Tour Operator Management Report: Trailfinders and Holiday Development

This report analyzes tour operator management, focusing on Trailfinders Ltd., a UK-based tour operator. It examines the effects of current trends, such as globalization and technology, on the industry. The report details the stages and timescales involved in developing holidays, including research, itinerary development, negotiation with suppliers, costing, brochure production, and administrative staff. It evaluates the suitability of different methods for tour components like transportation and accommodation, and different types of tour operators. The report also includes a calculation of a holiday's selling price, an evaluation of planning decisions, and an assessment of alternatives to traditional brochures and distribution methods. Finally, it analyzes strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operators, providing a comprehensive overview of the industry's operations and challenges.

Tour operator management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Effects of current and recent trends on tour operator industry........................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Stages and timescale involved in developing holidays....................................................3
2.2 Evaluate the suitability of the different methods for the tour components and different
types of tour operators............................................................................................................4
2.3 Calculate selling price of holiday.....................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Evaluation of planning decision.......................................................................................6
3.2 Alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator.......................7
3.3 Evaluation of the suitability of different methods of distribution....................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Evaluation of strategic decision made by different type of tour operator........................9
4.2 Comparison of the tactical decision...............................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
The tourism or tour operator industry is one of major industries that work in providing of
holidays, brochure and various methods of distribution. It helps m to sell holidays and make
strategic decisions that help in rise in customer satisfaction level. Besides this, it facilitates good
management of operations that will support an effective development of tour related products
and services.
For report, it has been presented in context of tour operator firm, Trailfinders Ltd. It is a
UK based tour operator entity. The report will lay emphasis on current and recent trends that are
followed in tourism industry for following different stages of creating a holiday (Robinson and
et. al. 2016). The stages and timescale used in this process are been analyzed and suitability of
different methods is evaluated for contracting holidays. In addition, planning design for brochure
and suitability of alternatives in traditional printed brochure are analyzed with different methods
of distribution of holidays. Different strategic decision made are been analyzed and various
tactical decisions are been compared.
TASK 1
1.1 Effects of current and recent trends on tour operator industry
The tour operators are responsible firms for management of operations of tour and travel
industry. They will see through effective handling of various actions that will help in suitable
rise in quality of products or services, which are offered to customers and thus support in
effective improvement in actions and operations of a tour operator firm like Trailfinders Ltd.
The tour operators will look after effective management of actions and activities that have been
taken in thought process by industry to have good growth and development.
Some major ongoing trends that have been taken into consideration by an organization is as
follows:
 Increase in income in
an economy: economy
of a nation makes a
wide impact that will
help in rise in
operations of actions
 Increase Use of
Technology:
technology is been
widely used within an
organisation and thus
look after better
 Globalisation and
FDI: globalization is
major factor that has
affected globalisation
that will help in good
rise in accessibility of
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and activities that are
followed by tour
operator entity. The
tour providers get their
profit margin in form
of disposable income,
gained after application
of money to various
business activities
(White, 2016). The
increase in disposable
income will help in
improving standard of
living of citizens in a
country and help in
generation of revenue.
This helps in
improvement of GDP
of a nation. This helps
tour operator firm to
improve its service
quality.
handling of operations
that will help in rise in
operations and thus
will support an
effective management
of business activities.
Trailfinders Ltd will
look after usage of
latest and effective
technologies that will
help in effective
enhancement in
compatibility and
meeting of targeted
goals and actions
which are followed by
a tour operator firm.
Besides this, good use
of technical tools and
operations will help in
effective growth and
development of travel
or tourism enterprise
(Byrnes and et. al.
2016).
customers towards
firm. The tour operator
firms like Trailfiders
Ltd has gained a good
market due to rise in
exposure on worldwide
level. Besides this, it
has increased
opportunities of firm to
cater international
customers in a better
way. This will help in
effective rise in
revenue and
satisfaction level of
customers and gain
good market position
by tour operator firm.
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TASK 2
2.1 Stages and timescale involved in developing holidays.
Various stages and timescale has been developed within firm that is used for developing
holidays. For developing a 5-night tour for 40 students from London to Brussels, Bruges and
Belgium, following steps and processes will be involved:
 Research: this will involve assessment of political, social, economic and or factors that
have been associated with above destination in order to further plan holidays. The
specific locations or destinations at these places will be shortlisted with details of hotels
for accommodation and meals for students.
