Tour Operations Management: Trailfinders Ltd Case Study

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report analyzes Trailfinders' tour operations management.

TOUR OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION
In the current scenario, the travel and tourism industry is growing very fast which is really
helpful for the economic development of the nation (Abrate and Viglia, 2016). Tourism industry
provides high range of share in the development of the nation. There are different tour
operators are working in the travel and tourism industry which provide travel services to the
tourists and visitors. This assignment will be discussing the different roles and responsibilities of
tour operators. It has been observed that the different types of tour operators provide different
types of traveling experiences to their customers.
The changing trends and policies of the government impact the development and growth of the
tourism industry. There are different stages which are followed by tour operators in order to
provide the best services and facilities to the customers according to their needs. The tour
operators create innovative and different tour packages which are helpful in managing the
brand image of the company (Boyle, 2017). This assignment will be discussing Trailfinders Ltd
which is a popular organization of tourism industry and provide travel services to their
customers.

TASK 1- LEAFLET
1.1
INTRODUCTION
It has been observed that the travel and
tourism industry is developing very fast. The
tourism sector plays a vital role in the
development of the country (Buckley,
2011). The tour packages and traveling
destinations are really helpful in attracting
the customers which is helpful for the
traveling companies to earn more profit.
The travel companies need to provide
accurate facilities to their customers and
visitors according to their needs. It has been
analyzed that the changing trends and
government policies highly impact tourism
organizations like Trailfinders Ltd.
CURRENT AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE TOURISM SECTOR-
Current trends and changing needs of the
visitor highly impact the growth of the
tourism industry. The current changes and
recent developments of the tourism
industry are described as under:
SERVICES STANDARDIZATION
The needs and demands of services are
increasing as per the changing lifestyle of
the customers. The competition level is
increasing in the industry for which every
organization is creating different types of
strategies and plans to improve their
services. It has been observed that the
services standardization highly impact the
development of tourism (Chang et al.,
2017). Innovative tour packages will be
really helpful in gaining the attention of the
customers.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
The advancement of technology has been
really beneficial for the growth of the travel
and tourism industry. It has been observed
that tourism organizations are gaining more
profit and attention after the technical

advancement. The companies can provide
better tour packages and services which is
helpful in attracting the customers.
Technical support is really fruitful for the
organization. There are different technical
tools used by the companies to provide
beneficial services and travel experiences to
the travelers.
IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY MEASURES
The safety measure plays an important role
in the growth of the travel and tourism
industry. The awareness for safety and
security measures is growing day by day.
The corporations are creating different
types of strategies and plan to provide
proper safety and security to the visitors.
Due to the local wars, epidemic, terrorist
acts, natural disasters, and other reasons
the safety and security of the destination
places have been enhanced. The safety and
security measures are provided by WTO and
ATOL which needs to be followed by
tourism organizations. Health and safety of
the customers is the first priority of the tour
operators which needs to be fulfilled
accurately (Couper et al., 2017).
MARKETING AND PROMOTION IN
TOURISM
Promotion and marketing are the main
needs for the growth of the tourism
industry. It is really helpful in enhancing the
brand image of the organization in the
market. There are different marketing tools
used by companies in order to enhance the
profit ratio and managing healthy relations
with the customers. The effective
promotional strategies are really important
for the growth of the organization (Chang et
al., 2017).

Being a tour operator of Trailfinders I have
realized that the company is using different
types of promotional tools and techniques
in order to promote their holiday packages.
It is also helpful in increasing the sales
volume of the organization (Couper et al.,
2017). Trailfinders Ltd can get more
customers and high volume sales rate with
the help of effective promotional strategies.

TASK 2- MANAGEMENT REPORT
2.1
INTRODUCTION
Being a manager of Trailfinders I need to analyze that what are the essential stages of creating
an innovative holiday package promoting that in the market (Evans, 2015). The company needs
to analyze the current trends of the market before making a holiday package. It has been
observed that the choices and perceptions of the customers are changing day by day so that
the companies need to create the holiday packages accordingly. A group of student is going on
a holiday. The estimated group size is of 40 students and they are going for 5 days. This report
will be discussing the different stages which have been taken by the tour company to make an
accurate holiday package for them.
DESTINATION RESEARCH
This is the first stage of creating a holiday package in which the company needs to research
each and every aspect of the destination place. The destination should be managed properly for
the safety and security of the tourists (Evertsz et al., 2015). Trailfinders have researched the
weather and economic conditions of Belgium in order to provide the best travel package for the
tourists.
TOUR ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT
Accommodation, destination sites, basic needs and information about the travel package is
really important for the travelers which are considered as the tour itinerary development.
Trailfinders need to include them in their tour package to make it more effective.
NEGOTIATIONS AND COSTING OF TOUR PACKAGES
The management of the organization needs to manage this stage which is really important for
making an attractive and accurate tour package for the travelers. They need to negotiate the

