Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Aberdeen City Council
Woodhill House, Westburn Road
Aberdeen
AB16 5GB
UK
Contact person: mark bremner
Telephone: +44 1467539600
E-mail: markbremner@aberdeencity.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM50
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00231
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Recreation, culture and religion
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Aberdeen Destination Marketing and Development Service
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79342000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Aberdeen City Council is seeking market engagement to inform the potential procurement of a city-focused Aberdeen Destination Marketing and Development Service, funded through the Aberdeen Visitor Levy, which is due to apply from 1 April 2027.
The proposed service would support Aberdeen’s position as a leading visitor destination by delivering destination marketing, city promotion, market intelligence, business engagement, product development and visitor economy development activity. It would seek to increase awareness of Aberdeen, grow visitor numbers and length of stay, support accommodation demand, amplify the city’s cultural, events, heritage, hospitality, leisure and business tourism offer, and contribute to the city’s wider economic transition.
The service is expected to focus on Aberdeen city while recognising that the wider regional offer — including landscapes, coastline, castles, golf, food and drink, outdoor activity and touring itineraries — forms an important part of the destination proposition. The Council is also interested in how the service should interface with convention bureau and business events activity where this supports additional visitors, bed nights and economic value for the city.
This Prior Information Notice is for market engagement only. It is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to a procurement, contract award or any particular delivery model.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
900 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79340000
63513000
75125000
79413000
79951000
79411100
79956000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM50
Main site or place of performance:
Aberdeen City
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Aberdeen City Council is considering the procurement of an Aberdeen Destination Marketing and Development Service to support the objectives of the Aberdeen Visitor Levy and the sustainable growth of the city’s visitor economy.
The service is expected to be delivered as a city-focused programme for Aberdeen. Its purpose will be to promote Aberdeen as a distinctive destination for leisure and business visitors, encourage people to visit, stay longer and spend more, and support the development of a strong visitor offer across the city’s venues, events, festivals, culture, attractions, hospitality and tourism businesses.
The anticipated scope may include destination marketing and communications, city promotion, business engagement, visitor economy development, product and itinerary development, travel trade support, market intelligence, performance evaluation and reporting. Where included within the final scope, the service may also interface with convention bureau and business events activity where this supports additional visitors, accommodation bed nights and economic value for Aberdeen.
The service will be expected to complement, rather than duplicate, wider regional destination activity, while maintaining a clear focus on improving Aberdeen’s position as a visitor destination. It will also be expected to support transparent public reporting on the use and impact of Visitor Levy proceeds, including evidence of outputs, outcomes and performance against agreed indicators.
This notice is intended to inform market engagement and procurement planning. Any future procurement will be subject to Council approvals, final service specification, available budget and the applicable procurement process.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
10/11/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Interested parties are asked to complete the market engagement Submission Form and return to markbremner@aberdeencity.gov.uk by the deadline stated in the submission form
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=837836.
(SC Ref:837836)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/07/2026