Council awards destination-marketing contract to Greenhouse Collaboratives after competitive RFP

The Newport City Council voted to award a professional services agreement for destination-marketing (DMO) services to Greenhouse Collaboratives following a competitive request-for-proposals process and follow-up interviews. Council authorized the city manager to execute a contract, not to exceed $850,000 per year, for an initial two-year term with an option to extend, subject to final legal review.

The council’s decision followed staff briefings that described a statewide RFP response (17 proposals) and a scoring and interview process that narrowed finalists to four firms. City Manager Nina (staff) told the council that written scores placed Greenhouse Collaboratives among the top firms and that, after interviews and reference checks, staff recommended Greenhouse as the top choice. “Our first place and the firm that we are recommending that we award the contract to is Greenhouse Collaboratives at 83,” Nina said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the contract will direct how the city spends room-tax revenue earmarked for tourism promotion and marketing. Councilors and members of the public raised questions about continuity, local vendor participation and…