Unit 1 Assignment: Investigating Travel And Tourism
BTEC National Travel and Tourism 2007
Unit 1 Assignment – Investigating Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You have always liked the idea of a career as a travel writer and have been lucky enough to secure a holiday job with Maxine London, a freelance travel writer who regularly writes for the national daily and …show more content…
Sunday newspapers. Maxine has been asked to write a series of 3 articles for a new travel and tourism trade magazine, focusing on: 1. The different components of the travel and tourism industry; 2. The roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from different sectors; 3. Recent developments that have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry, and key trends and factors that will affect the future development of travel and tourism. Maxine has asked you to help research the factual side of these articles for her and wants you to present the information as a series of Word documents so that she can incorporate them easily into her articles. She has asked you to carry out the following tasks.
Task 1
Your first document should include descriptions of the following: (a) The different components of the travel and tourism industry, giving examples of domestic, inbound and outbound tourism; (b) The ways that components of the travel and tourism industry interrelate. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Explain how the components of travel and tourism interrelate, giving examples that include domestic, inbound and outbound tourism. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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Task 2
Your second document should: (a) Describe the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors; This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (b) Compare the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Assess how the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors affect their operations.
This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your third and final document should: (a) Describe four recent developments (from the 1960s onwards) that have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry; (b) Describe three key trends and three factors that are affecting, or are likely to affect, the development of travel and tourism. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4 and P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Explain how recent developments have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry, and how key trends and factors are likely to shape the industry in the future. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your document should also: (d) Recommend and justify how the travel and tourism industry could respond to key trends and factors affecting the future development of travel and tourism. This task is designed to provide evidence for
D2.
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Unit 2 Assignment – The Business of Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You’ve been lucky to get a placement job with Jenny Walters, the Tourism Development Manager for Worsetshire County Council. Worsetshire has just received an Objective One grant from the EU amounting to 1.8 million Euros for tourism projects in this coastal county. The money is to be used to help tourism businesses in Worsetshire improve the quality of their facilities and services for visitors. Tourism is seen by the Council as one of the key ways of encouraging economic, social and cultural development. Part of the grant money is to be used for supporting new start-up tourism businesses and those which have been trading for less than a year. Jenny is in charge of this project and wants you to help her with some of the project tasks. The first part of your job is to gather together some information that she can use in a series of business start-up fact sheets. The first four in the series cover: 1. 2. 3. 4. The features of profit making and non-profit making organisations; Completing cash flow forecasts in travel and tourism; Planning travel and tourism projects; Gaining competitive advantage in the travel and tourism industry.
Complete the following four tasks and present the information to Jenny as draft fact sheets.
Task 1
Your first fact sheet should: (a) Describe the features of a selected profit making travel and tourism organisation; (b) Describe the features of a selected non-profit making travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also:
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(c) Compare the features of your chosen profit making and non-profit making travel and tourism organisations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
Task 2
NB There are errors in the cash flow forecast on page 73 of the textbook. You can download a corrected version here Jenny wants to try and minimise the fear that many new businesses have when it comes to financial aspects of their operation. She would like to give all new business start-ups a cash flow forecast to show them how it is completed. In your second fact sheet, you should: (a) Using the example of the cash flow forecast for a travel agency shown in Figure 2.3 on page 73 as your starting point, complete a new cash flow forecast for the next 12-month trading period for the travel agency, based on the following assumptions: • • • • The owner predicts that the income received from commission on travel sales, insurance and foreign exchange will all decrease by 10 per cent each month; There will be no further capital invested by the owner; The cost of all payment items will increase by 6.5 per cent; The owner takes on a new member of staff from July 1 and pays her £1,250 per month for that month and for the rest of the year.
