The Hawaii Tourism Authority is looking for a PR firm to handle its communications and outreach efforts.

It wants to position tourism as a “primary economic driver for the state and catalyst for infrastructure improvements and enhanced retail, restaurant and experiential offerings,” according to an RFQ released Oct. 28.

hawaiiThe PR firm will elevate HTA as a “forward thinking, knowledge-based operation and the industry’s leader for tourism.”

Another priority is to use PR to enhance community understanding and support for tourism and HTA’s brand sustainability plan.

The winning PR firm would counsel HTA on crisis mitigation and management and have a physical presence in its crisis command center during an emergency to coordinate media interviews/briefs and post social media updates and distribute press releases and statements.

HTA has set a budget of $390K for the campaign payable in 12 installments.

The contract will run for two years with three one-year options. The HTA/PR firm relationship cannot exceed five years due to Aloha State law.

HTA has set Nov. 18 as the deadline to respond to the RFQ. Selection date is Dec. 9 for the campaign that will kick off on Jan. 1.

Stryker Weiner & Yokota is the incumbent on the business, working on a contract that expires Dec. 31.

View the RFP (PDF).