Assignment Brief

Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National

Qualification Diploma in International
Travel and Tourism Management

Academic Year 2019/2020

Unit Number and Title 10 Tour Operations Management
Unit Level 4
Unit Code A/616/2013
Credit Value: 15
Issue Date 18th June 2020
Submission Date & Time 17th August 2020 – 11:59am
Formative Feedback Week 8 -10
Module Leader Ms Maryam Hamedi
IV Name and Date Mr George Muwonge 18/06/2020

Assessment criteria covered LO1 (M1, D1 only) LO2, LO3 and LO4

‘Academic Misconduct’ Statement:

‘Academic Misconduct’ is a term used to describe a deliberate attempt by a student to take unfair
advantage over other students to undermine the quality, standards and credibility of the programmes and
qualifications offer by UKCBC. Academic Misconduct includes: plagiarism; collusion; falsification;
replication; cheating; bribery; and impersonation. A student suspected of Academic Misconduct will be
investigated by the College and appropriate action will be taken.

‘Contract Cheating’ Statement:

‘Contract Cheating’ is defined by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) as occurring when, “a third party
completes work for a student who then submits it to an education provider as their own, where such input
is not permitted.” Such third party companies have become known as ‘essay mills’, and it is the
responsibility of students to avoid contact and association with such third party companies throughout
their entire period of study. A student suspected of Contract Cheating will be investigated by the College
and appropriate action will be taken.

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
 Assignment title An understanding of tour operations management

Purpose of this assignment:

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of tour operations
management, including the stages involved in creating holidays, brochures, methods
of distribution and strategic decision-making.

Unit Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this unit a student will be able to:

1. Explain the role, function, structure, types and organisation of the tour
operating sector
2. Identify the different stages in developing a package holiday
3. Assess a range of package tour programmes in meeting target market
needs
4. Examine strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operators.

Submission format

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
Part 1 – Article for publication

• A written article for publication.

• Professional in style and presentation format.
• Use headings, subsections, tables, charts and bullet points.
• You must reference all research work and provide a reference list/bibliography, using the
Harvard referencing system.
• Recommended word limit is 800 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding the word
limit.

Part 2 ‘Step-by-step guide’

The first sub-part

• A ‘step-by-step guide’ setting out all the stages involved in the creation of a package holiday.
• Formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
• Use headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate.
• You must reference all research work and provide a reference list/bibliography, using the
Harvard referencing system.

The second sub-part

• A ‘step-by-step guide’ on how to cost a package holiday, together with examples of brochure
pages.
• Formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
• Use headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate.
• You must reference all research work and provide a reference list/bibliography, using the
Harvard referencing system.

Part 3 Written report

• A written report.
• Formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
• Use headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate.
• You must reference all research work and provide a reference list/bibliography, using the
Harvard referencing system.
• Recommended word limit is 1,000 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding the word
limit.

Part 4 Written management report

• Written management report.
• Formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
• Use headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate.
• You must reference all research work and provide a reference list/bibliography, using the
Harvard referencing system.
• Recommended word limit is 1,000 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding the word
limit.

Submitting your assignment

You must submit your assignment on time to the appropriate submission link on the Ulearn through Turnitin
Assignment submission section. It is advisable to use the Turnitin Plagiarism checker before uploading the
final piece of work.

Assignment
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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
 Overall Scenario

You are working in the product development department of TUI UK as an Assistant

Product Manager. The role is about supporting growth in profitability through analysis of
the market, competitor programmes, and market share reviews whilst compiling
destination and product business plans in accordance with overall product strategy. You
play a role in setting the price for the tour programmes and in the brochure production
process by deciding which of our units should be featured. Additionally, after a season
launches, you work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that our
holidays are performing well, both in terms of sales and quality. You review the customer
feedback to influence how we shape our destination and enhance the customer
experience. For more information about the TUI Product team see appendix 1.

