Commissioners praise local pitch but flag cost as Fayetteville narrows PR choices
Loading...
Summary
Experience Fayetteville commissioners heard pitches from two PR finalists — local AM Group and regional c plus c — and signaled a preference for the local team while asking staff to negotiate price and scope to fit the $80,000 PR budget for FY26.
Experience Fayetteville commissioners spent a large portion of their Oct. 27 retreat hearing two public‑relations pitches intended to shape the destination’s earned‑media strategy ahead of a crucial 2026 bond cycle.
AM Group — presenting from Durango — framed itself as a local, boots‑on‑the‑ground agency rooted in Northwest Arkansas. Cofounders Mary and Andrea told the commission they would lead the account hands‑on and use in‑market relationships and influencer stays to lift Fayetteville into regional and national outlets. “You’ll be our big fish,” Andrea said, describing how AM Group would prioritize the city’s visibility and resident trust.
c plus c, a Pacific Northwest firm, pitched a national earned‑media approach built around targeted award submissions, travel and leisure placements, and trade coverage. Senior staff stressed that their senior‑level team would be the day‑to‑day contacts and pointed to recent award wins for other clients as evidence of the approach’s effectiveness.
Why it matters: Experience Fayetteville’s PR effort is the public face of many tourism initiatives; a firm that secures national stories or trade awards can meaningfully affect visitor interest and the city’s ability to sell such projects to residents and investors. Commissioners said they favored a local partner’s familiarity with Fayetteville but emphasized the need to preserve national reach.
Key details: Staff disclosed an FY26 PR budget line of $80,000. Both firms presented fee ranges above that amount during their pitches; AM Group’s higher monthly option would annualize well above the $80,000 target, while c plus c referenced an $85,500 base in its slide deck. Commissioners and staff agreed to negotiate fees and scope to bring any contract in line with the budget and to ask finalists follow‑up questions identified during the retreat.
Commission response: Several commissioners favored AM Group’s local relationships and high‑touch model but were clear that price must be addressed. Staff said final selection would include commissioner input but that staff expects to complete negotiations and present a recommended contract in the coming week so a final contract can be ready for the November meeting review.
What’s next: Staff will re‑engage the finalists with specific follow‑up questions and seek narrowed proposals and negotiated pricing. The commission expects a recommendation for contract terms and final language ahead of the November meeting, where a contract will be reviewed with the FY26 budget.
