While I understand the concept behind municipalities putting contracts up for bid, I always laugh my ass off when the RFP is for Destination Marketing.
Like the RFP for the Knoxville CVB.
Because, in every case, the municipal leaders are showing their ignorance regarding how our business is run. If there is a DMO in existence, it likely has a database of meeting, tournament and event planners that it has been working for years. It likely has a database of potential leisure visitors with which it communicates on a regular basis, encouraging future visits.
The ad agencies that swarm to the RFP...not so much.
What DMOs do is a highly specialized form of Economic Development. And, I don't see a lot of communities putting their Economic Development contracts up for RFPs.
So...why DMOs?
There you go getting all logical again!
Posted by: Bill Baker | July 18, 2012 at 14:17