At a Glance
- Buyer: State Of Tennessee — Department Of Tourist Development
- Industry: Travel/Tourism (State Government)
- Location/markets: Tennessee; in-state and out-of-state tourism audiences; domestic + international markets
- Primary scope: Marketing, advertising, and public relations services for Tennessee tourism
- Key deliverables/channels: Brand + sub-brand development; creative concepting; campaign production/execution; PR; performance analytics + reporting; tourism websites/digital platforms
- Budget: Estimated $25–$30M annual spend; public relations services estimated at $500,000 annually
- Contract type/term: State contract; 5 years
- Key dates: Questions deadline: Jan 21, 2026 (2 PM CT); Proposal deadline: Feb 25, 2026 (2 PM CT); Oral presentations: Mar 24–25 & 27, 2026; Notice of Intent to Award: Apr 13, 2026 (2PM CT)
- Eligibility/must-haves: $1,000,000 line of credit letter; indicate whether annual billing meets/exceeds $20,000,000; domestic + international media placement experience; meet IT security requirement option; provide research tools (State will not procure)
Why This Could Be Interesting
The State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development is seeking a contractor to support its tourism growth goals—specifically increasing both in-state and out-of-state travel to Tennessee.
They’re procuring marketing, advertising, and public relations services, including brand and sub-brand development, creative concepting, and the production and execution of advertising campaigns. The RFP also calls out performance analytics and reporting, and work that boosts engagement across the State’s designated tourism websites and digital platforms.
The headline signal is scale: the State estimates $25–$30M in annual spend, and notes public relations spend is estimated at $500,000 annually. The contract term is five years, creating long-run upside if you can navigate a formal, stakeholder-heavy environment. The State expects domestic and international media placement and requires the contractor to provide its own research tools and resources for research and reporting, fully operational at contract execution (the State will not provide or procure research tools on behalf of the Contractor). Mandatory requirements also include a $1,000,000 line of credit and disclosure of whether annual billing meets or exceeds $20,000,000.
Best suited for mid-to-large agencies with destination/tourism experience, strong domestic + international media buying, integrated creative/PR, and a mature analytics + web/ADA practice.
Proposal deadline: February 25, 2026, at 2 PM CT
Download the full RFP here.
