Sunshine Matters

As part of our ongoing efforts to establish Florida as the No. 1 travel destination in the world, VISIT FLORIDA has begun a review of our advertising and digital service business providers to make certain we are working with the very best agencies in their respective areas of expertise.

“As the No. 1 trafficked destination marketing organization website in the country, it’s important that we ensure VISIT FLORIDA’s advertising, website and social media efforts remain cutting edge,” said Chris Thompson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.

VISIT FLORIDA has announced nine intentions to negotiate, with two in advertising and seven in digital service.  The advertising subject matter areas include brand creative, media buying and planning and co-op marketing; and digital creative, media buying and planning, co-op creation and SEM contractor. The digital service subject matter areas include website design, hosting and SEO; back end publishing; digital ad operation, hosting and distribution; digital media sales; web, social, mobile and widget application development; social media; and ecommerce.  Additional ITNs in public relations and multicultural consulting will be issued in the near future.

Interested candidates are encouraged to bid on partial, whole or multiple ITNs, which may be downloaded at www.VISITFLORIDA.org/ITN.  The deadline for intentions to submit for the digital service ITNs is June 27, 2011 and July 6, 2011 for the advertising ITNs.  The deadline for submissions for the digital service ITNs is July 25, 2011 and August 3, 2011 for the advertising ITNs.

In February, VISIT FLORIDA selected Digital DNA Infusion, LLC to assist with a needs assessment, and digital media and customer relationship management vendor selection process as part of a periodic review of our existing relationships.  The principals at Digital DNA Infusion include David Atkins, who helped found Expedia and is a leader in digital innovation and travel, and John Atkins, who has 15 years of product management experience in the digital media industry.  Our combined efforts have resulted in the ITNs currently being released.

“We are pleased to be able to assist VISIT FLORIDA with our team approach and deep expertise around digital media planning and buying, including social, mobile and web,” said David Atkins, Principal with Digital DNA Infusion, LLC.

David’s experience as an early pioneer in digital travel with Expedia and John’s background in product and business management is a unique match to help VISIT FLORIDA find the right partners and vendors for our various digital initiatives.  We are enjoying working with them because we appreciate their collaborative approach and believe they have the experience to help us find the right long-term partners.

About Digital DNA Infusion, LLC (www.digitaldnainfusion.com)

Based in Miami, Florida, Digital DNA Infusion, LLC provides businesses with digital consulting, strategy and implementation services.  Digital DNA Infusion, LLC’s founder and principal, David Atkins, has worked in leadership positions for Microsoft, Expedia, and IAC among others.  David serves as the Chairman of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association’s America’s Board of Directors, writes columns for Hospitality Upgrade on digital strategy, is a frequent speaker on digital strategy and online consumer behavior, and serves as an advisor to many corporations.  John Atkins is a digital media executive with 15 years of experience in strategic consulting, business planning and product management.  John specializes in helping clients research their markets and customers, establish winning competitive positions and strategies, identify strengths and resource gaps, develop business and product requirements, establish metrics, and optimize internal and online processes that define success for digital media initiatives.