Pearson BTEC HND Tour Operations Management Report Analysis

This report, based on a Pearson BTEC HND in Travel and Tourism Management assignment, analyzes the tour operations management. It begins with an introduction to the significance of the tourism industry and the role of tour operators, using Trailfinders and Kuoni Travel as examples. The report examines the effects of current trends on the tour operator industry, including inbound, outbound, and domestic tourism, and environmental awareness. It then assesses the stages and timescales involved in holiday development, including market research, planning, and forecasting, and explores various methods for contracting holiday components. The report also includes a calculation of a holiday's selling price and evaluates planning decisions for brochure design and alternative promotional methods. Finally, it evaluates strategic and tactical decisions made by different types of tour operators. The report covers topics like market research, planning, forecasting, contract methods, brochure design, and strategic decisions.

Tour Operations
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 The effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operators industry..1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Assessing the stages and timescale involved in developing holidays...................................3
2.2 Various methods for contracting for several components of the holiday and tour operator.4
2.3 Calculating selling price of holiday from given data............................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Evaluating planning decisions taken for design of selected brochure..................................6
3.2 Alternatives to traditional brochures for different tour operators ........................................7
3.3 Suitable methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different types of tour operator.8
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Evaluation of strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator.........................9
4.2 Comparison of tactical decision taken by tour operator we in different situations.............10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES 12

INTRODUCTION
Tourist is playing very significance role in the economics of nation in order to facilitates
growth and several opportunities as well. In it many different organisation and government
authorities offers their contribution in order to frame appropriate value easily. In this process,
tour operators are rolling their own role in respects to facilitates effective packages in accordance
to the demands of buyer’s and their capability to offers proper amount in effective. They are
performing to offers effective and tremendous experience form a suitable destination. This report
is based on Trail finders that is a well-known travel firm in UK. The firm was established in the
year of 1970 by Mike Gooly. They run around 29 travel centres in UK and approx. 3 in Ireland.
The another firm is Kuoni travesl that is a tourist operators company too. The firm was founded
in the year of 1960 by Alfred Kouni. These both firms are dealing in the schedule and charter,
package holidays, passenger online and with reports an hotel as well (Barratt, 2011). The report
showcase the effects of recent and current traends of tour operator sectors and some stages in
developing holidays. Other side it brightens the calculation of holidays packages selling in
suitable information or form. In the last of it involves strategic decision that framed by different
kinds of tour operators and compressions between some tactical decision that is chosen by tour
operator too.
TASK 1
1.1 The effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operators industry
Tour and travel sector is a fastest growing firm and also known as the smokeless industry
that landscapes its structure by facilitating suitable growth in the economy in order to frame their
image in easy manner. For visitor, government and other local bodies are providing difffernt
several facilities to make trust in the minds of customers. There some f different kinds of visitors
are visible in the nation who are having different motives for their visit.
Inbound tour operators – these kind of visitors has personality who visits their own
nation by their own wish, specific reason and motive. It involves international tourist. For them,
local authorities, government frame some particular guide and firm to offers then certain
information in easy way (Cook, 2014).
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Outbound tour operators – they are type of persons who tours nation to nation for the
purpose of getting newer experience in effective way. For them, government frames certain
authorities to offers specific information, facilities and idea as well.
Domestic visitors – these types of visitors are all locals who tours their own city and
places in order to minimise stress and spend quality time with their love ones. For them,
domestic tour operator offers suitable services and facilities to complete their wishes in effective
manner.
Change trends in holidays: For visitors is an essential to make effective services in
accordance to different types of trends on holidays packages. Form them, different a lot of trends
are frames which are suitable and effective services to have development and growth (Dietz,
2011). Many more visitors need to have suitable holidays to visits all the areas and use their
fund and vacation time in effectively.
Environmental awareness: environment of business is divided into two different
manners kike internal and external. These both elements are able to make effects in direct way
on the approach of decision making of the business.
