Halifax Firm to Operate Three Gift Shops

A Halifax-based tourism company will operate gift shops at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. DRL Vacations Ltd. was selected as the successful bidder on a public request for proposals issued in April by the Department of Tourism and Culture.

Under the proposal, the firm will also establish a gift shop at the Visitor Information Centre on the Halifax waterfront.

Based in Halifax, DRL Vacations Ltd. is a long-established firm with businesses throughout Atlantic Canada, including the travel and tourism sectors.

"We're very pleased that a local firm will be operating these gift shops," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "This is part of our ongoing effort to improve efficiencies and increase revenues, which go back into the museums."

DRL Vacations Ltd. and the department will now begin drafting a one-year contract. A successful evaluation will result in a three-year extension of the DRL contract.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us," said Javis Roberts, general manager of DRL. "We have an extensive customer base, which we plan on using to promote these gift shops."

A number of the gift shops located in the department's Visitor Information Centres throughout the province have been under private-sector operation for some time.