Remember that the closing bank balance shown in the example in Figure 2.3 will become the opening bank balance for the new cash flow forecast that you complete. You must calculate the new monthly figures for all receipts and payments, the monthly net cash flow, plus the monthly opening and closing bank balances. You can either complete the new cash flow statement on a computer package such as Excel or fill in a blank cash flow forecast (which registered tandtONLine users can download from www.tandtonline.co.uk). This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Interpret the cash flow forecast you completed in Task 2 (a), explaining how problems have occurred. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Make realistic recommendations to resolve the cash flow problems you highlighted in Task 2 (b). This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
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Task 3
In your third fact sheet you should: (a) Prepare a written plan for a travel and tourism project, covering objectives, timescales, finances and actions required. Your plan should assume that you have been allocated a budget of £250 to cover all expenditure for the project; This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Explain how your plan for the travel and tourism project enables the objectives to be met within the budget you have been allocated. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
Task 4
Your fourth fact sheet should: (a) Explain how a chosen profit making travel and tourism organisation seeks to gain competitive advantage to meet its aims; (b) Explain how a chosen non-profit making travel and tourism organisation seeks to gain competitive advantage to meet its aims. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Compare how your chosen profit making and non-profit making travel and tourism organisations seek to gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for M4.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (d) Suggest and justify other ways in which either your chosen profit making or non-profit making organisation could gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 3 Assignment – The UK as a Destination
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After completing your BTEC National course, you’ve decided to apply for a 12-month training programme with one of the UK’s Regional Tourist Boards and have been invited to attend a selection weekend at a hotel in Birmingham. The aim of the weekend is for the Tourist Board staff to select the best candidates to go forward to the full training programme. You will be given four tasks to complete during the weekend. When completing each task, you must demonstrate that you have used a range of appropriate reference materials and keep a written record of the sources consulted.
Task 1
You have been given a blank map of the UK and asked to mark on it: • • • • • • The four UK capital cities (London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh); Four examples of tourist destinations (chosen from coastal resorts, historical/cultural towns/cities and countryside areas); Four examples of different geographical features, e.g. rivers, mountain ranges and upland areas, islands, bodies of water, woodland areas and forests; Four UK seaports; Four major UK airports (with their 3-letter codes); The UK rail terminals serving the Channel Tunnel.
You are not allowed any access to books or other resources when completing this task, but you were given two weeks’ notice to prepare for the task using appropriate reference materials, which you were asked to list and hand in to the Tourist Board staff before taking the test. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to demonstrate how natural appeal (e.g. mountains, bodies of water, gorges, etc.), location, transport routes and attractions combine to attract tourists to two UK destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Analyse the appeal of the two UK destinations described in Task 2 (a) to domestic and inbound tourists. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
Task 3
The Tourist Board staff want to find out to what extent you understand the needs of different domestic and inbound tourists. They want you to prepare three illustrated case studies, each with a bibliography of sources consulted, in which you must: (a) Describe the needs of a UK domestic tourist (e.g. a honeymoon couple, family, etc.) and the inbound tourist to the UK (to include both business and leisure markets). This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should write a report to: (b) Explain in detail how four specific UK destinations meet the needs of different types of domestic and inbound tourist markets. (You must select different destinations to those chosen for Task 2). This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Evaluate the attraction of the UK for domestic and inbound markets, using the four destinations described in Task 3 (b) as evidence. Your report must also make recommendations about how the appeal of the UK to domestic and inbound tourists can be increased. You must show an awareness of any new developments in transportation (e.g. new transport routes), new initiatives (e.g. regeneration) and new products offered in the destinations (e.g. new attractions). This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 4
The Tourist Board staff want to find out to what extent you understand the trends and factors affecting the domestic and inbound tourism markets. They want you to prepare a short report, with a bibliography of sources consulted, in which you must: (a) Describe internal and external factors influencing recent key trends (over the last 3-5 years) in the UK inbound and domestic markets, using different sources of data relating to inbound and domestic tourism; This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Analyse at least three external and three internal factors influencing recent key trends in the UK inbound and domestic tourism markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Using the examples you analysed in Task 4 (b), evaluate the likely impacts of at least three external and three internal factors on the future of the UK inbound and domestic tourism markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 4 Assignment – Customer Service in Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
In your first job since finishing your travel and tourism course, you are working for Lucy Brown, a customer service specialist who advises some of the biggest UK travel and tourism companies on how to get the best out of their staff. She has been called in by a major UK tourist attraction to help re-launch its customer service plan, following lots of complaints from customers.
Task 1
Lucy has asked you to investigate how customer service is provided in two different travel and tourism organisations. She will use the information you find in a presentation to senior managers of the tourist attraction she is advising. With advice from your tutor, you could carry out any of the following to help with this task: • A ‘mystery shopper’ exercise, where you visit two travel and tourism organisations and observe customer service in action. These could be a travel agency, tourist information centre, leisure centre, tourist attraction, hotel, coach company, etc. Remember that the organisations you choose must be from different industry sectors, so you can’t investigate two attractions or two hotels, for example; Your own experience of working in travel and tourism in a part-time job or work placement; By carrying out research on companies on the Internet and in the trade press; Watching videos and reading resource packs on customer service.