 Tour Itinerary Development: this will involve development of specific plan including
point of origin in tour and places that will be covered. It will involve details of places of
tourist destinations, duration of stay, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing etc. se
tour itinerary will help in effective following up of plan in accordance with comfort and
benefit of students (Morrison, 2013).
 Negotiation with suppliers and vendors: this will help in better arrangement of
agreements or contracts that will impact overall operations that are followed within
enterprise. The firm will negotiate and communicate charges and details of services that
will be provided to students at these locations. In order to make contract and negotiation
successful, both concerning parties have to agree upon contract and negotiation.
 Costing of Holiday Package: this stage involves better determining and calculation of
different costs that are been taken in consideration by tourism enterprise which will
involve details of tour operator, fare of traveling, accommodation charges and meal rates
and or additional expenses that will be followed by a tour provider entity considering 5
days duration (Morgan, Pritchard, and Pride, 2011). The pricing of tour is based on cost
strategy that is been followed by firm.
 Brochure Production: it involves production of high quality brochure that will involve
details and relevant information about tour and locations that will be covered within
contract with pricing and duration details. In addition, extra information of
accommodation, food and traveling facilities will be covered. The designing of brochure
requires high-level of planning and skills of a tour operator (Lin, and Tseng, 2016).
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 Administrative staff: this will involve the staff that will see through the effective
conduction of the tour and considering the safety and comfort of the students during the
stay. It will include the better deciding of role and responsibilities of different staff that
will work for the success of a tour and different tasks and operations that are been
undertaken under a tour.
 Feedback: it is an important part as it will hep the tour operator to receive the proper
idea about the quality of services it has provided to its customers i.e. students and make
necessary alteration as per the needs and requirements of the customers of tour operators.
This will help in improving the services and avoid any troubles that are been undertaken
under the tour.
2.2 Evaluate the suitability of the different methods for the tour components and different types
of tour operators.
The various sort of the tour operators that are been taken in consideration by the
individuals are as follows:
 Outbound tour operators: they are the tour operator that offer the services and the
product to the groups of the tourists in a team or individual level, within the same
country as well as in other country (Kunczik, 2016).
 Inbound tour operator: they are associated with the group of tourists which are directly
bounded by the firm and provide them with all the services from their arrival to
departure.
 Ground operators: they are the part of the particular agency that helps in effective
placing of the bookings on a particular tourist destination including the meals and
accommodation facilities. They facilitate the booking ready at a particular tourist
destination (Kang, Shin and Lee, 2014.).
 Domestic Tour operator: the domestic tour operator is a person responsible for the
providing of the products and services at the home country of the operator. The domestic
tour operator will guide the people who visit the domestic country of the operator.
Various components are been taken in consideration by the tour operator that will help in
the good rise in the satisfaction level and meting of the targeted goals and operations that are
been followed by the tourism business enterprise. Some major components of a contract are:
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 Transportation: this will involve the service provider to fix the transportation process
as per the contract decided between the customer and the service provider. It will involve
the details related to driver, fuel, toll tax and parking charges.
 Accommodation: it is the most important part in a contract as it is associated with the
travelling firm and thus will help in good rise in the customer satisfaction level. The
accommodation details are been based on the time duration basis. Various contracts
related to the stay of the tourists are been made and contract is been decided accordingly.
 Meals: Meals are been taken in the contract as the food and beverage of a customer at
the tourist location is responsibility of the tour operator and thus it will be covered in the
contract between the service provider and tourist.
The two major types of contract that are been followed by the tour operators are as
follows:
 Fixed contract: it is on a high consumption basis that cause the firm to provide the
service in a better way (Hays, Page and Buhalis, 2013). This is usually been followed in
the off season of the tourism that causes the reduction in prices and help the travelers to
get the suitable discounts and offers. It will include the high number of tourists but causes
the wastage of time money and resources. However, it is beneficial for tourist with
minimum requirements.
 Sale only contract: This is been developed on the basis of the estimation and assessment
of the requirement of clients within a contract. It is been followed within the seasonal
period of the organisation. It involves cost estimation, duration of tour and number of
tourist going on a tour. Tourist cancelling the registration doesn't get the refund and the
payments are been made on the basis of services provided (Dubey and et..al 2015).
2.3 Calculate selling price of holiday
Service Expense
Twin room 90 euros per person
45 seater luxury coach with a tour manager,
two drivers, fuel and ad all road and ferry
taxes.
