UK College Tour Operations Management Report: Trailfinders Analysis

This report delves into the realm of tour operations management, using Trailfinders as a case study. It explores the impacts of current trends, assesses the stages and timescales involved in holiday development, and evaluates various contracting approaches and pricing strategies. The report also examines the planning decisions behind brochure design, comparing traditional and alternative distribution methods. Furthermore, it analyzes strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operators, providing a comprehensive overview of the industry's key aspects. The report includes calculations for holiday selling prices and discusses the suitability of different marketing tools, offering valuable insights into the complexities of tour operations.

TOUR OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 The impacts of recent and current trends on tour operational industry............................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Assess the stages and timescales involved in developing holidays..................................2
2.2 Suitability of various approach of contracting for various elements of the holiday........4
2.3 Calculate the selling price of a holiday from given information......................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Evaluate the Planning Decisions taken for the Design of selected Brochure...................5
3.2 Suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure .........................................................6
3.3 Suitability of various tools of distribution........................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Strategic decisions made by various kinds of tour operators...........................................8
4.2 Compare the tactical judgements......................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
In the marketplace, tour operations can be stated as a process in which there are certain
plans and strategies being utilised in order to make effective and attractive packages (Tour
Operations Management. 2014). In the modern scenario, it has become a trend as well as
necessity for travellers while visiting other places for various reasons. Travel and tourism sector
is growing and getting success on a rapid speed and they have been using the latest technology in
transportation and other essential elements. In this report, company chosen is Trailfinders which
is a travel and tourism company and has been dealing with providing attractive and effective
packages to customers. This company was founded in 1970 and has staff over 1000 people.
There are certain things which have been discussed in this report like various stages and
timescale of holiday package development. Moreover, various tools and techniques which are
used to compare between modern and traditional tools of advertisement have been studied.
Besides this, tour operator needs to form tactics and strategical opinion while on trip which has
also been highlighted here.
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TASK 1
1.1 Impacts of recent and current trends and improvement on tour operational sector
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TASK 2
P2.1 Assessing the steps and scale of time active in making holidays
Holidays must be made for relaxation and getting stress free from regular schedule. Every
kind of activity starts from an essential element which helps in creating the framework of
activities and thus, aids in taking and making effective decision process. There are various
factors and stages which are stated and developed to enhance the efficiency and certainty while
developing packages for holiday or business. Below described are the stages for packages
development: Research for Destinations: The inherent stage for formulating occasions is to inquire
about the aim to be travelling and search. The travelling aims are selected by need of
person. Diverse kinds of investigations are done to inquire about the aim for package visit
like PESTEL analysis. The look into procedure can be polished within few months. Developing Tour Itinerary: In the wake of choosing the movement goal the following
stage is to create visit agenda. It is an outlined type of visit program which incorporates
every one of the goals, travel courses, facilities, transportations and spots to be gone to. It
is a methodical procedure to finish an occasion with no multifaceted nature. This stage
can be achieved within two months. Negotiation: There are various sellers and they majorly provides managing the visit
administrations. Merchants are being consulted for controlling the cost of the packages
which are being formulated. Modifications are being done for gathering up of occasions
for empowering up of transactions for the cost of travelling, transportation and
accommodation (Dietz, 2011). More rebates is being given to the history of visit
administrators rather then suppliers. This type of stage can be finished within four months
and age. Determining the Prices: This stage is all about evaluating up of packages which is the
most essential element. The main element which directly impacts the packages value
regarding trade cost, fuel cots and other tax structure. Evaluation is being done in not less
then ten months as per the occasion dates. There are various packages which are being
made regarding any festival so that large number of customers can be attracted. There are
two plans or strategies for estimating of visiting packages, cost situated and showcase
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arranged visit pricing. Pricing takes the most extreme tenure and that is of one month
after attaining up of transaction process. Marketing of Packages made: It is highly an essential tool for every kind of company that
has been dealing in any sector. The main focus of marketing is on creating awareness
about products and services which can provide number of benefits to them in an effectual
manner. In Trailfinders, marketing is being done for the same reason so that more number
of customers can be added by making brochures which are related to company in retail
sector. Four or five months are needed to attain this stage (Grant and et. al., 2017) .
