procurement and to ask questions.

The new contract will have a start date of Jan. 1, 2022 and replace the current contract that is scheduled to end this year.

The RFP and all of its associated attachments, can be downloaded from the State Procurement Office, Hawaii Awards & Notices Data System (HANDS), Bidding Opportunities webpage at https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/20618, or from the RFP page of the HTA website at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/rfps/.

The deadline for applicants to submit proposals is Nov. 12, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. HST. Deadlines are noted in the RFP and may be amended as necessary.

Inquiries for the RFP should be directed to Ronald Rodriguez, HTA procurement officer, at 1801 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815, by telephone at 808-973-2251, or by email at [email protected]. Email is strongly preferred.