TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – February 6, 2019 – Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) soliciting submissions from established public relations (PR), travel trade, sales and marketing firms, specializing in the travel and hospitality sector, to serve as the state’s agency of record in the North American market. The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m (EST) on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

The RFP calls for submissions from PR businesses in the United States and Canada, and Travel Trade, Sales, and Marketing businesses in Canada. Proposals can be submitted in the following formats:

1.Consolidated bids for all services (proposal covering U.S. & Canada PR; Canada Travel Trade, Sales, & Marketing)

2. Individual bids for one or any combination of the following:

• U.S. Public Relations
• Canada Public Relations
• Canada Travel Trade, Sales & Marketing

The selected agency or agencies will work in tandem with the Visit Florida team in promoting Florida to U.S. and Canadian travellers as a premier leisure and meetings travel destination. Ultimately, the qualified agency or agencies will help oversee the corporation’s research-based PR strategy, develop strategic, highly-integrated creative campaigns, lead the charge for media and influencer relations, while keeping a pulse on the ever-changing media landscape and ensure that Florida’s key messages remain top-of-mind amongst key audience segments.

In addition, the selected agency or agencies will promote Florida tourism through travel trade channels and be responsible for product development and promotion in collaboration with key tour operators/wholesalers, retail travel agencies, online travel agencies (“OTAs”), airlines, traditional and non-traditional industry suppliers, and other distribution intermediaries. Agency or agencies will assist with planning and execution of Visit Florida events in Canada to fulfill Visit Florida sales and marketing objectives.

Agencies interested in submitting a proposal can learn more on how to do so HERE.

About Visit Florida

As the Sunshine State’s No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming 118.8 million visitors in 2017 who spent $112 billion, supporting 1.4 million Florida jobs. According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the official tourism marketing corporation for the State of Florida, $2.15 in tax revenue is generated. Visit Florida promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs.