Comprehensive Report on Tour Operations Management for Trailfinders

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of tour operations management, using Trailfinders Ltd. as a case study. It examines the various stages involved in developing holiday packages, including information gathering, cost evaluation, and negotiation with service providers. The report explores the timescales of different phases and calculates the selling price of a tour package. Furthermore, it delves into the planning decisions behind brochure design, comparing traditional brochures with modern alternatives like e-brochures and social media. The report also discusses various distribution methods used to offer holidays, such as direct sales and internet platforms, and analyzes the strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operators to enhance business performance. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of effective planning and marketing strategies in the competitive tourism industry.

Tour Operations
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
Covered in leaflet .......................................................................................................................1
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................1
2.1 Assessment of timescales and stages includes in developing holidays.................................1
2.2 Suitability of various approach of contracting for different elements..................................3
2.3 Calculation of selling price...................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Planing decisions taken for the plan or design of a chosen brochure...................................5
3.2 Suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure..............................................................6
3.3 Various methods of distribution used to offer a holiday.......................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Strategic decision made by certain kinds of tour operator....................................................8
4.2 Tactical decision that could be taken by a chosen tour operator.........................................10
CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
.......................................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Tour operation management is defined as an effective process in which various tourism & travel sectors plan standard quality
packages of tour. In order to visit various destinations, travellers buy these packages which include many facilities that are necessary
and required by travellers while visiting destinations (Tour Operations Management, 2015). The managers of tour and travel industry
formulate various strategies in order to promote its business by the use of attractive brochures, advertising, etc. Different types of
packages, goods and services are provided to the customers (Allahyari and et. al., 2015). Tourism industry is the fastest growing
business sector as they use advanced technology in providing various facilities to its potential customers and its transportation.
In the present assignment, given company is Trailfinders Ltd. which is an organisation of United Kingdom. The firm is
specialised in “tailor-made travel worldwide” and has its 29 travel sectors in UK. Main aim of this project is to identify changes that
directly influence the performance of business. The report covers different timescales and stages of tour package development as well
as traditional and modern tool of promotion. It also emphasizes on the business management approach while planning effective and
impressive packages for its customers. Apart from this, strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operator are also defined in this
report.
TASK 1
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TASK 2
2.1 Assessment of timescales and stages includes in developing holidays
There are various stages that are necessary to be followed in order to plan a perfect trip. For this purpose, Trailfinders Ltd.
prepares holiday tour with natural destinations that have various heritage attranctions. South Africa is the location that fulfils certain
criteria that is made by the management of company. Many destinations are present in country which highly attract travellers from all
over the world (DiPietro and et. al., 2013). Some of the places that attract visitors more are Table Mountain, Kruger National Park,
Victoria Alfred river front, Robben Island, etc.
There are Some stages which includes in developing holiday plan for visitors are as follows:
Collecting information: It is the first stage in which complete necessary information regarding preferences and tastes of
customers is collected by tour operator. The objective behind collecting information is to develop appropriate packs that meet the
needs of clients and satisfy them completely (Baddeley and Font, 2011). The manager should have appropriate knowledge about
various destinations and places in order to prepare an effective plan.
Packaging cost evaluation: After collecting complete information and data in a systematic way, manager of Trailfinders Ltd.
has to assess value and cost of the trip that the firm gains by providing holiday package to its potential visitors. For this, tour operators
need to determine the needs and requirements of clients in order to evaluate appropriate cost of package.
Negotiate and arrangement with service provides: Main aim of tourism sector is to provide effective tour package to visitors.
To attain this purpose, operators give various facilities to its clients such as leisure time, sight-seeing, accommodation, transportation,
etc.
Fulfil lawful needs and requirements: It is necessary for every tour operator to follow all the laws and regulations made by
government in order to carry out their operations smoothly and successfully in the country and develop effective holiday package
(Bethapudi, 2013). Trailfinders Ltd. follow all the rules and legislations before creating tour package.
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Advertisement and promotion strategies: It is very important for the firm to promote its products and services in order to
attain growth. Implementation of effective promotional strategies ensure success of company. Trailfinders Ltd. use advertisement to
promote its packages and communicate its value and benefits to customers.
Timescale of different phases:
Activities 1 to 7
Days
8 to 14
Days
15 to
21
Days
22 to
28
Days
29 to
35
Days
36 to
42
Days
43 to
49
Days
50 to
56
Days
Collecting Information
Packaging Cost
Evaluation
Negotiating and
arrangement with services
provides
Fulfil lawful needs and
requirements
Advertisement and
promotional strategies
2.2 Suitability of various approach of contracting for different elements
One of the popular Travel and Tourism industry in United kingdom is Trailfinders because they provides different kinds of
effective services to their visitors (Bititci and et. al., 2011). This sector gives standardised packages to their potentials and targets
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clients which attract million visitors on national and international level in an effective manner. In the company, there are various
number of elements which are managed in planning of holiday. These are known as hotel and tour guide and bus service, flight ticket
for individual and family. There are various consent but legal contract have to by fulfilled as per the visitors needs also nature of
environment. Discussion also done with the supplier and giver of business services effectively. There are mainly two types of
agreements are as follows:
Fixed contract: It is define the contractual connection between a manager and employees that lasts for a particulate time
period. It is essentially a mutual statement between different groups who come in legal accomplishment. Main aim and purpose of
company is applying this contract is to collecting maximum benefit in the off-peak of visiting. As per this agreement an organisation
require to emphasis on qualitative or collective structure towards sales. This approach is very beneficial for the managing team
because in which they cam increase their capacity with motive of maximising sales volume. It is very important and essential contract
of the business entity in order to gain more profit in off season of travelling.
Sale only Contract: It is also a method of contract which is very high as equivalence to fixed agreement. In this, statement
between two parties are made according to clients demands and needs. It is also construct as per the market trends in regards to create
maximum profit as comparison to challengers (Bonilla Priego and et. al., 2011). These type of factor is more expansive for
Trailfinders by promoting their services and products to customers.
So both are identify as an essential part of agreement which is evaluate by the travel and tourism industry in an effective
manner. Fixed and sale contract are have strengths as well as weakness also which is good or not for the company. But in utilisation of
both aspects, business organisation can earn maximum profits. It is help enterprise to face difficulty condition in marketplace. Them
designing or planning for selected method have to be fulfilled systematically. In regards to constructing creativity and modernization
in that secession or judgement which assist company to gain maximum revenue in limited time period (Chon and Yu, 2012).
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2.3 Calculation of selling price
As per the mentioned case study, in this European educates are preparing in order to turn for informative or educational trip
from London to Brugge and Brussels for encountering something innovative. Therefore, they mainly plan 5 nights trip by following
accurate factors which includes necessary and essential inclusive. Trailfinders is a travel and tourism industry that provides different
kinds of services about tour to their potential and target customers on daily basis (Brown and et. al., 2013). This business organisation
having its agreement with Belgium and other hotels and companies. Thus, product development group of enterprise is demanding to
prepare an effective holiday package with special offers such as discounts, guide facilities and other services. Hence, they want to
measure trip actual cost with the support of addition cost of the packages in going to obtain during travelling.
Accommodation cost: 96*21=2016
96/1.12= 85.7
85.7*21= 1800 (For One night)
1800*5= 9000 (For 5days)
Details Price(in £)
Accommodation cost 9000
Transportation cost 11200
Charges of tour guide 945
Total cost 21145
Add: Profit margin @ 33% 6977.8
Sale price 28122.5
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It is essential for the student for to visit in given destination. Both places are very attractive for the person so it is important
and valuable for the business growth and development. From the above measurement, it has been measure that cost of products is
doest not included in selling price. Total selling prices: £28122.5.
For per person: =28122.5/21= £1339.18
TASK 3
3.1 Planing decisions taken for the plan or design of a chosen brochure
There are certain planning judgement or phase consider of a chosen brochure includes:
Phase 1: Research, feasibility and strategy: It is a first stage, entire information and data present that is accurate to the
planning trip (Damián-Reyes and et. al., 2011). The travellers expectation should be know about in this phase by asking different
questions to their visitors regarding tour package. In this brochure will sort out the lonely aim of design.
Phase 2: Design concept and element: After the agreement and acceptance of the starting activity, the next phase considers the
exploratory design plans. In this various kind of consideration are considers such as keywords, technology, typography, colour
combination and graphic style.
Phase 3: Detailed design development: In this process, chosen aspect is further created by the formulation f whole necessary
details in an effective manner. In this logo is develop with different variation and colour of the website which are efficiently gathered
by the good of Photoshop as well as sample pages which are generated on different sites.
Phase 4: Implementation: In this stage, all work are complete in an initial level. It is one of the important and essential stage
which is beneficial for the tour operation in order to attract various number of clients towards holiday trip.
Phase 5: Supervision of production: One of the important aspect in this stage is quality control, it is highly important for
preparing effective brochure in an efficient manner.
Scope and purpose of Paper: Above all process are important for the Trailfinders in order to informing their clients towards
business services and products which are offered by tour manager at affordable cost (Dhiman, 2012). With the assist of better planning
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and designing, company manger can make effective decision in an easy manner without difficulties. Trailfinders is a service giver
industry, so in this they need to select different kind of tools and technique's in order to attract million visitors. Brochure planning and
its process is beneficial which is prepared by the manager that covers comprehensive as well as precise data about holiday package.
