Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

East Midlands Inbound Travel Trade Development Programme (2026-2029)

East Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

12 Oct 2026 at 09:40

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 12:17

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Midlands Combined Authority is planning an inbound travel trade development programme for the East Midlands, focused on attracting and serving international visitors through the travel trade. The work is expected to cover travel trade strategy, international routes to market, developing tourism products and itineraries, and helping small and medium-sized tourism businesses become trade-ready. It may also include engaging and managing relationships with travel buyers, business-to-business public relations and destination marketing, delivery of VisitBritain or VisitEngland programmes, and work with destination management organisations and local visitor economy partnerships. This is a tourism development and travel trade service, rather than a purchase of travel or accommodation. The programme’s delivery area is the East Midlands.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the authority has stated its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It is undertaking pre-market engagement to inform the brief, with engagement expected to end on 19 October 2026. The programme title indicates an intended period of 2026–2029. The engagement material includes a supplier questionnaire, and the buyer expects interested businesses to share their views during this preliminary phase. No procurement procedure, evaluation method, lot structure or contract value is set out in the published process information. Suppliers should treat the stated programme period as indicative and the engagement date as the buyer’s expected end date for market input, not a bid submission deadline.

The work is likely to suit tourism consultancies, destination marketing agencies and specialist providers able to combine international travel trade knowledge with practical delivery. The buyer identifies experience in one or more areas: travel trade strategy; inbound tourism and international routes to market; tourism product commercialisation and itinerary development; trade-readiness support for small businesses; buyer engagement and account management; business-to-business public relations and destination trade marketing; VisitBritain or VisitEngland programmes; and destination management or local visitor economy partnership working. Suppliers with focused expertise in one or more of these areas may be relevant, rather than only firms able to cover the full range. The authority indicates that small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are suitable participants. The market engagement offers these suppliers a chance to help shape the eventual brief and prepare for the later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

East Midlands Inbound Travel Trade Development Programme (2026-2029)

Notice Description

To deliver against the draft brief the strongest suppliers will need to be organisations with experience in one or more of: * Travel trade strategy development * Inbound tourism and international route-to-market activity * Product commercialisation and itinerary development * Trade-readiness and SME support * Buyer engagement and account management * B2B PR and destination trade marketing * Visit Britain/Visit England programme delivery * Destination management and LVEP working Please apply for this opportunity by using this link https://eastmidlandsca--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a1MPy00000EUNC1MAP&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https://eastmidlandsca.lightning.force.com you will need to register for an account if you have not already done so and then you can apply for the opportunity using the register button.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-e06dd447-48c3-42f7-828b-14ad5992a5a9
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a92b76ab-c76b-4263-9a28-f6dc539ef6ff
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63510000 - Travel agency and similar services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
East Midlands Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHESTERFIELD
Postcode
S40 1SA
Postcode Area
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF12 East Derbyshire
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Chesterfield
Electoral Ward
Spire
Westminster Constituency
Chesterfield

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...