 Execution of Tour: This can be stated as the last stage in Trailfinders. All kinds of
estimations and preparations are being converted into reality (Evans and et. al., 2012). All
the structures and framework are being exercised and chosen organisation has the policies
to monitor and control activities which are in process.
2.2 Suitable of number of approaches of contracting for number of factors of Holiday
In the current scenario, there are certain packages which are being designed by
Trailfinders by including various types of features and thus mainly two kind of methods can be
applied which are fixed contract and sale only contract. This kind of methodologies of
contracting are being utilised by different kinds of tour operators like airline and flight operators
centres. There are contracts which are being done by Trailfinders to respective seller and
suppliers by taking the two states of contracts and select the best suited one for certain operator.
 Fixed Contracts: In this type of stage, the main focus is on quantitative approach
regarding the deal. Abilities and skills are being enhanced for amplifying the volume of
the deals. This type of agreement is being done with the motive of taking the benefits of
the off season. There are some settled contracts which gives the idea of fluctuation up of
the package cost along with the advantages of cost gathering. (Guo and He, 2012) . In
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Agreements
Fixed Contracts
Sales Only
Contract

any case, if there should arise an occurrence of non-use the visit administrators are
subject to pay the adjust measure of the agreement to the specialist co-op.
 Sale Only Contract: In this kind of deal, costs are generally high as compared to settled
contracts. These are occasional contracts and thus are being formulated by thinking about
the needs of clients and abilities of the market. The negative impact of this kind of
agreement is that it provides no obligation on the visit administrations. There is nop
degree involved for the high rebates within the agreements.
From the analysation of above elements, it can be stated that those who takes high risk, they have
high chances of earning high revenue. Fixed Contracts got high risk and thus it mainly provides
huge amount of discounts and profit ratios while in case of sale only contracts, high risk in not
involved which can directly give ways for high prices.
2.3 Figure the selling cost of a vacation from given data
As per the given case, tour is being planned by certain students from London, UK to Paris
, France. Estimation is being done for per person and per couple as well. Trailfinders has their
own network in Bruges where the Grand Casselbergh is being located and it has enabled them to
negotiate with prices and after negotiation structure of package has been redesigned and
proposed and the tour is not much more then 6 days . Hotel Grand Casselbergh has provided
redesigned structure of pricing as 96 Euros for twin room and matter for BB is 10 Euros per
person per night. Below are the calculations for various costs described:
 Calculation of Accommodation Cost: Twin room is being render in 96 Euros in which
two adults can stay and share the room. Per person cost will be of 85.71 Pounds and if we
talk about luxury coach which is for 48 people, per person cost will be 233.33 Pounds.
 Calculation of Transportation Cost: Transportation cost will be included in 11,200 Euros
and in this cost there are two drivers, fuel and all road and ferry taxes as well.
Number of Students on the trip = 42
Number of Nights = 5
Hotel per Person = 96 euros x 0.892857 (Exchange Rate) = £ 85.71
Van for 42 students = £ 11200.00
Tour Guide = £ 945.00
Mark Up = £ 33%
Selling Price of the Tour
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Hotel = £ 17999.10
Van = £ 11200
Tour Guide = £ 945
Total Cost (17999.10 +11200+945) = £ 30144.10
Mark Up 33% = (33/100x30144.10) = £ 9947.55
Total Cost price = (30.144.10 + 9947.55) = £ 40091.65
Price per Person = 40091.65/42 = £ 954.56
TASK 3
3.1 Determining the planning decisions which are being taken for designing up of selected
Brochure
In the travel and tourism sector, it is highly essential to let know the customers regrading
the goods and services of respective sector. Brochure can be stated as document which contains
comprehensive and relative data in order to enhance the demand. This can be considered as
methodologies or can be said as techniques for marketing which has involvement of low cost and
its reach is being extended. There are two ways through which it can be distributed and that are
online and offline (Hoyos and et. al., 2015). Digitalisation and enhanced techniques are being
improving and increasing the reaching area of the brochures.