costing with the suppliers of Belgium and Brugge so that they can provide a benefited tour
package to their customers. The appropriate costing and budget will be really helpful in
maintaining healthy relations with the customers (Giaoutzi, 2017).
APPRAISING AND ASSESSMENT
This stage is helpful in evaluating the prices and values of the packages as compared to the
other competitors. The company needs to follow all the government policies in order to
manage their prices (Huertas Garcia et al., 2014). The tour packages must be affordable for‐
every kind of visitors and travelers.
HUMAN RESOURCE AND STAFF ADMINISTRATION
Human resources are the most important asset for the organization. The company must have a
talented and skilled workforce for the growth and success of the organization. In this stage, the
management of the organization assesses the needs of the employees who are capable to
handle the problems (Mahamoud et al., 2014). The accurate training and development sessions
will be really helpful in improving the capabilities of the employees.
PROMOTION AND MARKETING
Promotion and marketing are one of the most important stages for the growth and
development of the tour operator company. Trailfinders use different types of strategies and
plans in order to gain the attention of the customers. It will be helpful in managing the sales
volume of the organization as well.
PREPARING THE BROCHURES
Boucher is one of the most important elements for a tour operator company. It is helpful in
providing accurate information about the tour company and their packages according to the
needs of the customers (Mariani et al., 2014). It is a display of the needs and requirements of
the customers. The Brochures will be sent to the customers by different distribution channels.

EXECUTION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT
This is the final stage of making a holiday package. In this step, the management implements
the tour package and launches it in front of the customers. Trailfinders has created the holiday
tour of Belgium and implements it successfully.
TIMESCALES FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAY TOUR
STAGES Ap
ril
to
Ma
y
20
19
June
to
July
201
9
August to
September
2019
October
to
November
2019
Decembe
r 2019
January
to
Februar
y 2020
Mar
ch
to
July
2020
Augus
t 2020
Septe
mber
2020
RESEARCH OF
MARKET
PLANNING &
EXPANSION
ASSESSING
CONTRACTING
ASSESSMENT
OF HOLIDAY
PROMOTION
AND
BROCHURE
EXECUTION
POST-TOUR
ORGANIZATIO
N

2.2
There are different tour operators which are working in the travel and tourism industry. The
increasing level of competition is enhancing the competition between the companies. The
organizations are preparing different types of tour packages in order to manage health relations
with the customers (Medlik, 2016). Carriers, accommodation and ground operators highly
impact the decision of the customers and visitors while selecting the tour package. There are
different third-party people who are working with the Trailfinders like transport vendors, staff,
employees, investors, suppliers, and vendors. The different tour operators who are linked with
the Trailfinders are described as under:
INBOUND OPERATORS
Inbound operators are the type of operators who directly interact with the customers and tell
them each and every detail to the customers about the holiday packages. It has been evaluated
that the inbound tour operators provide essential information related to the travel packages
before confirming the bookings (Noor and Wibisono, 2016). It is the most popular tour
operators who are trusted by the customers and clients. Apart from this, they have a different
range of different tour packages for different types of peoples.
OUTBOUND OPERATORS
Outbound tour operators are talents and skilled in developing an effective and innovative tour
package which is helpful in gaining the attention of the customers easily. It has been observed
that they are really trained in attracting customers by providing them with satisfactory services
and facilities according to their needs. The outer tour packages and management of Trailfinders
is managed by the outbound operators like China, Australia, and the Middle East.
DOMESTIC OPERATORS
The domestic tour operators of Trailfinders are helpful in managing the local travel and tourism
areas. They manage the tour packages which are mainly made for the local peoples. They are
also helpful in promoting the new packages of Trailfinders in front of the customers in order to

get their attention (Noor et al., 2016). National parks tours, train tours are arranged by the
domestic tour operators of Trailfinders. The domestic tour operators are really helpful in
managing the business operations of the company as well.
GROUND OPERATORS
There are different needs and demands of the travelers and visitors which are handled by the
ground operators (Paquin et al., 2016). Ground operators take all the responsibility for
managing the basic operations and actions of Trailfinders. It has been evaluated that they are
really helpful in enhancing the profit ration of the organization. They analyze the current
situation of the market by which they can improve their tour and holiday packages accordingly.
Thus, the different tour operators play an essential role in the growth and success of the
company. Overall management is handled by the different types of tour operators which is
helpful in providing satisfactory services to the customers and visitors.

2.3
The selling price for the educational tour for July 2019 London UK to Brussels and Brugge,
Belgium is calculated and evaluated by the management of Trailfinders. The calculated sales
volume is presented as under:
Exchange rates for the rooms for an individual (1.17= £2) = 92€ / 1.19€
Exchange rates for the rooms for each individual = £80 (supposed room’s cost per day)
PARTICULARS COST COST FOR MEMBERS
WHO ARE GOING
FOR THE TRIP
COST FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL (£)
COST OF THE HOTEL £80 per person (twin
sharing)
( 44*76*3)
13807
(79*5)
410
LUXURY COACH’S
COST
- 7,300 159
LOCAL TOUR
GUIDE’S COST
- 900 25
TOTAL COST OF
TOUR
- 24650 494
MARGINAL PROFIT
(35%)
- 8451 172
SELLING PRICE - 31462 895