Tour Operation Management

This report discusses the effects of current trends on the tour operations industry, stages and timescales involved in developing holidays, planning decisions for brochure design, suitability of alternatives to traditional brochures, suitability of distribution methods, strategic decisions made by tour operators, and tactical decisions in different situations.

TOUR OPERATION
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Evaluate effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operations
industry...................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Assess the stages and timescales involved in developing holidays..................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
3.1 Planning decisions taken for the design of a selected brochure.......................................3
3.2 Suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator. .4
3.3 Suitability of different methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different types of
tour operator...........................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
4.1 Strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator...........................................6
4.2 Tactical decisions that could be taken by a selected tour operator in different situations7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In respect with current business scenario, tourism and travel industry is considered as the
fastest growing sector. Tour operation management is a unit in traveling sector which manages
all aspects related necessary operations while traveling. It is a vital constituent in travel industry.
Tourism and travel involves various current trends including high growth in terms of revenue.
This present assignment is undertaken in respect of LCB tours. It is a traveling agency in UK
which believes in providing best facilitates to their customers (Aremu, 2013). This report
includes current and recent developments in tour management and related operations. Time
scales and stages associated with planning holiday is specified. Along with this, sustainable
aspect of various methods of contracting is discussed which help the traveling agencies to
manage their work appropriately. At last, need for a brochure and different kinds of style
associated with is is discussed.
TASK 1
1.1 Evaluate effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operations
industry
(Covered in Leaflet)
TASK 2
2.1 Assess the stages and timescales involved in developing holidays.
(covered in PPT)
TASK 3
3.1 Planning decisions taken for the design of a selected brochure
Department of Marketing in LCB tour and traveling company carry out functions related
with decisions and planning while designing a brochure. It include several aspects which are
needed to be considered like costing, format, targeting market, budget allocation, specifications
while printing. Timescales and production stage is also involved (Bellman, 2015). To conduct

their operations effectively, LCB decides to evaluate luxury holiday brochure used by tour
operators like Virgin group and Thomas cook which is specified below:
 Cost: Different aspects on which the cost associated with a brochure is finalized is its
quality, wastage, design and number of pages. Thomas cook is a big company and
possess a reputable image in market area. They deliver their facilities and services around
the globe. To extend their client base, company tries to provide best to their clients. This
is the reason cost of these brochure is little high as compared with others company's
brochure like virgin group. Number of prints associated with brochure of virgin group is
less than that of Thomas cook (Carmody, 2013).
 Deciding the format: Format of brochure used by Virgin group is three fold where as the
one which is used by Thomas cook to provide information regarding their facilities and
services is a kind of booklet which includes offerings up to one year.
 Target market and budget: Those factors which are compared in accordance with
targeted market are quality and design. Quality of Thomas cook brochure is high as
compared with Virgin group as the targeted section of former company is high upper
class. Budget of both companies varies. It can be seen from the fact that brochure used by
Virgin group is three fold printed page where as Thomas cook uses an entire booklet to
acknowledge clients.
 Determining print specifications: Specifications associated with Thomas cook is more
impressive than Virgin group. The font style and size needs to be appropriate. Aim of
designing brochure is not only to provide detailed information but also to expand their
clients base. Virgin group provides brochure with the objective of giving necessary
information only.
It is understandable from above mentioned aspects that Brochure of virgin group have
several shortcomings and they needs to overcome them. Focus is needed to improve the quality
of brochure which involves size, font, image etc. These shortcomings are because of less budget.
Improved budget and cost will help Virgin group to fight against Thomas cook in case of
brochure design and quality (Collins, Munday and Roberts, 2012).