 Issue determination for developing brochure: The issue must be recognized before the
improvement of handout. The issues which ought to be considered are advertise division,
choosing the objective market, organization of the handout, data to be examined and time
cut-off of execution of the pamphlet. Vital basic leadership ought to be there which is
finished by breaking down and looking at all the available options. Format of Brochure: Brochure is the precise report of information. There are merged
numerous sections and sub-areas in a Brochure and information is divided in fragments,
which form it more appealing and justifiable. The design of the handout must be outlined
by the verifiable market. The data must be in the organization given underneath:
Name of the tour operator company
 Manner of transportation system.
 Travel address and path of the travelling agenda.
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 Adjustment and meal facilities.
 Cost of the tour bundle with justified arrangement.
 All the terms and other cost applicative.
 All the lawful needs to be consummated.
 Budgeting and selecting target Market: Before making the brochure the financial plan and
the objective market ought to be characterized. The market division is finished by
examining the request of various clients and the objective market which is the most
appropriate for the visit administrator organization is chosen. Financial plan can be
characterized as the spending energy of the clients which is the key factor for choosing
the business' items and administrations. The objective buyers can be recognized by
examining the financial plan.
 Time Scales for Completion of Stages: Handout must be made up in the endorsed day
and age as it is the primary record for the promoting of the meeting administrator sector.
(Kerzner, 2013). Every one of the state in the evolution of pamphlet are characterized a
most extreme time confine and should be completed inside those factors of confinement.
3.2 Suitableness of choices to a traditional brochure
Traditional brochure: In a tour industry, traditional printed brochures are generally
considered as classical approach for the marketing. All the vital and material data is being
present in printed form of physical Brochures but yet it is not effective in nature as it is not
capable of attracting the customers and thus improve the demand of holiday products and
services. Therefore, after the growth of innovative techniques and technology which innovates
various alternatives and context of traditional methods which are being used by Trailfinders
while designing and constructing brochure. It has become highly essential and beneficial as well
in order to reduce the chances of error which may motivate while applying the brochure. Various
alternatives which are determined are described below:
E-Brochures: It can be stated as highly essential element of Brochures which can help
tour operators in gathering all the vital data to their respective clients. Support can be provided
for attaining all the plan steps within allocated tenure with presence of attraction factor.
Visual: This can also be stated as an attractive element for Trailfinders manager so that
large number of customers can be attracted while pasting effective image.
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Social Media: All the essential data can be provided to the clients who are interested in
visiting various places and that can be done by using this kind of tool. There are various tools
which can be used like Twitter, Google, Instagram and Facebook and many more and this can
help in attracting large number of customers.
Internet Websites: there are million number of websites which are being included and
used by tour operators like Trailfinders in order to determine and analyse effective places where
the tourist mainly visits (Khairat and Maher, 2017) . In this kind of tool, client have the
knowledge regrading destination.
Thus from the above elements it can be stated that there are effective and online
brochures which also has essential data for the tour destination. So the major essential part of
acquiring large number of tourists and as per that sales of business process can be maximised in
effectual manner.
3.3 Suitableness of several tools of system
There are various other options available which can provide assistance in manufacturing
the goods and services to the business manager. There are various facilities which are being
provided by Trailfinders which are being identified under this:
Direct Sale: In order to make a business successful, direct scale can be stated as an
essential element. It can be stated as a process in which entire facilities are being sold in direct
manner without any help of various intermediary tools like online and mail order, presentations
monitoring and attractive offers organising (Lenahan, 2011) . Help can be provided to company
in order to sell the services and products to buyers in direct manner. With the help of accurate
comments and visitors evaluation will help in enhancing atmosphere of marketing accordingly.
Hiring Agents: It can be stated as people who have abilities to understand the purpose of
visiting certain destination and these type of person are generally said as agent. They have
certain abilities like to take the agreements from both the parties like companies and its
travellers. There are certain situations in which chances occur of ineffective and direct
transmission between both parties. Moreover, entire services will be given by Trailfinders so that
customers can be grabbed in effective manner.
Partner: This can be stated as two or more then two person with non-competing
company. In this kind of stage, tour manager contains the accurate concern with popular
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destinations, bus operators and hotels of visiting which in turn can help in acquiring accurate
facilities and information (Luis and et. al., 2012) .
