Questions & Responses
Travel Drumheller received the following questions from prospective proponents prior to the September 15, 2026 question deadline. Responses are being shared with all prospective proponents to ensure equal access to information.
1. Has Travel Drumheller established a budget or preferred investment range for the Exploration Guide redesign and production?
Travel Drumheller anticipates a budget in the range of $12,000–$15,000 for design and layout services. Proponents are encouraged to provide pricing that reflects their proposed approach and scope. Optional services and advertisement design should be priced separately, as outlined in the RFP.
2. Can Travel Drumheller provide the current 2026 Exploration Guide? Are there particular aspects of the current guide that should be retained or improved?
The current 2026 Exploration Guide can be viewed here: https://traveldrumheller.com/exploration-guide/
Guide specifications and anticipated page count are outlined in the RFP. Proponents are encouraged to review the existing guide and recommend opportunities to improve its design, organization, usability and visitor experience.
3. Is Travel Drumheller envisioning an evolution of the existing guide or a more significant redesign?
Travel Drumheller is open to creative solutions, including a more significant rethinking of the guide’s visual approach, structure and visitor experience, provided the proposed approach aligns with the Travel Drumheller brand, project objectives and parameters outlined in the RFP.
4. How much flexibility will the successful proponent have to recommend changes to content structure, hierarchy, organization and flow?
The successful proponent is encouraged to recommend improvements to the guide’s structure, content hierarchy, organization and visitor experience. Final decisions regarding content and structure will remain with Travel Drumheller.
5. Does the anticipated 40–50-page count include covers and advertising pages?
Yes. The anticipated 40–50-page count includes covers and advertising pages.
6. Will maps, illustrations, icons or other custom graphics need to be redesigned or recreated, and should this work be included in the base redesign fee?
Proponents should review the current guide for examples of existing graphic elements. The 2027 guide will require maps and other design elements necessary to support the publication. These should be considered within the proposed design and layout scope unless identified separately as an optional service.
7. What is expected of the successful proponent regarding photography and image selection?
Travel Drumheller will provide existing photography where available. The successful proponent will be expected to support image selection, identify photography gaps and undertake reasonable editing or retouching required for the design. Travel Drumheller may suggest or request specific images, and all final image selections will be subject to Travel Drumheller’s approval.
If a proponent anticipates costs for sourcing additional stock photography, these should be clearly identified in the proposal.
8. Approximately how many advertisements were included in the most recent guide, and how many required design support?
The most recent Exploration Guide included approximately 36 advertisements, of which approximately six required design support.
These numbers are provided for context only and may vary for the 2027 guide.
9. Who will coordinate with advertisers?
Travel Drumheller will coordinate the overall advertising process and collect advertiser information and assets. Where advertisement design services are required, the successful proponent may need to communicate directly with individual advertisers regarding the design and approval of their advertisement.
10. Who will approve the guide, and how many review rounds should proponents include?
Travel Drumheller’s Executive Director will provide final project approval, with input from the Travel Drumheller team as required. Proponents should include a minimum of two formal review/revision rounds within their base pricing.
11. Who is responsible for printing and print production management?
Travel Drumheller will select and manage the printer. The successful proponent will be responsible for providing complete, print-ready final files that meet the printer’s production specifications.
12. Are there specific requirements for the digital version beyond a web-friendly PDF?
A web-friendly PDF is the required digital deliverable. Interactive links, enhanced navigation, accessibility features and/or mobile-friendly considerations are not mandatory; however, Travel Drumheller welcomes recommendations that could improve the digital user experience.
Any additional costs associated with proposed enhancements should be clearly identified.
13. What is expected for the style guide deliverable?
Travel Drumheller is seeking a concise, publication-specific style guide that documents the key design elements and layout standards developed for the Exploration Guide. This should provide sufficient direction to maintain visual consistency in future editions and may include typography, colour usage, page hierarchy, recurring layout treatments, graphic elements and other relevant publication standards.
14. What visitor behaviours or outcomes would Travel Drumheller like the redesigned guide to support?
In addition to strengthening Drumheller’s position as a year-round destination, Travel Drumheller would like the guide to support:
- greater visitor dispersion throughout the Drumheller Valley and surrounding region;
- longer stays and increased exploration;
- increased shoulder-season and winter visitation; and
- community pride and awareness of local experiences.
Proponents are encouraged to review Travel Drumheller’s strategic plan for additional context regarding the organization’s destination development and marketing priorities: https://traveldrumheller.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Travel-Drumheller-Strategic-Plan_2026-29.pdf.
15. Are firms located outside Canada eligible to apply?
Yes. Qualified firms, studios and agencies located outside Canada are welcome to submit proposals. While Canadian-based experience and familiarity with the Canadian tourism landscape are considered an asset, they are not a requirement for eligibility.
16. Can a company established outside Canada, including a Pakistan-based design and technology agency, submit a proposal directly?
Companies established outside Canada may submit proposals.
17. Is a Canadian-registered entity, Canadian office or Canadian-based partner required?
No. A Canadian-registered entity, local office or Canadian-based partner is not required. Canadian-based experience and familiarity with the Canadian tourism landscape are considered an asset.
18. Can the engagement be completed entirely remotely, or will travel to Drumheller/Alberta be required?
The project may be completed remotely, and no in-person meetings or travel to Drumheller or Alberta are required. However, opportunities for the successful proponent to visit and experience the destination firsthand would be welcomed where feasible.
19. Are international tourism, destination marketing, publication or editorial design projects acceptable for the portfolio and reference requirements?
Yes. Relevant international projects are acceptable. Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the RFP, including relevant experience and qualifications, portfolio quality and creativity, understanding of Travel Drumheller’s goals, approach and methodology, references, and cost/value. Proponents should select portfolio examples that best demonstrate experience relevant to this project.
20. Are Adobe InDesign source files mandatory, or are equivalent professionally editable source files acceptable?
Adobe InDesign is strongly preferred for the packaged editable source files; however, equivalent professionally editable source files may be considered. Proponents proposing an alternative format should clearly identify the software and file format in their proposal and confirm that all editable source files and supporting assets will be provided upon completion.