Tour Operations Management : Assignment

TOUR OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A. Recent trends and development in tour operations industry with types of holidays taken
with emerging popular destination (P1.1)...................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
B. Suitability of different methods of contracting the various components of the holidays for
different types of tour operators (P2.2 and P2.3).........................................................................3
C. Cost of the components of the package and calculate selling price of your holidays.............3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
A. Design and plan brochure to evaluate planning decisions for the proposed brochure and
assess suitability of alternative methods of communication and promotion for different types
of tour operators (P3.1 P3.2).......................................................................................................4
B. Evaluate non traditional methods of distribution that can be used to sell holiday packages
for different tour operators (P3.3)................................................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
A. Analysis emerging trends in the UK tour operations sector and evaluate how various tour
operators respond to these trends (P4.1)......................................................................................6
B. Differences between tactical and strategic decisions, identify and compare some tactical
decision that can be taken by chosen tour operator.....................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Travel and tourism industry continuously develop their operations and functions to maintain
effective results at workplace. In this regard, different activities and functions continuously
develop by the organisation to focus on the appropriate working of tourism activities (Robinson,
Cameron and Crotts, 2016).
In this context, present study based on Thomas Cook Group which is one of the greatest
travel and tourism industry in whole world. They continuously develop their functions and
operations to manage innovative results in different areas of the world.
For gaining insight information of the present report, it covers recent trends and
development in tour operations with different types of holidays taken. Furthermore, report
focuses on suitability of different methods of contracting the various components of the holidays.
Moreover, analysis and evaluation of traditional and non-traditional methods also undertaken in
the present study.
TASK 1
A. Recent trends and development in tour operations industry with types of holidays taken with
emerging popular destination (P1.1)
In the UK, there are several recent trends and development consider in tour operations
industry with different types of holidays taken. They are as follows:
Flexible booking options: Due to advent technology, people can easily book their holidays
and other plans for their different destinations. In this regard, variety of ways taken such as
internet, tele-text, etc. They can also books tickets on the behalf of their relatives and discretion.
It is not easier but also cheaper and quicker (Hoyos, Morales and Akhavan-Tabatabaei, 2015). It
create impact on tour operators industry as they become slowly work in resorting to the services
of travel agent.
Independent travellers: There are more number of independent travellers who
accumulating around the world. Therefore, different tour operator’s deals with the cheap deals
and holiday can be plans that are online. Because of this, independent travellers are more famous
in UK. Most of the independent travellers and businessman pursuing their passion for instance
Mountain biking, etc. Hence, they are booking accordingly to leads with tour operators (Florio,
Hartl and Minner, 2018).
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Destination marketing: In present time, there is wide scope of destination marketing.
Therefore, tourism industry continuously grows with their different kinds of advertisement with
leaflets and brochure. New media largely create impact on the functions and operations that are
develop by tourism industry. Apart from this, more attention also needed on personal demand
and preference of various segmentations (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017).
Democratisation of tourism: In order to make changes as per demographic bases, it can be
stated that democratisation of tourism is one of the important perspective that ascertained in
global market. In this regard, among consumer groups, there are several opportunities
continuously develop regarding travel and tourism industry (Allahyari, Salari and Vigo, 2015).
Sustainable tourism development: It is one of the important key aspects for all types of
travel and tourism operators. In this regard, it can be stated that main aim of travel and tourism
businesses is to accomplish ethical or healthy tourism activities. As a result, it cater to the
environment with enhance stabilise and reduce disrupts and harms in the environment. It keeps
local residents with free from conflicts (Bazargan, 2016).
Stages involved in developing holidays
In this context, wedding tour package has been undertaken for 7 days in Las Vegas in
which tour successfully develop with appropriate time scale. After research, it can be stated that
there are several members involves in the plan. As a result, package includes:
 Pick up guests from Las Vegas Airport in the luxury coach and arrangement in hotel. In
this regard, helicopter sighting tour, it can be associated with flight tour operators.
 Arrangements of capturing memorable moments with high quality of DVD of wedding
ceremony.
 Arrangement of beautician.
 Many other arrangements also undertaken which would be beneficial to make more
effective event.