Online sales services: It is stated as process in which certain services and products are
being sold via online sites like Trailfinders can sell their offers and packages online. There are
various aspects which are being included like places, cooking of tickets and hotels to visit which
can in turn can help company to have reservation in advance and along with that plot will be
ready which can be presented in front of clients.
Opaque Distribution: It can be said as process in which services are being sold which
which can be regarded as benefits which in turn can give minimum pricing services which are
being given by business sellers (Martinez and et. al., 2011) . Real vendor of the facilities does
not realise but the customers are valuable, so it is an necessary and popular portion of dispersion
of holiday journey.
TASK 4
4.1 Strategic decisions taken by number of tour operators
It can be stated that strategic decision making is an essential element which can be used
for attaining goals by enhancing sustainability within company. In the process of strategic
decision-making, all the options are being analysed and choose the most suitable option to the
company (Cook and et. al., 2014). Effective decision-making by Trailfinders is highly utilised by
any kind of tour operator company. Below described are the key strategic decisions:
 Demand forecasting: This kind of strategy can be stated as first strategic decision which
is being made by Trailfinders. This kind of approach can be stated as futuristic approach
in which estimation is being done for the future demand of the travel holiday services and
goods. All other can be stated as future demands.
 Market segmentation, targeting and positioning: Clients are portioned by enhancement of
clients as indicated by their highlights and demand. Packages are outlined thinking about
the necessities of the clients (Moutinho, 2011) . Target clients are chosen and situated by
the visit administrators by examining every one of the portions considering the
components like spending which is the spending limit of clients and different elements.
 Discount pricing strategy: Essential role is being played by Discount in the sector of
tourism. In order to determine the price of package, assistance is being provided by level
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of discounts. Huge discounts comes under fixed contract and sale contracts generate low
types of discounts. These kind of decision are highly necessary for fixing up the price and
attaining high level of productivity.
4.2 Compare the tactical judgements
Tactical decision: Executives should select techniques which provide support to travel
and tourism industry and help them to accomplish their objectives. Manager should keep their
employees informed about their policies so that they are able to achieve target. This help
company in making profit by formulating strategies properly so that superiors can assist their
staff by providing adequate guidance and instructions which help them to carry out tasks
effectively.
 In a firm tour operators frame short term policies which help them to keep their goods
and services updated so that they are able to attract customers. Trailfinders had
implemented different kinds of policies to enhance their image in market in respect to
their location, providing diverse range of products and packages according to users needs
and wants (Naji-Azimi and et. al., 2012) .
 Tour operators even provide various extra facilities to attract customers by offering them
services such as car hiring, hotel arrangement and many more so that they are able to
influence applicants by providing advantage over their competitors.
 Trailfinders had adopted strategies through which they keep their customers connected
with company by communicating offers through phone, e-mailing, fax so that their
clients are informed about their packages (Robinson and et. al., 2011). This also help to
take feedback about their services and construct relationship with their prospects. This
provide benefits to company as they are able to establish loyalty and enhancement of
profitability.
 They even provide options to get additional features such as offering refreshments and
tourist guide to their clients to help them visit places easily and giving them adequate
information to make their trip interesting (Barratt and et. al., 2011).
 Firm even advertise about their services informing people about their packages, features
and benefits to compete with other companies dealing in same sector. They should
provide budget to clients so that they are able to make comparison with other companies
and select best deal for them.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that there are essential part of tour sector
business which makes it successful and that is tour operation management. There are number of
packages which are being designed by Trailfinders for customers. There are number of tools and
techniques which are being utilised by company in order to attract large number of buyers. In
this type of business there are packages which are being made to offer family and individual
tour. There are various destinations which are attractive in nature for the visitors visiting for first
time and this in turn can help in increasing profitability of business and thus aims and objectives
of firm can be attained.
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REFERENCES
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tourism. Taylor & Francis.
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Martinez, A. J. P., Stapleton, O. and Van Wassenhove, L. N., 2011. Field vehicle fleet
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Moutinho, L. ed., 2011. Strategic management in tourism. Cabi.
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Naji-Azimi, Z. and et. al., 2012. A covering tour approach to the location of satellite distribution
centers to supply humanitarian aid. European Journal of Operational Research.
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