Competition: this is a other signify element that affect entire tourism industry in easy
manner. Travel firm is the fastest growing services organisation that frame sound and higher
competition in the market of tourism. For this, travel sector can easily make effective services
with the help of technological and social changes too. Trail finders is a biggest tour operation
firm in the UK, hence for them it is signify to determine all the competitor firms of the market in
order to offers profitable services. It helps in maintaining suitable and positive impact towards
visitors (Evans and Campbell, 2012).
Travel and tourism organisation framed several and positive change in accordance to
various trends, environmental changes and fashion. On the ground of this report Trail finder
required to make their activities in order to have different advantages in sustainable market for
some certain reason.
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TASK 2
2.1 Assessing the stages and timescale involved in developing holidays
This is very signifying for tour operation organisation in order to determine suitable
market research to offers effective services to their target customer too. For a visitor industry it is
very important to minimise issues and conflicts form their firm that can have more time to
resolve by situational visitors. Sometimes various things make issues for company at certain
time. These belongings can be very tiny but they grab full time of workers. For this offering
facility and time management that is very essential in order to expand structure business. trail
finders are a tourism industry that makes different packages in accordance to their buyers hence
it is important to understand the needs of the visitors and provides facilities. For them, it is
signifying to frame effective and proper context to performance in a competitive market place.
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Market research: this is a types of research in that firm will have sound research of
market to grab information about visitor and their wishes. This is effective and sufficient for the
consumer too. For this firm requires to offers effective services to their clients. For this purpose
local bodies and government needs to frame sound market research in those places where
numbers of consumers is higher than others.
Planning and scheduling: strategy helps a firm to capture the goals of enterprise in
effective manner. These all planning can be framed for new project, idea objective, customers
demand or technology. Strategy are very important in every firm as each one industry starts with
more of hazard of the market and business like competitive firm, shareholders and so on hence,
sound planning help in attaining success in the market area.
Forecasting: this is all about facilitating best quality services to visitors in accordance
with their demands or wishes (Grant, 2017). Therefor is is essential to use all holidays and fund
in the trip too. Advertisement is the best tool which provides brief data or information about
firm’s and their offered services for different kind of visitors and their will.
Negotiation: it is type of process in that company frames values and profit in according
to their tourist. In it they make suitable relation with each one to get sound profit in effective
manner. In it they can be able to frames higher value form every one to grab growth.
2.2 Various methods for contracting for several components of the holiday and tour operator
Visitors are playing signifying role in the tourism industry in order to offers sound
benefits in a nation and their economy too. Hence for this, trail finders firm needs to build
effective strategy to offers higher satisfaction to their tourists. There are various different types
of contracts which helps in frame suitable relation and commitment with buyers and tourist (Gus,
2012).
Fixed contracts- these kinds of services are offers to visitors in order to bounding form
some period of time to give effective services in effective manner. They all are based on fixed
assessment which is grounded in accordance to trenchant work. Trail finder needs to supply best
quality services to such types of persons hence they have to do bidding of regular times (Hoyos,
2015).
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Sale Only Contract - these kind of contract are generally based on effective types of
services that is based in suitable services. Tis starts with eventual times along selling of work.
Trail finders not have requirement to have sale they need to declare the best possible quality.
2.3 Calculating selling price of holiday from given data
Visitors are important element for tourism firm hence they need to look after their demand and
offers services in accordance with the same or in best possible manner. Hence here, negations is
rolling very signifying role to minimise fund according to wish of visitor or their ability. The
suitable anticipation form it react is Marriott of 98 euros per person for double room including
their breakfast. The price of 46 seater luxury bus is around is £14300 that involves two drivers, a
trip manager, fuel or taxes. Rate of tour guide is £850. as per this, firm’s manager add on some
marking up with 36% with dealing rate of £1.43 per £1.7. There is a specific knowledge of cost
and selling prices are given below -
Cost of rooms as per individual 100.67
Cost of luxury coach per seat 735.33
Allocation of local guide cost per person 872.6
Total cost of tour before margin 1708.6
Add: Profit margin 384.19
Selling price per person of tour after
margin 2092.79
TASK 3
3.1 Evaluating planning decisions taken for design of selected brochure
Framing a brochure is very hard and important for business travel firm in order offer
suitable information about their facilities and product. As per the ground of Kuoin which is
a leading tourism firm who majorly concentrating on awareness about their luxury
holidays packages. There are so many kinds of process which helps in determine the
design of the promotional activity as follows:
Research for planning: this is major thing as firm needs to research for trend in the
market then plan form their strategy.
