Request for Proposals: Destination Branding

As the official destination marketing organization for Colchester County, the Town of Truro, the Town of Stewiacke, and Millbrook First Nation, CNSTDS is working to strengthen Central Nova Scotia's position as a competitive, year-round tourism destination. CNSTDS currently operates under the Explore Central NS destination brand. Through this project, we are seeking an experienced agency to help establish a cohesive, research-informed and regionally aligned destination identity that authentically reflects our region, its communities, experiences and opportunities.

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About the Project

The selected proponent will lead a comprehensive destination branding exercise that will include:

• Brand discovery and stakeholder engagement

• Destination positioning and value proposition

• Brand narrative, messaging, values and personality

• Evaluation of the existing Explore Central NS brand and overall brand architecture

• Recommendations for the relationship between CNSTDS as the region's DMO and its consumer-facing destination brand

• Experience-based storytelling aligned with regional tourism priorities

• Development of a complete visual identity system

• Comprehensive brand guidelines and marketing assets

• Digital brand and content recommendations

• Development and organization of a centralized digital asset library

The resulting destination brand will provide a foundation for CNSTDS' future visitor-facing marketing and promotion and will help inform a future website redevelopment initiative. The selected agency will work closely with CNSTDS' Executive Director and a small Brand Development Working Group, with the CNSTDS Board providing approval at key project milestones.

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Project Budget

The anticipated budget for this project is $35,000–$50,000, inclusive of professional fees, travel and other disbursements, and excluding applicable taxes.

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Key Dates

• RFP Issued: August 14, 2026

• Proposal Deadline: September 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ADT

• Evaluation Period: September 5–14, 2026

• Anticipated Selection: By September 18, 2026

• Anticipated Project Start: September 25, 2026

The project is anticipated to be completed over approximately three to four months.

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View the Full Request for Proposals

Interested proponents are encouraged to review the complete RFP for detailed information regarding the project scope, deliverables, submission requirements and evaluation criteria.

[DOWNLOAD THE DESTINATION BRANDING RFP]

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Questions & Proposal Submissions

Questions regarding the RFP and completed proposals should be directed by email to:

Nick Sharpe
Executive Director
Central Nova Scotia Tourism Development Society
executivedirector@cnstds.ca

Proposal deadline: September 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ADT