Data Services for Tourism

The Hernando County Tourism Department, operating as Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau, is seeking a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive tourism-related data through a fully integrated data platform.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is intended to establish a long-term partnership with a data provider capable of supporting Florida’s Adventure Coast’s strategic planning, reporting, and marketing needs. The selected vendor will deliver data and insights via an integrated model, inclusive of a dashboard, reporting templates, technical support, and dedicated account management.

The initial contract term will be three (3) years, with the option for two (2) additional one-year extensions, subject to approval. The projected budget for the first year of service is $53,500; this amount is inclusive of all deliverables and services. Annual budgets for subsequent years will be determined based on available funding, organizational priorities, and evolving marketing strategies.

The Tourism Department currently engages two data vendors: one provides lodging data, which is integrated into a second platform delivering insights on geolocation, visitor spending, and event attendance. We now require a fully integrated data model that brings all relevant datasets together in a single, cohesive platform, while maintaining the granular level of lodging data currently provided. This unified system must support strategic planning, performance reporting, benchmarking, and predictive analytics.

Beyond core visitation metrics, the platform must also support our long-term goal of attracting and engaging more environmentally conscious visitors—travelers who value sustainability, responsible outdoor recreation, and the preservation of our unique natural assets. The data solution should enable:

• Segmentation and targeting of audiences most aligned with sustainable travel behaviors, based on demographics, trip purpose, activity preferences, or repeat visitation patterns.

• Campaign evaluation to measure the effectiveness of messaging and initiatives promoting eco-friendly travel, conservation-based tourism, and low-impact experiences.

• Event and site-level analysis to assess potential environmental impact based on visitor volume, dwell time, and geofenced movement near sensitive natural areas.

• Trend monitoring to anticipate shifts in traveler expectations and identify growth in markets that prioritize nature-based, low-carbon, or leave-no-trace principles.

By integrating sustainability into our data model, we aim to inform not only marketing strategy, but also destination stewardship and long-term resilience.