In order to design wedding event, it can be stated that package must be undertaken on
the basis of coach. They provided to the gust and stay at standard hotel for 7 days. These whole
arrangements planned along with regular services which need to be take place to focus on the
exclusive hotel transportations and customers not pay anything extra locally (Felicen, Ylagan
and Buted, 2014). Along with this, timescale also play important role in whole arrangements so
that it would be beneficial to consider appropriate budget for whole package that is different
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from time span for booking holidays. In this holiday season, more occasions also successfully
develop such as Christmas, New Year, etc. There are several arrangements has been taken such
as helicopter booking, airlines bookings, hotel booking, etc. All these information must be
successfully implemented for ascertained significant advantages (Jabbour and de Sousa Jabbour,
2016). Hotel tariff also high so that in tourist season budget develop in appropriate manner.
TASK 2
B. Suitability of different methods of contracting the various components of the holidays for
different types of tour operators (P2.2 and P2.3)
Following are different methods undertaken of contracting the various components of the
holidays:
 Transport: Transport play very important role which assists to take place in global
environment. In this regard, tourism activities have existence separately from transport
that assists to accomplish results to express string positive connection. Transportation
also considered as significant aspect for the development of expansion of tourism (Burgin
and Hardiman, 2015).
 Hotels: Individual also liking spending time and quality with their families and friends at
different places of tourism attraction. In all over the world, there is significant role played
by the hotels and accommodation facilities also popularised for the particular destination
of tourists. There are also significant of providing comfortable accommodation for
individual who are belonging to different backgrounds. There is requirement of five star
hotels in catering and wealthy tourists (Lacej and Kalaj, 2015).
 Attractions: Place of tourist attraction also continuously develop with attraction element.
In this regard, revenue contributed from government to local economies to providing
more earning that is associated with foreign exchange (Frankel and Gabriele, 2017).
C. Cost of the components of the package and calculate selling price of your holidays
In this aspect, total amount has been calculated with selling price for holiday for Chinese
students. In this regard, it is essential to designing tour operators for a particular group of people
around 15 members involved in it. Total 5 days of tour has been taken for them:
SR. No. Packages detail Price for each
person
Price for all 15
persons
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1. Amount for airlines Pound 20 Pound 300
2. Amount of
transportation
Pound 1000 Pound 1000
3. Charges for hotels Pound 60 Pound 480
4. Misc expenses Pound 200
5. Total cost Pound 1080 Pound 1980
Therefore, it can be stated that total amount charged around Pound 1980 in which profit is
10%. Total selling price for holiday is Pound 2178.
TASK 3
A. Design and plan brochure to evaluate planning decisions for the proposed brochure and assess
suitability of alternative methods of communication and promotion for different types of
tour operators (P3.1 P3.2)
In order to consider planning decision, it can be stated that following stages can be
successfully implemented in brochure are as follows:
Stage 1: Research, Strategy and feasibility: It is the first stage in which all
information available that is more relevant for the present project collected. It considers brief,
background and some other important information with effective research. With brand legal
issues, effective research has been taken so that it is essential to solve issues and problems that
are occurred in h whole program (Rosenfeld, Moore and Vincent, 2018). Furthermore, Thomas
Cook Group needs to understand their client expectation through asking questions from them.
Hence, problem can be solved easily.
Stage 2: Design concept: After acceptance agreement of the initial process, it can be
stated that preliminary design ideas consider in appropriate manner. In this consideration,
creative process will be selected that assists to focus on different types of consideration.
Significance also measure with colour combination, typography, graphic style, technology, etc.
Concept also turns out with most suitable for further development (Armenski, Dwyer and
Pavluković, 2018). On the basis of client feedback, it can be stated that particular concept has
been chosen.
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Stage 3: Detailed design development: Selected concept of the plan has been further
develop that implement with all relevant details. As a result, logo created with distinctive colours
and variations and different pages of the websites are effectively assembled in HTML and
Photoshop. In this plan, it can be stated that specification of the design fostering needs of
products planning and final costing (Mobasher, Ekici and Özener, 2015).
Stage 4: Implementation: When approval is generated, implementation of all decided
factors successfully ascertained to finish artwork. In this case of print, PDF format also
undertaken which would be beneficial to the planning decision. In addition to this, detailed
specification also created for external suppliers (Jaehn, 2016). With the help of professional
programme, designs are effectively converted into HTML code for websites.
Stage 5: Supervision of production: Quality control is most important function and
effective supervision to produced work which is necessary. Design for website is the best aspect
to choose website name that suggested. Application of search engine optimisation is most
important and implemented accurately with design (Hoyos, Morales and Akhavan-Tabatabaei,
2015).
