Tour Operations Essay Example for Free

Tour operations EssayAim and purposeThe aim of this unit is to develop savants understanding of the dynamic and thought-provoking world of term of enlistment trading operations and for them to appreciate the variety of tour wheeler dealers products and work. Learners go forth gain knowledge of how tour hustlers plan, sell and administer a package vacation programme and allow also develop practical skills to plan and personify a package vacation.Unit introductionEvery year millions of people grow to tour wheeler dealers to provide them with vacations to all corners of the world. In this unit learners will explore how tour operators link with different types of travel and touristry organisations to provide a childlike range of holiday experiences. They will see that tour operators must respond to legislation and external influences, and also face many challenges in the continuously ever-changing travel and touristry sector. Learners will investigate these challenge s and the ways in which tour operators respond to them. Tour operators are at the forefront of the travel and tourism sector, constantly seeking out new destinations and holiday experiences to satisfy the ever-demanding and ever-changing needs of todays holidaymakers.Different types of tour operators will be identified and learners will examine how they develop an extensive portfolio of products and services to meet differing client needs. Whatever their size, tour operators must work through the same processes when planning, developing, selling and operating their holiday programmes. These different functions will be examined and time scales identified. Learners will find that tour operators compete in a commercially sensitive environment and they will spot how commercial considerations inform many of the business practices. Practical skills will be developed in the planning and cost of a tour operators package holiday, allowing learners to appreciate some ofthe commercial decisio ns to be made in this competitive industry.Learning outcomesOn completion of this unit a learner should discover the tour operations environment Know the range of products and services offered by tour operators for different target markets Know how tour operators plan, sell, administer and lock in a package holiday programme Be able to plan and cost a package holiday.Unit content1 Understand the tour operations environment cerebrate with other component industries travel agents transport providers accommodation providers providers of appurtenant products and services eg insurance, car hire horizontal and vertical integration Links with trade and regulatory bodies The Travel Association (ABTA) Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) UKInbound Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Legal framework EU Package Travel Regulations consumer protection eg Trades Description Act, Consumer Protection Act, Disability Discrimination Act contract law licensi ng eg Air Transport Operators Licence (ATOL) External influences environmental eg hurri give noticees, floods political eg terrorism, strikes. taxes economic eg currency fluctuations, price of oil sociable eg UK demographics, exploitation in host country technological eg internet, computerised reservation systems Challenges eg dynamic packaging, distribution channels, integration, cypher airlines, maintaining market share, trend towards independent travel, responsible tourism2 Know the range of products and services offered by tour operators for different target markets Tour operator categories outbound inbound domestic specialist mass market Products and services components of standard package tailor made range of destinations accommodation choices transport options ancillary products and services Target market eg families, couples, solo travellers, specific age mathematical groups, special interests, people with specific needs3 Know how tour operators plan, sell, administer and operate a package holiday programme Planning research forecasting product development methods of contracting costing the package data input timescales betray brochure production pricing strategies distribution eg travel agents, internet, direct sell promotions eg advertising, sales promotions, sponsorship reservations commission late sales Administer confirmations rooming lists passenger manifests errata cancellations amendments travel itineraries ticketing Operations consolidations stretch along factors over-bookings transport operations duty office UK and overseas resort liaison health and safety emergency situations crisis management quality control customer service (pre-, during and post-holiday) excursion sales Commercial considerations maximising profitability links to different planning, selling, administrative and operational functions4 Be able to plan and cost a package holidayPlan destination transport accommodation excursions (included, optional) activities additional s ervices Cost a package holiday using load factors mark-up or profit margin currency conversions unflinching costs variable costsAssessment and grading criteriaIn order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the eruditeness outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria for a pass grade describe the level of achievement requisite to pass this unit. Assessment and grading criteria To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to To achieve a virtue grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to M1 discuss the impact of challenges facing tour operatorsTo achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to D1 evaluate the effectiveness of tour operators in responding to challenges facing the sector recommend, with justification, how a selected tour operator could exp and its range of products and services for its current target market or adapt its range of products and services to appeal to a new market.P1explain the tour