Tour Operations Sector Of The Travel Industry

Tour Operations Sector Of The Travel Industry The aim of this assignment is to investigate the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry, including the different types of operator, their products and services, the scale of the sector and how it has been affected by trends and developments. Learners will explore the stages involved in developing a package holiday and develop skills associated with determining a selling price for a holiday and the distribution methods used by tour operators to sell holidays. The travel industry predicts a continuing move away from packages towards independent travel coupled with Britains slow exit from the recession; tour operator bookings show that the desire to take holidays in 2010 is stronger than ever, as compared to December 2008 to March 2009. (Aito 2010) The demand for cheap deals are no longer the driving factor in tour operator bookings, consumers are now more concerned about customer service, and this is jumping ahead of price. Spain remains Britains favourite holiday destination. It is familiar to many, and easy to reach from across the UK on no-frills airlines. The Canaries Island for example is a bright spot for tour operators with a lot of new-build accommodation over the past decade and more all-inclusive than in other areas. The big two are increasingly branding major resort hotels for particular client types. The Gran Melia Palacio de Isora in Tenerife will be part of Thomsons flagship Sensatori resorts brand from May, offering luxury f or adults with an emphasis on spa treatments. First Choice is adding a new Holiday Village in Lanzarote at the Flamingo Beach hotel, offering families all-inclusive holidays in apartment-style accommodation. Specification of Assessment This assignment is in two parts Task 1 Covers Learning Outcome 1 and Learning Outcome 4 (LO1 and LO4) Task 2 Covers Learning Outcome 2 and Learning Outcome 3 (LO2 and LO3) TASK 1 You are required to write a report on Tour Operations in the 21st Century showing how the Industry has developed, the size, scale and complexities of tour operations today and to examine the implications of current trends and decision making on the industry. Within this task you are expected to address LO1 and LO4. (P1, P2, P9 and P10) Please read requirements 1 and 4 for this task. TASK 2 Within the Tour Operating Industry, you are required to develop and distribute a tour operator package, explain the stages of the product development, draw up timescales, prepare a package costing, evaluate and recommend distribution. Within this task you are expected to address LO2 and LO3. ( P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8) Please read requirements 2 and 3 for this task. Requirement 1 -Investigate the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry Describe the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry Pass P1 1.2 Explain the effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operations Sector of the travel and tourism industry Pass P2 Desmonstrate creative thinking for tour operations current, recent trends and future developments discussed in Q.1.2 Distinction D3 Requirement 2 Explore the stages involved in developing packages 2.1 Describe the stages and timescales involved in developing the holiday package Pass P3 2.2 Explain the suitability of different methods of contracting for different components of the Package holiday and different types of tour operator Pass P4 Determine a selling price for a package holiday from given information Pass P5 Identify and apply strategies in developing a package holiday to a particular destination as discussed in Q.3.1 Merit M1 Present and communicate appropriate findings as required in Question 3.3 Merit M3 Requirement 3 Review the role of Brochures Methods of Distribution used to sell Package Holidays Explain the planning decisions taken for a specified brochure Pass P6 Explain the suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator Pass P7 3.3 Explain the suitability of different methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different Types of tour operator Pass P8 Use critical reflection and Evaluate the different types of tour operations and different methods of Distribution used to sell holidays and justify conclusions as discussed in Question 4.3 Distinction D1 Requirement 4- Examine strategic and tactical decision making for tour operators 4.1 Explain the strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator Pass P9 4.2 Explain the tactical decisions that could be taken by a specified tour operator in different Situations Pass P10 Apply methods and techniques used by different types of tour operators to make strategic decisions discussed in Question 2.1. Merit M2 4.4 How to take responsibility for managing and organising activities to explicate the deliberate decision that could be taken by a specified tour operator in different situations discussed in Question 2.2 Distinction D2 Plagiarism and Collusion Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below: Using the work of others without acknowledging source of information or inspiration. Even if the words are changed or sentences are put in different order, the result is still plagiarism. (Cortell 2003) Extension and Late Submission Collusion describes as the submission of work produced in collaboration for an assignment based on the assessment of individual work. When one person shares his/her work with others who submit part of all of it as their own work. If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using a coursework extension request form available from the college. Please note that the lecturers do not have the authority to extend the coursework deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick. Outcomes