Concept of the design traditional brochure have been challenging because there are
several alternative options also available. Alternative options can be undertaken from Thomas
Cooks Group and Travel network group. It is a reference which considered in positive context.
Respective website also design appropriate brochure which is more important consideration for
delivery of brochure related with packages of Thomas cook group online. It assists to reduce
printing cost of the business so that it is useful for accomplish several benefits in the business
environment (Robinson, Cameron and Crotts, 2016). The website also allows customers to
access all different brochure of the chosen business. On the basis of special brand internet is also
available on several devices such as computer, mobile, website, etc. Another tour operator is
Travel Network Group who consider magazine and includes detail information about Travel trust
association. Therefore, it tends to create significant articles in magazines. Moreover, it also
ascertained to adjust size and functionality in accordance with device of access to make potential
advantages (Armenski, Dwyer and Pavluković, 2018).
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B. Evaluate non traditional methods of distribution that can be used to sell holiday packages for
different tour operators (P3.3)
In today’s time, there are several methods considered in distribution of purpose of selling
holidays. It can be analysis with reference to Thomas Cook Group and TUI travel. Thomas Cook
Group select Omni distribution channel which includes different retail stores, websites and call
centres with third party agent. Wide network of distribution channel enable to more choices for
customers and maximise customer reach. Main objective behind it to build existent strength with
development of single customer gateway. In this context, results generated with delivery of
consistent customer experience. There are several range of products and service available across
different distribution channel (Hoyos, Morales and Akhavan-Tabatabaei, 2015).
Fur TUI travel, direct distribution channels has been selected which consider group of
strategy. Increasing direct distribution of holidays cuts down on the distribution cost and reduces
dependency on third part. Main aim to implement this process is to consolidate customer
relationship. Distribution continuously develop and improve by 68% and major reasons is to
driving impact that posed by online channels that ca n be perceive with 3% improvement. In
2014, the organisation earns more than 4.1 million pound revenue from this channel. Therefore,
it consist inclination with online distribution channel. However, Thomas Cook Group consider
better approach to focus on the more development and promote ideas of distribution system to
understand significance to have retail stores (Florio, Hartl and Minner, 2018). Online channel
also distributed to sell different packages in different areas of the world. Traditional methods of
choosing package ascertained by visiting retail store.
TASK 4
A. Analysis emerging trends in the UK tour operations sector and evaluate how various tour
operators respond to these trends (P4.1)
In the UK, there are different kinds of tour operator’s work to attract several tourists. In
this regard, emerging trends create major impact on the results and outcomes. In this regard,
following are different kinds of tour operator’s work in this sector. They are as follows:
Outbound tour operators: these categories of tour operators are specialised in promoting
and designing multi-national tours especially in foreign countries. Outbound tour operators sell a
package to an individual and group of people of his own nation to another nation. These types of
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operators are generally liaison with inbound tour operators so that they meet all kinds of needs
and effectiveness to offer several services with involving accommodation in ton hotels
(Armenski, Dwyer and Pavluković, 2018).
Domestic tour operators: Domestic tour operators are witnessed in attractive growth rates
as large players in the travel industry. They are aggressively entering and promoting in this kind
of market as well. Leading tour operators usually focuses on the international market where
margin is more high but floating new package to create niche in this segment. Generally these
kinds of tour operators work within the country and specialised diverse needs of individual and
group travellers. They are also promote tour package with own outlets and other retail travel
agents. Therefore, contribution also develop with domestic holiday package (Jabbour and de
Sousa Jabbour, 2016).
Inbound tour operators: Inbound tour operators directly deal with the foreign countries.
In this regard, various services provided to them on arrival and departure such as transfer,
accommodation, entertainment, etc. Therefore, they can easily contact to increase more creative
results. They are also contributes valuable foreign exchange earnings to the economy of host
countries.
Ground tour operators: Ground tour operators are also known as the reception operators.
They consider their participation for destination management companies and handling agencies
as well (Robinson, Cameron and Crotts, 2016).
Direct sell operators:
Strategic decisions
 Segmentation, targeting and positioning: IT aids in market segmentation,
identification of target consumers in efficient way. With this regard, positioning of
products can be successfully build and develop by tour operators. Thomas Cook
Group is the largest tour operator in UK which consist market segmentation on the
basis of geography, demography, etc. In this aspect, functions are develop with
psychographic and behavioural aspect which belong to each individual for various
nations (Allahyari, Salari and Vigo, 2015).