• • •
Present the information you find as a short report for Lucy, which should: (a) Describe how the principles of customer service, and methods used to monitor them, are applied in the two organisations. (b) Describe the benefits of good quality customer service, and the consequences of poor service, to the two organisations. (c) Describe how differing buyer behaviour and customer types, motivations and needs can influence the service provided by the two organisations.
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These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P1, P2 and P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (d) Compare the service provided by the two organisations, explaining how each meets the needs of different customer types. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (e) Evaluate the customer service provision in the two organisations and make justified recommendations as to how improvements could be made to meet the needs of a wider range of customers. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Lucy wants to show the senior managers of the attraction how customer service should be delivered in a practical sense and has asked you to be a ‘guinea pig’ by demonstrating effective customer service and selling skills in action. This could be through simulated role plays or in real-life situations – you should agree this with your tutor. To complete the task you will need to: (a) Use customer service skills to provide service to customers in two different travel and tourism situations, e.g. a customer requesting information, making a complaint, etc., in two different types of travel and tourism organisations, e.g. a tourist information centre and a travel agency. (b) Deal with two complaints, one of which must be in writing. (c) Demonstrate selling skills in a travel and tourism situation. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4, P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task you will need to: (d) Independently demonstrate skills in handling customer service situations effectively and dealing with complaints to the satisfaction of both the customer and the company. (e) Demonstrate effective selling skills and a high level of product knowledge to bring the sale to a close. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for M2 and M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task you will need to:
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(f) Consistently, effectively and confidently handle customer service situations (including a complaint and a sale) showing a thorough understanding of customer types, needs and wants in different situations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 5 Assignment – Marketing Travel and Tourism Products and Services
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You have managed to secure a summer placement with a small marketing consultancy that works with tourist attractions all around the UK to improve their marketing activities. The company has just won a European-funded contract to provide marketing advice to new, start-up tourism businesses in the UK. You will be working for Annette James, one of the partners in the firm, and she wants you to help with some of the project tasks. The first part of your job is to gather together some information that she can use in a series of business start-up fact sheets. The first four in the series cover: 5. 6. 7. 8. The factors affecting marketing in travel and tourism; The marketing mix; Market research activities; Promotional campaigns.
Complete the following four tasks and present the information to Annette as draft fact sheets.
Task 1
Your first fact sheet should: (a) Explain the factors affecting marketing, using examples from different travel and tourism organisations; This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Analyse the factors affecting marketing in relation to a selected travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also:
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(c) Recommend how the selected travel and tourism organisation could adapt to the factors affecting its marketing. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Your second fact sheet should: (a) Describe the marketing mix of a selected travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Explain how the 4 Ps work together as a marketing mix in a specific travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
In your third fact sheet you should: (a) Prepare a plan and documentation for a market research activity in a travel and tourism organisation; (b) Conduct a market research activity for a travel and tourism organisation. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P3 and P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Explain how your plan and documentation will meet the market research objectives. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (d) Recommend how the organisation can use the results of its market research activity. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Task 4
In your fourth fact sheet you should: (a) Plan a promotional campaign for a selected travel and tourism organisation to achieve stated marketing objectives; (b) Prepare an item of promotional material as part of a planned promotional campaign for a target market. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Explain how the planned campaign would enable the objectives to be met. This task is designed to provide evidence for M4.
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Unit 6 Assignment – Preparing for Employment in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You are beginning to think about the sort of job you might like in the travel and tourism industry, and what research you need to carry out to give you the best chance of securing the job you want. In this assignment, the tasks you need to complete focus on your own career development.
Task 1
This task is divided into five parts, with the materials you produce being presented in a ‘career development folder’ for future reference. (a) Using the information included in this unit and other sources, describe a range of career opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. This could be presented as a series of information sheets or a booklet that would be of interest to other people in a similar position to yourself. You must describe opportunities in a minimum of four industry sectors, e.g. retail travel, tour operations, attractions, cruising, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
(b) Produce a comprehensive description of two travel and tourism jobs that interest you (the jobs selected could be from the same or different industry sectors). You should include job title, role, main duties and responsibilities, entry requirements, etc. covering the full range, and write job descriptions and person specifications for the two posts. Specific issues affecting the two jobs, such as seasonality, must be clearly indicated. This could be presented as two written reports to include in your career development folder. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (c) Compare the two jobs in the travel and tourism industry that you chose for Task 1 (b), highlighting similarities and differences, with particular reference to the entry levels and opportunities for promotion and progression.
