The provincial Tourism Department is looking for a marketer.
The contract with Halifax firm Colour is up this month, and the province is seeking proposals for a full-service marketing agency.
The contract would run for three years, with the province holding an option for a fourth. The selected firm would be responsible for everything from communications strategies, to buying ads, to web development.
The department paid Colour a $1.1-million retainer for each year of its 30-month contract, and the company was eligible for a bonus, according to Tourism Department spokeswoman Adele Poirier.
She said information wasn't yet available for 2005-06, but in 2004-05, Colour was eligible for $283,000 and earned $174,000. Ms. Poirier said the department and agency negotiate the bonus criteria, which she said is stringent and partly tied to industry performance.
Ms. Poirier said the department has a good relationship with Colour, and the firm may bid again.
The province's $1.2-billion tourism industry has been hampered recently by the strong Canadian dollar and high fuel prices.
The request for proposals closes Sept. 7.