 Tour packages seasonal scenario: This is the preference of consumers in respect
of travelling in various reasons that may be depends on festive season and
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vacations. On the basis of different kinds of pricing strategies, packages also
successfully develop on consumer rate of turnover.
 Strategy for competitive pricing: These kinds of pricing strategy provide
competitive advantages in the organisation for tour operators through focus on tour
package price. For example, Thomas Cook follow pricing strategy that depends on
competitors products and services.
 Strategy for discounting pricing: In order to consider major scenario for
attracting several people, it is essential to focus on the additional consumers. In this
regard, it is essential for several tour operators to offer products and services on
discount pricing. It is also beneficial to take competitive advantages and assist to
make sure that consumers are highly satisfied (Florio, Hartl and Minner, 2018).
 Strategy for innovative promotion: With this consideration, it can be stated that
exclusive and innovative techniques has been associated with promotion and
advertisement. Therefore, it is very significant to attract several numbers of people.
Promotional strategies also innovative that is useful o handle competition in
appropriate manner. In this regard, exclusive strategy has been adopted with
different advertisement strategy.
B. Differences between tactical and strategic decisions, identify and compare some tactical
decision that can be taken by chosen tour operator
In travel and tourism industry, tactical decisions assist in ensuring smooth and flexible
operations of the business so that it assists to focus on flexibility outcomes and results. In this
regard, avoiding prospects of any type of confusion must be assessing so that appropriate
decisions will be ascertained in day to day organisational matters. Certain tactical decisions
prepared by the tour operators into consideration of negotiation with service providers
(Allahyari, Salari and Vigo, 2015). Therefore, there are several arrangements also need to
undertaken in respect to transportation. Lodging and maintenance of the healthy relationship
must be developing with stakeholders to informing them in respect to organisational behaviour.
One of the important tactical decisions taken by tour operator is to ensure appropriate
coordination which is efficient and deriving anticipated outcomes. Hence, they can consultant for
betterment among tour operators. It helps o ensure that coordination is also efficient with various
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services so that research can be conducted in appropriate manner to gain relevant information
(Robinson, Cameron and Crotts, 2016).
However, certain tactical decisions that are consider by Thomas Cook Group develop as
service that processing and associated with allowance of the use of services that is related with
high speed internet for providing instant and optimum services for the consumers. The chosen
organisation use different channel of distribution which can create appropriate link with several
customers and producers in direct manner. In order to take tactical decision, feasibility analysis
will be managed to operate functions and operations (Jabbour and de Sousa Jabbour, 2016).
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that travel and tourism management associated
with different activities and tasks. In this regard, more tour packages develop successfully in the
market which would be beneficial to involve appropriate timescale. Furthermore, it includes
recent trends and development program that consider successfully by tour operators to focus on
the creative perspective of the enterprise. Moreover, it summarised cost which undertaken by
tour operator for planning of holiday package by them. There are 15 Chinese students has been
selected for tour. In addition to this, it concluded about planning of brochure which would be
undertaken for planning decision of tour package in successful manner which would be
beneficial to focus on the results and outcomes. At last, comparison has been taken between
different tactical decisions in different circumstances.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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private sector tourism management in Serbia. Journal of Travel Research, 57(3),
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Bazargan, M., 2016. Airline operations and scheduling. Routledge.
Burgin, S. and Hardiman, N., 2015. Effects of non-consumptive wildlife-oriented tourism on
marine species and prospects for their sustainable management. Journal of
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Felicen, S.S., Ylagan, A.P. and Buted, D.R., 2014. A Correlation Study between Student
Performance on Travel and Tour Operations Course with CRS and Internship
Performance on Travel Agency. International Journal of Academic Research in
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Florio, A., Hartl, R.F. and Minner, S., 2018. Optimal a Priori Tour and Restocking Policies for
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Frankel, A.S. and Gabriele, C.M., 2017. Predicting the acoustic exposure of humpback whales
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strategies. Endangered Species Research, 34, pp.397-415.
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Jabbour, C.J.C. and de Sousa Jabbour, A.B.L., 2016. Green human resource management and
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Jaehn, F., 2016. Sustainable operations. European Journal of Operational Research, 253(2),
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Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
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Lacej, A. and Kalaj, E.H., 2015. The effect of consumer relationship management on satisfaction
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Mobasher, A., Ekici, A. and Özener, O.Ö., 2015. Coordinating collection and appointment
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