Handout 3 Flashcards
process of determining the objectives of a tour, whether these involve customer satisfaction, destination and community endorsement, and organizational promotions, or gain profit.
Tour planning
pivotal in their role of acting as wholesalers, packaging together transport to the destination, transfers, accommodation, and ancillary services.
Tour operators
plays a vital role in coming up with cost-effective package holidays
Tour planning
planned route or journey that matches the client’s profile during tour planning and the identification and selection of the various suppliers of services.
itinerary
proposed and preliminary schedule of activities
Skeletal itinerary
specifies the details of the tour, such as scheduled transportation, arrival and departure schedules, duration of sightseeing tours, and type of accommodation.
Technical itinerary
provides a narrative of the planned activities and destinations that were visited while on tour.
Descriptive itinerary
what is being offered, such as a beach holiday or a city break.
The core
the physical element in a package holiday or tour package, flight, and
accommodation.
The tangible product
the extra features that the service suppliers add to their services in order to be competitive such as tour guides and free transfers
The augmented product
Tour operators need to ensure that the flights available to the destination are accessible within a reasonable time of landing.
Transport from where the clients would be picked up going to the destination
refers to the establishments such as hotels that are available in a particular destination.
Accommodation found at the destination,
referring to the vehicle to be used which is usually completed by coach that offloads passengers at several hotels or other types of accommodation.
Transfer from the airport going to the accommodation and back
refer to other needs of the travelers such as a tour representative or tour manager who may accompany them, availability of car rentals, equipment that may be hired within the package holiday, excursions, and local attractions outside of the paid service.
Ancillary services (optional tours) upon clients’ request
the process of building up the destinations and activities that are arranged conveniently and chronologically.
Itinerary development
The number of days travelling by land, air, or sea (if applicable) must be determined in this step
Identify the duration of the package holiday
Careful planning is required in developing an itinerary for a package holiday or tour package.
Research other tours in the marketplace.
One must pay attention to potential delays related to airport check-in, transfers, car rental, time differences, unfamiliar roads, and local traffic conditions at various times during the day.
Survey connecting options in advance
Tour guides, tour managers, travel
agents, and especially the travelers must know who they need to contact for more information,
Enlist the names, addresses, contact numbers, and other contact details of the inclusive accommodation, sightseeing tours, and other attractions
Over-planning must never be taken into consideration because some destinations cannot guarantee to conform with the schedules given on an itinerary.
Be flexible and open to spontaneous opportunities
this can give an insight of the must-visit places in a particular
destination
DESTINATION RESEARCH
This is the key issue that a company or organization wants to address. This is the most important starting point of any research project.
Business Objective
refers to the research information that is needed to address the business
objective
Research Objective
This is when the different types of research are used to gather, break down, and analyze the required information.
Information Gathering and Analysis
conducting a conversation where one participant asks questions, normally structured,
Interview (phone or face-to-face)
data collection through a set of questions.
Survey (online or mail)
list of written questions with a choice of answers aimed at getting information regarding what is being studied.
Questionnaire (online or mail)
where the result/s of the analysis or analyses are being evaluated.
Result/s Evaluation
where one decides if a destination would fit its target market or be included in a package holiday after being evaluated before being offered to other clients.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Negotiating with the service suppliers or the process of negotiating competitive rates, terms and conditions, and tour services with the identified suppliers.
contracting
get the best available rate, with the most concessions, at the most favorable terms and conditions,
contracted rate (tariff rate sheet)
negotiate rates and conditions for specific products or services on specific dates, rather than on annual terms.
Contracted Rates/Tariff
must be clearly specified in the contract with the exact payment to be given to the suppliers in exchange for their products or services.
Inclusion, Terms, and Conditions
class must be specified as well as the carrier’s frequency and schedule. Class may be known as economy, premium economy, business, or first.
air travel
the units (bus and car rental) may be contracted from either tourist transportation companies or commuter bus companies.
land transportation
the class must be specified with or without other services, most cruise lines’ class may be known as interior, oceanview, balcony, or suite cabin
sea travel
the room category is matched with a contracted rate, as well as the contracted meal rates (if available)
accommodation
contracted rates may be for entrance fees to special shows, museums, and other exclusive use of an amusement venue.
sightseeing tours and other tourist attractions
Every product or service that includes these must be specified and indicated in the contracted rates.
Taxes, Insurance Fees, and Service Charges
Some suppliers grant these to tour operators, which they pass to their clients.
Concessions
Service suppliers must indicate this, year-round with peak or lean seasons, or high or low seasons along with their respective market.
Validity of Contracted Rates
peak seasons here in the Philippines:
• Christmas – New Year
• Chinese New Year
• Holy Week
These must be clearly stated in the contract
agreement.
Booking and Reservation Procedures and Conditions
The conditions to keep in mind are the following:
• Option dates
• Cancellation penalties
• Amendment policies
• Cut-off period
• Deposit payments
• Revision of contract agreement
are preset by suppliers who are also known as the times when the tour operator’s reservations must firm up (to become more definite) or be cancelled
Option dates
mostly applied when confirmed reservations are cancelled
Cancellation penalties
refer to the policies adhered to in changing the date of a specific reservation
Amendment policies
when local hotels provide tariff rate sheets to accredited (Department of Tourism and with complete business permits) travel agents.
Local/Domestic land arrangement
usually booked through tour operators or travel agencies who play as wholesalers.
International land arrangement
refers to the number of seats, beds and rooms that are allocated to a particular tour operator, which must be sold within a period of time, leading to a cut-off date.
Free sale
the unsold ones revert to the control of the
supplier and a tour operator may no longer sell these thereafter.
cut-off date
Most suppliers will require this to tour operators to confirm reservations.
Deposit Payments
refers to any change made to a confirmed reservation on the number of participants with their respective names except the date it was booked.
revision
must be specified in the contract agreement as well as when the payment’s due date (upon checkout) and if it went beyond the credit line
form of payment
(an amount of credit extended to a borrower or card holder).
credit line