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Supplier: they are main elements in an firm form providing effective services to
customers.
Negotiation: this is essential for tourist firm as if both the company and customers will
come to a certain point for amount then it will be beneficial for both and through this manner
firm will have higher success.
3.2 Alternatives to traditional brochures for different tour operators
These are popularly called as proportion activities. Where different organization provides
information regarding the services they provide. Large organization having good monitory base
use these large brochures for providing information about services and facilities they provide. A
brochure cab only provides specific information about their tourism practices. In this generation
they are effectively used by small scale organizations as well as local tourism company. These
give as overview of services so that tourists can organize their tourism plan accordingly. Apart
from traditional sources digital platform are used effectively for promotion of business practices.
Video – they provide specific information through audio and video mediums. But visual
memory has strong effects on mind of people. In recent trend there are some visual social media
platforms which can be used effectively e.g. like making promotional video and distribute them
on digital platforms.
Internet – it is a beat source of information all the digital media can be accessed through I
internet weather an audio, video or a digital print media. It is a cost effective promotional
activities as it can be accessed through different platforms like mobile phones, laptops or tablets
Local media – it is the use of printed media for their promotional activity. By providing
articles or advertisements a small scale organization can gore significantly in local markets
Flash messages –they are in trend in recent market scenario we often see in android that
while using any app a different screen of promotional activity opens unexpectedly. It is called
flash marketing where advertisements comes in flash hence have effective impact on the mind of
people. These are some of the common practices which are used by travel agencies
New digital platforms have taken places over traditional brochures in new market place and they
are delivering successfully.
3.3Suitable method for distribution of holiday packages by tour operators.
These methods help in creating a good bonding between customers and travel agencies
by creating a better communication between them. It helps in getting better output, revenue and
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ultimately prosperity. Koon largest travel agencies uses sources to good effect for having
dominance I market place some factors which are given below
Direct selling- it helps in having direct deals with their employees. In this employees of
Tourism Company direct meet customers and travellers and provide them information regarding
to their tour and travel practices. This is very productive as it generates a bonding or goodwill
among the customer for the organization. Through direct marketing customers have various
options to choose for their travel programmers.
Call centers – different call centers work in association to travel agency they work on
behalf of travel agency by providing information about services through cold calling. They can
also assist travellers if any problem arises in their travelling business. The information can be
provided through teleconferences or by e-mails hence it is easier to reach out to customer in a
very effectual way
Intranet – always a better sauce op promotional activities. Through websites in internet a
company can give information about their product and services. As well as they can also provide
pre booking services with some addition features like discounts and cash backs. Internet has
different advantages as it provides flexibility and transparency through their websites. Websites
are available on every platform so they are miscible to every person
Endorsement – they can endorse their product through different activities like
sponsorships in local events like sports, food industry etc. this will help them to increase their
base value and productivity in business environment
Task 4
4.1 evaluations of strategy dimensions of different tour operators.
Different tourism organization has different tourism practices and different motive in
practicing their business. So organization tends to make impactful and effectual strategy. More
importantly an organization must plan their strategies according to their goals and objectives and
classify these goals into long term or short term goals. Tourists organizations are also divide into
different categories like some are outbound, inbound domestic and international which depends
upon the type of tourists they entertain.
Inbound tourist’s operators- these tour operators do tourism activities within a country.
Many small business and entrepreneurs are part of this business structure. They have medium
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term goals rather than long term goals as they only deals with inbound customers so as their low
profit rate. They have tourism plans depends upon location to locations only. Many small scale
organizations cannot plan and perform tourism practices in different locations due to low
availability of budget and different government policies in defend sectors of region. They
mostly use low cost elements in their promotion activities only target local original people for
their trading practices.