Part 1 – Exploring the tour operating sector

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
The success and future growth of TUI depend upon the introduction and expansion of
products and services that appeal to existing customers and new customers. You have
been asked to devise training materials for new apprenticeships and interns to use when
working in product development.
In your role as an assistant product manager, write an article for publication explaining
the role, function, structure, types and organisation of the tour operating sector You
should conduct detailed independent research by using relevant and current materials
such as tour operator’s brochures, textbooks, and online resources, and where
practicable visits to travel agencies and tour operators on the high street and online.
Specifically, the article should include the following:

• Comparing and contrasting the scale and structure of the tour operating industry
drawing specific examples from large mass-market operators and independent
specialist operators
• An evaluation of the impacts of integration on the scale and structure of large
mass-market and independent specialist tour operations.
Part 2 – The process of creating and costing a package holiday

Your next assignment is to identify the different stages involved in developing a package
holiday for an escorted luxury coach and educational tour targeting the adult students
market (over 18 age group) from London, the United Kingdom to Belgium visiting
Ghent, Brugge, Ostend, Antwerp, and Brussels Summer 2023.
The proposed group size is 50 students per group and the tour is for 7 nights in Ghent.
A special rate for your group has been proposed by Van der Valk Hotel Nazareth-Ghent
of 124 euros per night, per person for a standard twin room with breakfast during high
season. The price of the luxury coach is £7, 250 and that includes all the costs for the two
drivers, a tour manager, fuel and all road and ferry taxes. Visitor attractions charge €48
per person. The cost of a local tour guide is €940 for the duration of the tour. Your
company adds a mark-up of 25% to cover selling and administration costs and profit. The
spot exchange rate is €1.15 per £1. Assume today’s date is 01 July 2020.
To meet sales and revenue targets, you should also take into consideration extras
including holiday money and travel insurance.
You have been asked to devise training materials for new apprenticeships and interns to
use when working in product development as follows:

The first sub-part Produce a ‘step-by-step’ guide on ‘How to create a package

holiday’

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
• An outline of the different stages in the creation of a package holiday by producing
a flow chart
• Determine and forecast changes in consumer demand using different sources of
research.
• Take each stage and analyse its role, function and timescale to differentiate
between a range of tour operator requirements.
• Include a critical analysis of how stages and components in the creation of a
package holiday may differ between tour operators in meeting different business
objectives.
The second sub-part Produce a ‘step-by-step’ guide on ‘How to cost a package
holiday’ with an example of brochure pages.

• The calculation of a holiday price should be based upon the luxury coach and
educational tour for summer 2023 at one hotel under contract.
• Create pages for the brochure, based upon a chosen destination, mode of transport,
and accommodation.
Part 3 – A review of package tour programmes
Your next project is to assess a range of package tour programmes in meeting target
market needs. Your line manager at TUI has asked you to write a report based on a
critical review of a range of luxury package tour programmes which serve a similar product
market of adult students and recommend the most appropriate for meeting target market
needs with justification.
You should where practicably request luxury holidays brochures from the high street
travel shops or online from tour operating websites. You should then review the content
of printed and online brochures for a luxury coach holiday package for adult students and
include relevant extracts to support your conclusions. You should provide a suitable title
for the management report. Specifically, the report should include the following:

• A review the content of a range of package tour programmes which serve a similar
product market
• Comparing and contrasting a range of package tour programmes which serve a
similar product market
• An evaluation of a range of package tour programmes which serve a similar
product market and choose the best for meeting target market needs with
justifications.

Part 4 – Strategic and tactical decisions review

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
You have been asked to examine strategic and tactical decisions made by TUI and other
specific tour operators of your choice. You will present your strategy and tactical review
report to Senior Managers in the TUI product department and backing your ideas with
evidence of strategic and tactical decisions made by TUI and other specific tour operators.
You will identify gaps and recommend strategic and tactical solutions to continually
improve the customer experience under challenging market environment, working closely
with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure that TUI holidays are performing
well, in terms of sales, profitability, efficiency, uniqueness and differentiation,
diversification, flexibility, quality, digitalisation, sustainability, and reduced risk. You
should provide a suitable title for the management report. Specifically, the management
report should include the following:

• An exploration of examples of strategic and tactical decision-making in tour

operations
• An assessment of external factors that adversely affect strategic and tactical
decisions and recommend responses
• A critical evaluation of recent strategic and tactical decisions made by tour
operators making valid recommendations for improvements.

Please note you are expected to stick to the assignment brief in full.

Good luck.