£7,400
Local tour Guide 920 Euros
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Company's Mark up 30%
Price per person 775 Euros
Thus, this can be said that the effective management of the operations and the
management of the resources and expenses will help in good management of the business
activities and operations in a much effective and better way for a 5 day trip of 40 students from
London, UK to Brussels and Belgium.
TASK 3
3.1 Evaluation of planning decision
As per the given case scenario, Trailifinder is one of the most popular travel company in
the UK and Ireland which serves various kind of tour operating and traveling services to
customers. It is the largest independently owned travel company in the UK that have 29 travel
centers in the United kingdom and Ireland. The major objective of cited venture is to earn
maximum profitability and market share in the competitive business environment by deliver high
quality of services to buyers. As company is going to design the luxury coach and educational
tour for adult students from London (Blanke and Chiesa, 2013). For meet this objective,
company have to design a brochure so as it can distribute and sell luxury holiday package to
adult students. Brochure includes various information regarding the services and tour packages
such as mandatory data, dates, time, destination, accommodation, transportation etc. This is the
major technique to represent services and products in the market and inform customers about
relevant information. It also assists in promoting and advertising product and services and attract
large numbers of customers toward the brand.It can be utilized online and additionally
disconnected mode to pass on data identified with alluring visit bundle, costs of administrations,
goal and so forth. So as to outline the pamphlet, appropriate research and arranging is critical. In
this way, promoting office group at Trailifinder can consider a few phases in outlining the
arranging of leaflet which are examined underneath-
Choose budget for brochure design- While Trailifinder promoting division plan the pamphlet at
that point before begin the arranging it is imperative to choose the financial plan and all cost
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related with it. Trailifinder will lunch extravagance occasion bundle for grown-ups so it will set
high extravagance cost for all administrations and offices.
Objective-While cost and spending plan for leaflet is to be chosen by advertising chief then in the
following stage director will center around the target. It is vital for administration to choose the
objective clients with the goal that planning of leaflet turn out to be simple. Trailifinder
organization will compose planing for lunch extravagance occasion for family clients.
Target clients -This is imperative stage to choose the gathering of clients. In this viewpoint,
chief ought to choose gathering of client that will be focused by the handout. Trailifinder is
orchestrating occasion bundle for grown-ups so as it will set high extravagance cost for all
administrations and offices.
Research, technique and arranging-In this stage, all data that is pertinent to the venture ought to
be gathered by the showcasing administrator (Ayuso, 2007). In this angle look into movement is
essential to recognize the real request of client so director lead explore for recognizing client
request and create methodology and arranging in like manner.
Design ideas and configuration-In this stage plan thought can consider by director. He/she
considers a few perspectives for handouts like shading, mix, typography, watchwords, realistic
and so on. In this stage, supervisor makes HTML on the web and make logo with unmistakable
shading. It is vital that configuration ought not be coordinated with the pamphlets of other visit
administrator.
Implementation- In this stage, draft the issue which will show in the leaflet. With help of expert
developers, the pamphlet configuration can successfully change over into HTML codes for sites.
Distribution- Trailifinder organization will advance its leaflet through different medium, for
example, web based life, web, daily paper, TV, radio and so on.
3.2 Alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator
In the tour operator management, brochure of the company is very important by which
corporation can deliver right information about product and services to its customers. An
effective brochure includes detail knowledge and description about the packages, services,
product prices, quality, effectiveness etc. It is very important for company to design attractive
and effective brochure so as it can attract customers and deliver them a complete information
about product and services. There are various brochures which have different purpose for
promote and advertise product and services in the market. The traditional brochure in the tour
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operator have their focus on marketing their product with adoption of various ways. The
selection of tour package is largely depends upon the requirement of tour operating organization.
Following are some different type of alternatives available for various tour operator which are as
follows- Email brochures- In this method company uses the email for promote and advertise its
product and services to its customers. Tour operation organization sent email to its
targeted customers for communicate all relevant information about the services like
destination, prices, cost etc. It is the fastest method of brochure through which company
can frequently promote and advertise its product and services in front of customers. It is
one of the cheapest and fastest method to promote and publish information in the market.
With help of this method, company can easily transfer their information to large numbers
of customer by email. E-brochures- It is one of the flexible marketing technique through which company can
directly connect with customer and communicate with them regarding services and
product information. In order to use this method, researcher have to develop its own
webpage and publish information on the web page. It is the best and easiest way to
interact with customer under which manager publish its brochure on the web page of the
organization.