3.2 Suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator
Traditional Brochure possess several limitations which are required to be eliminate in
order to deliver accurate information to clients. Alternatives that can be adopted by tour agencies
are specified beneath:
 E-brochure: It is considered like a printed medium associated with web. It helps in
building the identification of businesses. It helps in delivering additional functionalities to
client base. Virgin group and LCB uses this type of brochures to specify their client base
regarding the facilities they provide.
 Android applications: These applications runs through digital and online media. These
applications are basically for mobile users. In present time, Sky scanner is considered as
the best application to book travel packages. Different tour agencies and coordinators
interact with these application developers to promote their company.
 Social media: It is the best platform for any traveling company like LCB to advertise and
promote their information to million of peoples within short span of time. Thomas Cook
provide their service worldwide and people are familiar with their services due to social
media. This is the best tool as it help these companies to connect with their clients in
minimum cost. Also conducting surveys and feedback through social media is easy.
3.3 Suitability of different methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different types of
tour operator
It is essential for every tour and traveling agency to identify several methods of
distribution which will enhance their business sustainability. There exist several tactics which
can be used for increasing the sales of vacation packages such as governmental websites, two
level distribution and direct distribution (Duggan, 2012). These all methods possess several
merits and demerits in them. Organization needs to overview them before making any decision.
Advantage of these methods along with different kind of operators is acknowledge form the
points outlined beneath:
 Direct distribution: In this the company direct sell their commodities and services to
their clients. This is considered as best method for small tour companies like LCB which
maintains direct relation with their clients through local market. This will impact their

purchasing behavior and loyalty. Direct distribution supports small tour operators to
survive in market and increase their market shares.
 Social network websites: This is best suitable for those companies which offer their
services worldwide. Mostly, large tour operator uses this kind of distribution tactics. In
this, selling of services and products take place via social media which is accessed by
millions of people globally. Companies like Thomas cook uses this platform as people
trust their services and as people are given the facility of refund if they cancel their trip
due to any changing situation.
 Governmental websites: This distribution method of selling destination packages is very
beneficial for organizations that are under government by any means. This method
provides foremost security when the client transact using these websites. This method
includes a long process while booking and selling of tourist packages but still people
prefer it because there is no chance of fraud through this method. This is due to the
government intervention in the affairs of such companies.
TASK 4
4.1 Strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator
To manage business activities appropriately, LCB incorporates several tactics and
strategies. They formulate various strategies to establish their business at different locations. To
implement this properly, company carry out surveys and investigation to acknowledge the
preference, perception and taste of their targeted section of clients. By this company is able to
take effective decisions associated with accommodation, location and transportation etc (Garcia,
2012). strategic decisions implemented by different tour operator is outlined below:
Pricing strategies: Tour operator companies like LCB formulate several strategies which
help them to manage their tour packages effectively. It is must to have affordable packages so
that different sections of society can take advantage of them. This will increase the revenue of
LCB along with profit margins.
Surcharge policy: It is essential for every company to clearly specify all the costs that
they are going to charge. This helps in eliminating misunderstanding in minds of clients while
paying for their packages.

Image branding and positioning: It is very important for a firm like LCB to provide all
necessary information to their customers. This will help them in maintaining their position in the
minds of clients and also, more popularity of company contributes in improved brand image
which increases market share of LCB.
Distribution decision: To maintain sustainable position in market, it is important for
LCB to choose different methods of distribution. By this, more clients will attract towards the
offer that are provided by company.
4.2 Tactical decisions that could be taken by a selected tour operator in different situations
Within the hospitality unit,there are several companies which manage their business by
executing tactics and strategies in efficient way. This will increase their profit margins along
with capability to pursue work. By this aims and objectives are attained efficiently.
Tactical response: In this workers share their point of view regarding the services and
products offered by the firms. The main work of LCB is to properly deal with the response and
feedback which are given by customers. This will help in maintaining their sustainability in
marketplace (Gibson, 2012).
Tactical pricing: To maintain their business appropriately it is must for LCB to revise
their price strategy. This will help them in expanding their client base as more people will prefer
their package due to affordable cost.
Tactical marketing: In this those decisions are taken which are concerned with the
marketing as well as services of company. Regular checking and monitoring take s place so that
all the facilities that are given to the customers are up to date and in accordance with their
demand.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been carried out that tour operation segment is
an important aspect for both traveling and tour companies . It is must for tour operators to
implement efficient techniques to promote their business operations and activities. In this
particular report, studies related with different kinds of tour operator is discussed. Also,
sustainability of contract and advantage of using brochure is specified as it helps the tourism
companies to expand their business.

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