Another City Council has set in motion a process to shop its contract for Destination Marketing to other agencies besides the incumbent DMO. Before June 30th, the City clearly expects to receive several bids to perform the services of a Destination Marketing Organization
As if there are several experienced DMOs just hangin' around on the sidelines in Stillwater OK waiting for such a chance.
In the interest of attempting to prove ROI, the City acknowledges that such proof is difficult for destinations nationwide; that DMOs (especially in smaller markets) are often unable to categorically prove their impact. Of course, on the other side, no one can disprove a DMO's efficacy.
So, pardon me for the spoiler alert...but, this is what is going to happen in Stillwater. The bidder with the boldest presentation will turn the Council's head. If it is Visit Stillwater, good on them. If it's not, the Council will have been hoodwinked by a masterful presentation with no underlying substance...because no challenger will possess the database of potential clients that the incumbent does. And, no other agency will have in place the long-term relationships with those clients whose future destination decisions can collectively run in the millions of dollars. Period. Game over. DMOs are sole-source providers like virtually no other.
This is another reason why practitioners of Destination Marketing would be wise to attend Destinations International's Advocacy Summit in fabulous Philadelphia, November 7-9.
Because it's all about the presentation.
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