 Video Brochures- This is another of the alluring method to give data about the
administrations of occasion bundle to customer. In this strategy, association gives
depiction of bundles to the customer by influencing appealing video and energy to point
introduction slides. Trailifinder promoting chief create alluring video and incorporate all
data identified with the goal, dispersion, time, date, costs and so forth. It is simpler
strategy for client through which they can see successfully.
3.3 Evaluation of the suitability of different methods of distribution
Trailifinder travel is a tourism organization which offers a few administrations including
contract, planned travelers, aircraft, bundle occasion, journey lines and lodgings. Trailifinder in
extravagance and customized travel to both the client and business advertise. There are a few
procedures accessible available to be purchased and appropriate extravagance occasion bundle.
Thomas cook, TUI gathering and Trailfinders travel organization utilizes a few strategies
available to be purchased an occasion which are talked about underneath
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Direct sale- Direct deal is the best elective choice to deal administration to clients. Under this
technique, promoting office representatives specifically associate with clients with no go-
betweens through visits, regular postal mail and so forth (Cazcarro, Hoekstra and Chóliz, 2014).
With help of these strategies, organization can straightforwardly get contact with customer and
recognize their issues, perspectives and audits identified with administrations. Along these lines
help to association in recognizing real request of client and convey benefits as needs be.
Furthermore, by applying this strategy, organization can enhance upper hand in the market.
Employing operators- Hiring specialist for appropriate and promoting administration is another
best choice through which organization can convey administration to its customers. Operators
helps in giving more client to enterprise. Specialist takes commission from association as per
quantities of clients.
Online sale service- In this strategy association can receive E-handout system to offer their
administration. With help of this E-handout, client can check their booking identified with
transportation, voyaging and goal in a compelling way. This procedure serves to association in
give fitting data about the administrations to customers in the market.
Telephone- In this system, administration of association chooses customers and mindful them
about the bundles of the organization by utilization of cell phones and phones. In this angle,
workers in the advertising division calls to the old client for visits at different goal in the sensible
rate or in rebate rates.
Trailifinder travel association can utilize online deal benefit available to be purchased and
appropriate its extravagance occasion benefits in the market. In this way, it will utilize E-handout
through which it can convey data about administrations by online mode.
TASK 4
4.1 Evaluation of strategic decision made by different type of tour operator
In an organization it is very important for higher authority to take strategic decision for carry out
business activities and operation in smooth and effective manner.Key choice assumes an
extremely essential part inside association setting under which whole condition of business is
considered (Choi and Sirakaya, 2006.). It manages scope of association exercises so it is critical
for the best administration of organization to take this choice in more viable and proficient way.
On the off chance that administration take wrong vital choice then it will adversely influence
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business exercises and capacities. Trailfinders administration takes different vital choices which
are examined underneath
Pricing strategy- It is significant choice inside the visit activity administration which can
influence the benefits and income of organization. Plan technique with respect to cost and cost of
visit administrations is essential so as reasonable cost can set by administration. It helps to visit
administrator in creating upper hand. Subsequently, visit administrator should offer marked
down estimating procedure under which they can furnish appealing markdown alongside visit
administrations.
Seasonal strategy- This methodology relies on the season in the visit business. By this system
organization offers administrations of visit as indicated by various season since changes in the
season influence the visit design of clients. With a specific end goal to set this methodology,
administration must realize that in which season clients will jump at the chance to go in visit.
Segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy- Segmentation intends to separate the entire
market into little portion for voyaging objective (Cortes-Jimenez and Pulina, 2010). Focusing on
intends to choose a specific gathering of clients to gives its administrations and situating intends
to attempt endeavors toward chosen gathering of clients to offer its administrations. In this
manner, this is another of the major imperative vital choice which ought to be taken by top
administration in the visit activity administration. This choice may influence the valuing,
advancement and dispersion technique of voyaging administrations.
Promotion strategy- Promotional system additionally serves to the association under visit
industry in increasing upper hand. By set advancement technique, organization can plan the route
through which it can advance and publicize its administrations in the market and draw in clients.
In the present time, there are a few innovative advancement like web based life, post office based
mail and so forth through which firm can advance its visit administrations.
4.2 Comparison of the tactical decision
In the travel and tour organization, for achieve organizational objective, company have to
take tactical decisions. With help of this decision, company can earn maximum profitability,
continuous improvement, growth of business operation. For take tactical decision, company have
to focus on strategic decision(Cuccia and Rizzo, 2011). With help of effective tactical and
strategic decision, organization can carry out their operation and activities in smooth and
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