End of Assignment

Learning outcomes and Assessment criteria

(Please note these are not the questions they are for evidence purpose only)
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 Pass Merit Distinction
LO1 Explain the role, function, structure, types and
organisation of the tour operating sector
P1 Explore the different
roles and functions of a M1 Compare and D1 Evaluate the impacts of
range of tour operators contrast the scale and integration on the scale
structure of large mass- and structure of large
P2 Explain the scale and market operations and mass-market and
the structure of the tour independent specialist independent specialist tour
operating industry operations operations

LO2 Identify the different stages in developing a

package holiday D2 Critically analyse the
P3 Outline the different M2 Analyse the key stages key stages and
stages and components in and components in the components in the creation
the creation of a package creation of a package of a package holiday in
holiday for a range of holiday to differentiate meeting different business
different tour operator between a range of tour objectives for a range of
requirements operator requirements tour operators
P4 Determine and forecast
changes in consumer
demand using different
sources of research
LO3 Assess a range of package tour programmes in D3 Evaluate a range of
meeting target market needs package tour programmes
which serve a similar
P5 Review the content of a M3 Compare and contrast product market and
range of package tour a range of package tour choose the best for
programmes which serve a programmes which serve a meeting target market
similar product market similar product market needs with justifications

LO4 Examine strategic and tactical decisions made by D4 Critically evaluate

tour operators recent strategic and
tactical decisions made by
P6 Explore examples of M4 Assess external factors tour operators making valid
strategic and tactical that adversely affect recommendations for
decision-making in tour strategic and tactical improvements
operations, providing decisions and recommend
specific tour operator responses
examples

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
Assessment decisions:
• To achieve a Pass, a student must have satisfied all the Pass criteria for the
Learning Outcomes, showing coverage of the unit content and therefore
attainment at Level 4 of the national framework.
• To achieve a Merit, a student must have satisfied all the Merit criteria (and
therefore the Pass criteria) through high performance in each Learning Outcome.
• To achieve a Distinction, a student must have satisfied all the Distinction
criteria (and therefore the Pass and Merit criteria), and these define outstanding
performance across the unit as a whole.

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
Glossary of commonly used academic words

Analyse Present the outcome of methodical and detailed examination

either:
• breaking down a theme, topic or situation in order to
interpret and study the interrelationships between the
parts and/or
• of information or data to interpret and study key trends
and interrelationships
Analysis can be through activity, practice, written or verbal
presentation
Apply Put into operation or use
Use relevant skills/knowledge/understanding appropriate to
context
Assess Offer a reasoned judgement of the standard/quality of a situation
or a skill informed by relevant facts
Calculate Generate a numerical answer with workings shown
Compare Identify the main factors relating to two or more items/situations
or aspects of a subject that is extended to explain the similarities,
differences, advantages and disadvantages
This is used to show depth of knowledge through selection of
characteristics
Critically Separate information into components and identify
analyse characteristics with depth to the justification
Critically Make a judgement taking into account different factors and using
evaluate available knowledge/experience/evidence where the judgement
is supported in depth
Determine To ascertain or decide something based on evidence and facts
Differentiate Recognise or determine what makes something different

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
 Evaluate Work draws on varied information, themes or concepts to
consider aspects, such as:
● strengths or weaknesses
● advantages or disadvantages
● alternative actions
● relevance or significance
Students’ inquiries should lead to a supported judgement
showing relationship to its context. This will often be in a
conclusion.
Evidence will often be written but could be through presentation
or activity
Examine Look at something in detail. You may be expected to 'critically
evaluate' it as well.
Explain To give an account of the purposes or reasons
Explore Skills and/or knowledge involving practical research or testing

Identify Indicate the main features or purpose of something by

recognising it and/or
being able to discern and understand facts or qualities
Justify Students give reasons or evidence to:
● support an opinion
● prove something is right or reasonable
Outline Set out the main points/characteristics
Review Make a formal assessment of work produced
The assessment allows students to:
● appraise existing information or prior events
● reconsider information with the intention of making changes, if
necessary
Suggest Give possible alternatives, produce an idea, put forward, for
example, an idea or plan, for consideration

Appendix 1
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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2
TUI UK Product team

The TUI Product Team sits at the heart of the business, ensuring we have the right mix
of hotels, destinations and concepts to match customer demand. Travel Product
Managers will lead and drive their destinations strategies by planning and then briefing
the TUI Aviation and TUI Hotel Purchasing teams. Destination knowledge is key to the
successful planning and hence a vital aspect of the role is ensuring that regular visits
take place to the key destinations to visit our overseas teams and hotel partners. It also
allows us to better understand the experience of the customer that is central to
everything we do. We are growing our Product range and ensuring that TUI retains the
most compelling holiday Product in the UK market. https://tuijobsuk.co.uk

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June 2020 – Issue 4 – Assessment 2 of 2