One of the main objective of designing impressive brochure is to maximising sales and revenue of the travelling sector. Due to this,
marketing team also plays vital role in in regards to analysis entire information regarding buyers needs and trends of marketplace.
There are various kinds which are includes in the process of preparing brochures which are determine under this:
1. Tour Operator name: Trailfinders is a tour operator in UK, London which gives various kind of services and facilities to their
potentials and target visitors in an effective manner.
2. Tools of transportation: There are large number of transportation services which are provide by tour operator to their clients
such as cabs, tourist buses, car rental and other essential facilities with aim of attracting million travellers ( Grant and et. al.,
2017).
3. Name of Tour place and itineraries: Trailfinders mainly determine to providing their trip in London. In this various
destination such as Brugge and Brussels to the students.
4. Accommodation and other important services: Travel and tourism sector gives various facilities to their customers such as
accommodation and other. Due to this, they offer fresh and clean room to their entire visitors so they are happy and state in
more time.
5. Cost of trip: Business organisation offers their holiday package to student for 5 nights in this total cost of trip is £1445.12.
6. Condition with additional charges: Company charged extra price of breakfast, dinner and cleaning services to their customers.
7. Lawful requirement: This aspect is very essential for growing and developing their business operations at national and
international level. This part is follows by the company in providing various strategies of pricing to visitors. Government
regulated different kind of rules and regulations about place, schemes and other ways during trip.
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3.2 Suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure
Traditional brochure: It is a one of the beast and classical method for marketing and sales department of travelling industry
which coverer different type of essential information and data regarding trip. But it is not appropriate and accurate for the company in
sometime. It is essential and beneficial part of the business success and development because it maximise sales or revenue in limited
time period (Guo and He, 2012). Therefore, after outcome of modern technology that creates in certain alternatives of traditional
approach which is followed by the travelling industry while making effective brochure. This is beneficial and useful for decreasing
entire problems that may be rise in creating handouts in an effective manner. There are large number alternative and aspects which are
followed in this way:
E-Brochures: It is identify as an important and vital aspect of brochures. It supports the tour manager to offering different and
necessary data to their customers. It will also help them in fulfilling entire process of planning in given time frame with more
attractiveness.
Visual: It is also a part of brochures which is critical and essential way of business manager in regards to attract million
visitors while fixing beautiful picture.
Social Media: It is very attractive part of the business organisation because in this company can attract various number of
visitors (Hoffman and et. al., 2013). With the utilisation of this factor, Trailfinders can provide entire data or information to their
travellers who can curious in travelling various places. For purpose of attracting different visitors towards business products and
services, company use Facebook, Instagram, google and twitter.
Internet Websites: It is essential part of the brochure which includes different online sites. These are used by business
manager in evaluating effective destination where travellers are visit happily. So this, entire persons are known about the features of
places.
So all this parts are very important for the company growth and development because these are attract different number of
clients in limited time period. These are necessary for the travel and tourism industry in order to collecting valuable information or
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data about holiday trip. So in this, an organisation can prepare their all scheme which help them in maximising sales and revenue of
enterprise.
3.3 Various methods of distribution used to offer a holiday
There are various kind of tools and technique's which are used by the company in order to producing business products and
services. These approach is followed by the Trailfinders are determine under this:
Direct sale: It is very essential methods in which marketing workers of an enterprise meet the customers to sale the holiday
package and outlets. These are important for the business development and success in international and national level. It support the
organisation in order to make better and long term relationship with their visitors (Jaafar and Maideen, 2012). Direct sale also very
helpful for the industry to gain maximum profit and generate competitive benefits in limited time period.
Internet: It is one of the easier and best tool to sale services and products to customers in the marketplace. So it is beneficial
for them in generating maximum profit in equivalence to the direct sale. Information technological division of the Trailfinders put
different posts in their own website that make the clients awareness regarding the holiday trip. Management of the company that gives
discount and other facility on the internet site which attract million visitors towards the business enterprise.
Hiring Agent: This is identify as a person who known about the visiting place called agent. They have capability and
knowledge to take contract between two or more than two parties like Trailfinders and their clients (Kerzner, 2013). Sometime
indirect communication never take effective and specific destination. Apart from this, business organisation provides different kind of
facilities to their potential and target visitors which can increase their sales or revenues in limited time period.
Opaque distribution: This is also very important and essential procedure of selling business products and services which
covers different benefits. It is provides by tour sellers with the help of minimum strategy of pricing. It is supportive and valuable part
of the travel and tourism industry to attract different number of the clients towards trip services and products.
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