College Park council selects Destination Must Visit Tourism Alliance as DMO, contingent on contract approval

The College Park City Council voted at a special-called meeting to accept the city manager's recommendation and select Destination Must Visit Tourism Alliance LLC as the city's destination marketing organization (DMO), with the appointment explicitly contingent on final contract negotiations and acceptance of the contract terms, the council's ordinance and the accompanying resolution.

City management told the council it reviewed seven applicants and recommended Destination Must Visit Tourism Alliance after scoring each firm on presentations, projected local impact, referrals and references, 501(c)(6) status and experience. "We recommended destination must visit Tourism Alliance LLC as the DMO," the city manager said when presenting the committee's evaluation and the materials sent to the ATL district. Management also noted the city's current DMO contract is due to expire on June 30.

The city clerk read the seven applicants into the record as: ATL Airport District; CBB; Destination College Park; Destination Must Visit Tourism Alliance (incorporated); Experience College Park; MVO Marketing; Real Tours Inc. DBA Discover South Metro; and RFP Auction. In response to council questions, staff member Miss Hick said the committee's scoring followed the purchasing policy and confirmed several applicants had 501(c)(6) status, and that score sheets were included in the council packet.

City Attorney Winston Jar cautioned that a council vote to select a bidder "does not fully complete the matter," explaining the selection would be followed by arms-length contract negotiations and that the successful bidder must accept and adhere to contract terms before the appointment is final. Councilmembers amended the motion accordingly and then voted in favor of the city manager's recommendation. The motion carried; the council recorded the decision and moved to the next item.

Next steps include negotiation of the DMO contract and return of the drafted contract for council approval; the selection is conditional until those steps are completed.