Assessment criteria for pass To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate the ability to: 1 Investigate the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry 1.1 Describe the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry 1.2 Explain the effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operations Sector of the travel and tourism industry 2 Explore the stages involved in developing packages 2.1 Describe the stages and timescales involved in developing the holiday package 2.2 Explain the suitability of different methods of contracting for different components of the Package holiday and different types of tour operator 2.3 Determine a selling price for a package holiday from given information 3 Review the role of brochures and methods of distribution used to sell package holidays 3.1 Explain the planning decisions taken for a specified brochure 3.2 Explain the planning decisions taken for a specified brochure 3.3 Explain the suitability of different methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different Types of tour operator 4 Examine strategic and tactical decision making for tour operators 4.1 Explain the strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator 4.2 Explain the tactical decisions that could be taken by a specified tour operator in different situations Note: All outcomes must be met for a pass Merit Descriptor Distinction Descriptor M1: Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions. D1: Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions. M2: Select/design and apply appropriate methods/ techniques. D2: Take responsibility for managing and organizing activities. M3: Present and communicate appropriate findings. D3: Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking. Achievement of a Pass grade A pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria for each individual unit. Achievement of a merit or distinction grade All the assessment criteria and merit grade descriptors need to be completed within a unit to achieve a merit grade. All the assessment criteria merit and distinction grade descriptors must be completed within a unit to achieve a distinction grade. Suggested Support Materials Books Holloway J C The Business of Tourism (Longman, 1999) Bull A The Economics of Travel and Tourism (Longman, 1998) Laws E Managing Packaged Tourism (International Thomson Business Press, 1997) Middleton, Victor T C and Clarke J Marketing in Travel and Tourism, Third edition (Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001) Yale P The Business of Tour Operations (Longman, 2000) Further reading ABTA/AITO Code of Conduct ABTA Handbook ABTA Information Bureau Holiday Statistics CAA document number 221, 384 International Passenger Survey Package Travel Regulations Travel Trade Gazette Travel Weekly Websites Websites www.abtanet.com Association of British Travel Agents www.aito.co.uk Association of Independent Tour Operators www.caa.co.uk Civil Aviation Authority www.firstchoiceplc.co.uk First Choice Holidays www.fto.co.uk Federation of Tour Operators www.mytravelgroup.com My Travel Group www.thomascook.com Thomas Cook www.tui.com TUI ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK SHEET GUILDHALL COLLEGE Programme: BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Travel Tourism Management Unit Number and Title: Unit 15 Tour Operations Management Unit Level: H1 Assignment Ref Number: 15.1.1 Tour Operations Management Module Tutor: Margaret Amankwah Email: [emailprotected] Date Set: 22/March/2010 Learner Name: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Learner ID: Information/feedback on assessment and grading criteria Assessment Criteria (Pass-P) Achieved Evidence Feedback Remarks P1Describe the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry Yes/No P2 explain the effects of current and recent trends and developments on the tour operations sector of the travel and tourism industry Yes/No P3 Describe the stages and timescales involved in developing the holiday package Yes/No P4 explain the suitability of different methods of contracting for different components of the package holiday and different types of tour operator Yes/No P5 determine a selling price for a package holiday from given information Yes/No P6 explain the planning decisions taken for a specified brochure Yes/No P7 explain the suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operator Yes/No P8 Explain the suitability of different methods of distribution used to sell a holiday for different types of tour operator Yes/No P9 Explain the strategic decisions made by different types of tour operator Yes/No P10 explain the tactical decisions that could be taken by a specified tour operator in different situations Yes/No Grading criteria (Merit-M; Destination-D) Achieved Evidence Feedback Remarks M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions. Yes/No M2 Select/design and apply appropriate methods /techniques. Yes/No M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings Yes/No D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions. Yes/No D2 Take responsibility for managing and organizing activities. Yes/No D3 Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking. Yes/No Assessors general comments: Assessors Signature à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Date à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Print Name: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..Resubmission Date.. Learners comments: Signature à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Date à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Print Name: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Feedback of this coursework will normally be given to students four weeks after the submission of an assignment.