operations environment and the challenges it facesP2describe the products and M2 analyse how a selected services provided by different tour operators portfolio categories of tour operator of products and services for different target markets meets the needs of its target market(s)D2P3outline how tour operators plan, sell, administer and operate a packageholiday programme, identifying commercial considerations plan and cost a package holiday for inclusion in a tour operators programme CT 1, CT 2, CT 3, CT 4, CT 5, CT 6.M3 explain ways of maximising profitability during the different stages of planning, selling, administering and operating a package holiday.P4PLTS This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal, learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identif ies opportunities for learners to demonstrate effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.KeyIE independent enquirers CT creative thinkersRL reflective learners TW group workersSM self-managers EP effective participatorsEssential guidance for tutorsDeliveryIt is likely that learners will have already identified the role of tour operators when examining the structure of the UK travel and tourism sector in Unit 1 Investigating the Travel and Tourism Sector. A simple recap would be useful and this could be achieved by asking learners to produce their own definition of tour operators and a summary of their role within the sector, perhaps producing a diagram that highlights their position within thestructure. Holiday brochures will help learners to identify how tour operators link with other component industries when providing and selling holiday packages. Links with trade and regulatory bodies and the legal framework could be researched in small groups, culmin ating in short, informal presentations. Vertical and horizontal integration can be a difficult concept for some learners and they will benefit from cosmos given simple definitions, followed by practical tasks using the internet and holiday brochures to research one of the large integrated organisations.Findings could be presented in the form of a diagram and could then be compared with one of the integration charts that are produced from time to time by the trade conspire. Tutors will need to explain how the travel and tourism sector is constantly changing (which is why textbook models of integration are likely to be out of date). Learners will need to read the trade press regularly in order to keep abreast of changes of ownership and takeovers. Tutors could initiate a debate or discussion on the impact of integration to moderate whether integration is a good or bad force within the sector, and about the challenges integration creates. Research activities could be developed to ex amine external influences including environmental, political, economic, social and technological influences. Hurricanes, the credit crunch, unemployment and terrorist activities are just a few occurrences that can present significant challenges for tour operators.A noticeboard could be created in the classroom to give away any topical events or issues. Learners need to appreciate that there are hundreds of different tour operators, falling broadly into the categories of outbound, inbound, domestic, mass market and specialist. Learners, in pairs or small groups, could research to identify tour operators within each of the categories, and the range of products and services they offer. The internet is an excellent source of information, as are holiday brochures however, tutors should warn indiscriminate collection of holiday brochures. Learners will find that most tour operators have products and services that target different market segments and this will be reflected in some of the accommodation, travel, destination and ancillary services choices provided. Learners need to understand that all tour operators, whether large or small, channelize out the same functions when planning, selling, administering and operating the holiday package.Larger tour operators mayhave separate departments to carry out a particular function whereas a very small tour operator might have just one person responsible for a range of functions. A practical task could involve learners organising a college trip and relating the activities they carry out to the functions of tour operating. A visit to a large- or mediumsized tour operator would be very beneficial so that learners can see how tour operators work and how the different functions are carried out. Additional tutor input on planning, selling, administration and operations will be required.Activities using case studies can reward understanding of aspects such as different methods of contracting, currency considerations and pric ing strategies. It is essential that learners develop a sound understanding of all functional areas. Discussions are to be encouraged to help learners appreciate commercial considerations, the difficulties tour operators have in making a profit and to identify ways in which profit can be maximised within the planning, selling, administrative and operational functions.In preparation for assessment, learners will need to practise designing and planning a package. Working in groups to a specific brief, they could practise by planning a college trip. As part of the planning, they would need to consider transport options, type of accommodation and board basis, excursions and activities. Each group could present their proposals to the class and vote on the most interesting proposals. Tutors should explain the terms load factor, mark up, profit margin, fixed costs and variable costs and then work through simple costing exercises to show how these terms are used. When learners have understo od the process for costing a package, exercises should be designed to put this into practice. Tutors may need to devise additional exercises before learners become confident in working with these calculations.