Outbound tour operators – they are big tour and travel agencies that perform their
business inside and outside the country. They are important for development of a country as they
add large amount to government revenues. They have very strong promotional programmes and
activities, they use almost every platform like printing medic, digital media etc. to capture local
as well as international market. Their business gets real threat from small scale business in
different sector of organization. For overcoming that threat, they give discounts and cash backs.
For maintaining their brand value in competitive market they try to maintain goodwill among
customers by providing good facilities, services in a transparent and ethical way.
4.2 comparing different tactical decision performed by different task operators.
Different tour operators make different plans and strategies for their organization. They
must focus on providing information about their packages. Different operators have different
packages and service so they organize and plan according to it. A tourist organization is being
divided into different departments like
Marketing department- a marketing department gathering information about market. Like
type of customers, need and wants of customers, time of tourism, rival organization and
government policies. All the details report is transferred to operational department.
Management department – by analysis report of marketing department’s different
packages and plans are made accordingly which will attract more and more customers in their
business.
Operational managers and senior managers after analyzing all surveys and factors make effective
strategies to conduct business. Say in inbound business a country is having different cultures and
different people so as their thinking and mentality. Tours plans must be made differently in
different geographical areas to fain more profit in business environment.
Management of lower level employees – for flourishing in business structure it is
important aspect to manage lower level of employee. They must be influenced and motivated
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about their task. It is responsibility for organization to enhance their skills and knowledge about
the market place. Managers must make sure that they are valued in organization a must be given
appraisal for doing better work in organizations. These appraisals can be monitory like incentives
and perks and non-monitory like rewards
Structured organization- an organization must be well structured with defined level
separating different employees according to their designation this helps in effective transfer of
information in an organization. As well as helps in better coordination between the employee by
creating a resonating environment in the organization and also helps in minimizing disputes and
clashes between them.
These tactics are used by different organization in different strategic management programmers
to prosper in business market.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded tour operation management is a process of
business in that different tour operator firms are frame their strategy to grab information about
visitors and their demands for some certain locations. With the help of this process frim will be
able to provide effective services to their tourists and grab advantages in competitive market
place. This involves suitable process of planning, monitoring, controlling and having profit. This
report involves impacts of recent or present trends on tour industry, some stages in developing
holidays packages along with calculation.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barratt, M., Choi, T.Y. and Li, M., 2011. Qualitative case studies in operations management:
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Management. 29(4). pp.329-342.
Cook, R. A., Hsu, C. H. and Marqua, J. J., 2014. Tourism: the business of hospitality and travel.
USA: Pearson.
Dietz, D. C., 2011. Practical scheduling for call center operations. Omega. 39(5). pp.550-557.
Evans, N., Stonehouse, G. and Campbell, D., 2012. Strategic management for travel and
tourism. Taylor & Francis.
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Grant, D. B., Wong, C. Y. and Trautrims, A., 2017. Sustainable logistics and supply chain
management: principles and practices for sustainable operations and management.
Kogan Page Publishers.
Guo, X. and He, L., 2012. Tourism supply-chain coordination: The cooperation between tourism
hotel and tour operator. Tourism Economics. 18(6). pp.1361-1376.
Hoyos, M. C., Morales, R. S. and Akhavan-Tabatabaei, R., 2015. OR models with stochastic
components in disaster operations management: A literature survey. Computers &
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Kerzner, H.Barratt, M., Choi, T.Y. and Li, M., 2011. Qualitative case studies in operations
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Cook, R. A., Hsu, C. H. and Marqua, J. J., 2014. Tourism: the business of hospitality and travel.
USA: Pearson.
Dietz, D. C., 2011. Practical scheduling for call center operations. Omega. 39(5). pp.550-557.
Evans, N., Stonehouse, G. and Campbell, D., 2012. Strategic management for travel and
tourism. Taylor & Francis.
Grant, D. B, 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Khairat, G. and Maher, A., 2017. Integrating sustainability into tour operator business: An
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Lenahan, T., 2011. Turnaround, shutdown and outage management: Effective planning and step-
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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.
Online
Tour Operations Management. 2014. [Online]. Available Through: <http://somo.co.ke/bachelor-
of-travel-and-tour-operations-management-at-moi-university-sm2-493.html> .
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