The purpose of this RFP is to invite qualified applicants to submit proposals to conduct a supply-chain
analysis for three destinations in Tourism Region 4. This analysis will be used to inform progressive
procurement and events-management policies that will assist in improving the regenerative
performance of these destinations with a particular emphasis on directing procurement toward local
suppliers. The work must be fully completed by December 2025.
The intent of the research is to
● Understand the current purchasing habits of tourism enterprises in the villages of Elora-Fergus
and St. Jacob’s and the City of Stratford. Focus should be on food and beverage establishments,
accommodations, and festivals/events.
● Gain knowledge of current and alternative supplier practices as they relate to a triple bottom
line (environmental stewardship, progressive socioeconomic engagement, and cultural
responsiveness).
● Bring awareness to the purchasing power of tourism entities and how progressive procurement
and sustainable event management can contribute to community wealth building.
● Provide insights and next steps for implementing sustainable procurement with a focus on
reducing carbon emissions and promoting broader regenerative efforts within the tourism
supply chain. By “sustainable,” we mean procurement and event-management that are
attentive to the triple-bottom line of environmental, sociocultural, and economic regenerative
efforts. Our priority for this research is environmental impact, but we are cognizant of the
intermingling of all aspects of sociocultural practice and economic impact with carbon
reductions.
