Chamber Bows Out of Visit Sitka RFP

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Sitka Chamber of Commerce has given notice it wishes to terminate its contract for providing convention and visitor services to the city, and that it won’t bid for the contract that’s now out, City Administrator John Leach has announced.
    The announcement was in a public notice that the city has extended the deadline under a request for proposals for a new contract to Feb. 27.
    The Chamber has been providing convention and visitor marketing and management services as Visit Sitka for the city since 2015. The contract was renewed in 2019, and the Chamber is now in the fourth of five potential one-year extensions of the current contract.
  The Assembly decided during the past year to put out a new RFP because of the changing needs of the city related to the boom in tourism since the opening of the Halibut Point Road cruise ship dock.
   “Last December, the Chamber formally notified the city in writing of their intention to terminate their contract, effective June 30, 2025,” Leach said in an email announcing the new  deadline. “They have also stated they do not plan to bid on the updated scope of services outlined in the new RFP currently being advertised.”
   Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Roy said today the board’s nearly unanimous decision to stop providing Visit Sitka services as of June 30 was not one the board took lightly.
    Board member Tim Fulton said the Chamber sees a lot of potential for projects that directly benefit businesses, and while tourism is good for businesses, there are other initiatives the Chamber wants to take on that will have more direct impacts.
   Roy commented, “We’re really proud of what we’ve done with Visit Sitka by creating a brand and improving the reputation of Sitka across the state and in the visitor industry. There is a potential for this to continue even though we’re not the contractor. We’re committed to seeing the transition through to ensure the future contractor’s success. Our involvement with tourism won’t end but we’ll shift our role ... But we don’t want to move forward with the current RFP.”
   Under its present contract, the city pays the Chamber $300,000 for the base contract, with a $275,000 supplemental appropriation for projects. Funding comes from the Visitor Enhancement Fund financed by the 6% city bed tax.
    The original deadline for responding to the request was January 30. Generally, bids are submitted in the final days before a deadline and are sealed until opened, so the response isn’t yet known.
    An addendum on the Bids & RFPs page of cityofsitka.com has the new deadline of February 27. The rest of the request is unchanged. Whoever wins the contract will have the right to operate under the name “Visit Sitka.”
    “Visit Sitka is a city-owned brand for destination marketing, destination management and convention services, in relation to the visitor industry in Sitka,” the RFP says.
    No dollar figure is attached but the Assembly has generally approved a baseline annual funding level, and a supplemental amount every year based on projects. Under the current contract, the organization is paid $575,000.
    The RFP has a template for Core Services, such as “destination marketing, destination management and meeting, convention and event services, and “reporting.” The reporting section includes requirements for “key performance indicators,” tracking and reporting of cruise related expenditures, and economic data collection and analysis.
    Additionally, bidders can submit proposals for providing optional services such as public access to restrooms in a visitor center, management of the Lincoln Street vehicle closures, pedestrian safety in the downtown corridor, and event planning and management.
    The intent is to award a three-year contract, with an option for a three-year extension.
    Assembly members at meetings and work sessions have stated that a new contact is needed to take into account changes in tourism over the past few years, particularly with the sharp increase in cruise ship numbers. Other new factors are the Sitka Tourism Task Force’s recommendations, establishment of a new Tourism Commission, and the addition of tourism manager as a position in the city government.
    The new RFP states that the city needs more help on the operations side with the rise in cruise visitors, on items such as managing the cruise calender and street closures.
     “We recognize the importance of the services, and are hoping we get a lot of proposals,” said Melissa Wileman, city public and government relations director.
     Roy said she is looking forward to digging into some of the more recent Chamber initiatives including workforce development, and setting up a 501c3 foundation to access grant funds and diversify its income streams to carry out workforce initiatives. Other major initiatives are for childcare and housing needs of the business community.
    Chamber Board president Holly Meyer commented, “The Chamber is really, really excited to be moving into this next chapter,  focusing on our initiatives and serving our members. Our tourism businesses are still our business partners ... The new (RFP) doesn’t play into our strengths as an organization, which led to our decision not to put in a bid.”

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

February 2005

Photo caption: Baranof Barracuda swimmers pose with their awards won at the Speedo Great Alaska Open in Homer. From left are Ben Adams, Alex Dailey, Ben Campen, Andrew Vallion, Jamie Gorman, Gavin McGowan, Caitlin Way, Mallory Kempton-Hein, Alexandra Broschat and Alex Weissberg.

50 YEARS AGO

February 1975

Arrowhead Bowling League’s Dave Pearson, Al Aitken, Stumpy Baughn, Frank Brush and John D. Abbott Jr. bowled 200s. High series were bowled by Aitken, Baughn and Abbott.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!