Digital Tourism Technical Services Provider for PTI Australia 2025-2027
Tender ID: 568979
Tender Details
Tender Description
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
The global Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Network are the trade and investment promotion agencies of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). PIFS provides policy advice and technical assistance to its Members to stimulate economic growth, enhance governance and security for the region and to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. With offices in Australia, China, Europe and New Zealand, the PTI Network is mandated to promote export and investment opportunities for 16 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that are members of the PIFS: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshal Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
PTI is positioned to facilitate inward investment and connect Pacific Island producers to global value chains with the aim of advancing the economic development of the PICs. PTI seeks and promotes investment through its network and supports the development and promotion of Pacific Island exports. PTI also provides capacity building support to firms seeking to become export ready and assists in promoting and facilitating export-ready businesses.
The Australian office of the PTI network, Pacific Trade Invest Australia (PTI Australia is committed to bolstering the tourism sector in the Pacific region through its Digital Tourism Program.
Pacific Trade Invest Australia’s Digital Tourism Program aims to empower Pacific tourism operators with robust digital platforms to enhance their online presence and streamline their booking processes.
2. Scope of Work
PTI Australia is seeking a suitable technical partner to provide website development, booking engine, channel manager and payment gateway integration services for its Digital Tourism Program beneficiaries. It is important to emphasise that the new partner must be able to effectively service existing beneficiaries, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of support as part of the ongoing program.
The technical partner will be responsible for the following key deliverables:
2.1 Website Development
● Design and develop user-friendly, visually appealing, and mobile-optimised websites for tourism operators.
● Implement effective content management systems (CMS) for easy updates.
● Integrate high-quality images and compelling text to showcase the unique tourism offerings of the Pacific.
● Optimise websites for search engines (SEO) to enhance visibility and reach.
● Ensure seamless integration with a booking engine that allows a channel manager (single or dual) and payment gateway integration with allowances for a property management integration, where necessary.
2.2 Booking Engine
● Implement a robust and secure online booking engine that allows for real-time bookings and payments.
● Configure the booking engine to support:
o Clear display of terms and conditions, policies, and cancellation terms.
o Customisation of special offers and packages.
o Differentiation between adult and child pricing.
o Detailed room inclusions and descriptions.
o Ability to offer promotional codes or discounts.
o Automated custom booking conditions and cancellation policies for various accommodation types and booking extras.
o Should feature revenue management tools that allow automation triggers for higher yield.
2.3 Channel Manager
• Integrate a channel manager to enable seamless distribution of room inventory and rates across multiple online travel agencies (OTAs).
• Conduct thorough synchronisation testing to ensure accurate and up-to-date information across all channels.
• Allowances for integration of third-party channel manager(s) to provide a seamless connection to the chosen booking engine.
2.4 Payment Gateway Integration
• Integrate a payment gateway to facilitate secure online payments.
• Configure disbursement frequency and timeframes according to the needs of tourism operators.
• Set the default currency and enable multi-currency transactions with smart rate calculations based on guest nationality profiles.
• Implement fraud protection features that allow operators to minimise chargeback risks including 3DS.
• Incorporate thorough payment reporting that correlates payment information against booking information for ease of operator reconciliation processes.
• Implement robust Know Your Customer (KYC) processes to ensure compliance and security.
2.5 Digital Transformation
• Digital Process Optimisation:
• Analyse existing business processes and identify opportunities for digitisation and automation.
• Develop and implement custom business process applications to streamline operations.
• Provide support for interfacing with third-party property management systems (PMS), if required.
• Integrate or develop Point of Sale (POS) systems to enhance sales and inventory management.
• Provision for additional integrations to third-party tools such as accounting software etc. where necessary.
• Technology Implementation and Training:
• Assist in the selection and implementation of appropriate digital technologies to support business needs.
• Provide comprehensive training to tourism operators on the effective use of new technologies.
• Offer ongoing support and guidance to ensure successful adoption and utilisation of digital tools.
• Development or Training Materials (as below)
3. Selection Criteria
The technical partner will be selected based on the following criteria:
● Demonstrated experience in website development, booking engine implementation, channel manager integration, digital transformation and payment gateway setup for the tourism industry.
● Technical expertise and capacity to deliver high-quality, scalable, and secure solutions.
● Demonstrated Experience in Successful Delivery of "Digital Literacy Workshops / Training Seminars" not limited to topics such as:
○ Distribution strategies
○ Marketing skills
○ Social media marketing
○ Digital Transformation
○ Assessing your technology stack
○ Enabling online payments, global payment trends, considerations etc
○ Search Engine Marketing
○ Digital trends, from the web through to bookings
○ Digital health check, a housekeeping list
● Understanding of the unique needs and challenges of tourism operators in the Pacific region.
● Presence in the Pacific region with support personnel to assist.
● Commitment to providing ongoing technical support and maintenance.
● Competitive pricing and value for money.
4. Proposal Submission
Interested parties are invited to submit a detailed proposal that includes:
● Company profile and relevant experience.
● Proposed technical solutions and approach.
● Implementation timeline and milestones.
● Detailed cost breakdown. For the following:
• Channel Manager monthly fee
• Customer Service Staff Member (full time support team x 1) monthly fee
• Booking Engine monthly fee
• POS system monthly fee
• Website development (up to 10 page site), basic, once off
• Website development (up to 10 page site), custom, once off
• Website hosting monthly fee
• PMS monthly fee
• App development for a simple business process app, once off
• App development, once off
• Business transformation consulting (2 hours), once off
• Payment gateway monthly fee
• Training session (full day in person training), including development of the content, once off
• Training session (online 2 hours), including development of the content, once off
● References from previous clients.
5. Evaluation & Assessment
PTI Australia will evaluate proposals based on the selection criteria outlined above.
In assessing your submission, PTI will evaluate:
• Your experiences (40%)
• Your approach (30%)
• Your financial Proposal (30%)
Assessment will be based on conformity to PTI Australia’s procurement policy including the following procurement principals:
• Quality assurance
• Value for money
• Contractors previous experience
• Current commitments
The final decision will be made by a selection committee comprising representatives from PTI Australia and relevant industry experts.
6. RENUMERATION
The remuneration package for this consultancy is negotiable and will be based on the consultant’s experience and qualifications and paid in AUD Dollars.
7. PROJECT MANAGER
The consultant will report to the PTI Australia Tourism Manager with oversight from the Trade Commissioner.
8. Conclusion
PTI Australia's Digital Tourism Program is a vital initiative to support the Pacific tourism industry's digital transformation. The selected technical partner will play a crucial role in enabling Pacific tourism operators to establish a strong online presence, streamline their booking processes, and ultimately achieve greater success in the digital marketplace.
9. SUBMISSIONS
Interested parties are requested to provide a proposal for PTI Australia Digital Tourism Technical Services Provider by Friday 1st November 2024. Submissions must be addressed to:
Pacific Trade Invest Australia
Attention: Jeremy Grennell
Officer in Charge
Level 4, 503-505 Kent Street
Sydney 2000 NSW
Email: accounts@pacifictradeinvest.com
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Barkly : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin : Top End
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
Outside Australia
New Zealand : Auckland : Bay of Plenty : Canterbury : Chatham Islands : Gisborne : Hawkes Bay : Kermadec : Manawatu-Wanganui : Marlborough : Nelson : Northland : Otago : Southland : Subantartic : Taranaki : Tasman-Nelson : Three Kings : Waikato : Wellington : West Coast