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This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
(d) Produce a personal skills audit in preparation for employment, which must include an accurate review of your personal skills, attributes, experience, achievements and qualifications, together with supporting evidence to show how they have been acquired. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (e) Evaluate your own suitability for a chosen job in travel and tourism, and prepare an action plan to meet all the necessary training and development needs identified, plus how these might be met. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
This task focuses on the recruitment and selection process. (a) Produce a booklet that describes the stages of the recruitment and selection process in travel and tourism, from the perspective of both the organisation and the applicant. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
(b) Demonstrate your suitability for employment during different stages of the job selection process, by producing an up-to-date CV and a fully-completed job application form, supported by a correctly-formatted letter of application, for a specific job in travel and tourism that is of interest to you. (c) Participate positively in a simulated one-to-one or group interview. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (d) Produce guidelines for success in the different stages of the recruitment and selection process, and use these to evaluate your personal performance. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
As part of your career development folder, you have decided to produce an illustrated booklet on the subject of ‘The effective workplace in travel and tourism’. Your booklet should include:
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(a) A description of the factors that contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism organisations, e.g. the working environment, working relationships, incentives and training. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you booklet should also include: (b) An explanation of how different travel and tourism organisations motivate staff in the workplace, quoting relevant industry examples. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your booklet should also include: (c) An analysis of the factors that contribute to an effective workplace, highlighting good practice from different travel and tourism organisations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 7 Assignment – The European Travel Market
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After finishing your BTEC National course, you’ve been given the chance to work for a small tour operator specialising in holidays to Europe. You have joined on a trial basis to see if tour operating is a career that you would like to follow.
Task 1
The company would like to test your knowledge of researching travel geography, especially European travel destinations visited by British people. You have been given two blank maps of Europe and should use a range of appropriate resources to identify and locate on the first one: (a) The countries of continental Europe; (b) The European Union (EU) countries; (c) The Schengen countries; (d) Countries within the Eurozone. On the second blank map of Europe you should use a range of appropriate resources to identify and locate: (e) Key air gateways (including 3-letter codes), key ports (where applicable) and Eurostar rail terminals (where applicable) for ex-UK travellers in the following countries – France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, Ireland, Czech Republic, Monaco, Norway, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Sweden, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, Malta and Iceland. (f) Examples of key leisure destinations within the main tourist-receiving areas of – France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Croatia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Serbia, Cyprus, Malta and Norway. Your examples must cover all leisure destination types (where applicable), including seaside resorts, winter sports resorts, countryside areas, cities and cruise areas. Each map should be clearly labelled using a key. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
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Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to describe the factors that contribute to the appeal of three leisure destinations in Europe, selecting one destination from three of the following types of destinations – seaside resorts, winter sports resorts, countryside areas, cities and cruise areas. Your presentation must cover accessibility, geographical features, attractions, cultural issues and economic factors relating to each of the destinations chosen. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how different factors influence the appeal of your three chosen destinations for different types of customers. For each destination you should consider at least two different types of customer, e.g. groups, families, couples, young travellers, retired people, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Recommend how one of the destinations you chose for Tasks 2 (a) and 2 (b) could increase its appeal to attract different types of customers than it currently welcomes. For example, you may suggest that a ski resort could introduce a range of activities to attract customers in the summer season, e.g. walking, wildlife and cycling tours. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your line manager at the company would like you to write a report in which you should: (a) Describe three European tourist destinations that meet the leisure experience needs of specific customer types, making sure that all four customer types – solo travellers, couples, families and groups – are covered across these different leisure experiences – summer sun, winter sun, winter sports, activity, adventure, cultural, cruise, touring and event. You must suggest three suitable European destinations for each leisure experience and clearly indicate how each of these destinations meets the selected customers leisure experience needs. The destinations you choose must be different from those selected for Task 2 and each example should be from a different European country. This task is designed to produce evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (b) Choose one preferred destination for each of the leisure experiences and explain how it would best meet the needs of the customer. For example, if you recommended Benidorm, Palma Nova and Sidari as suitable destinations for a family wanting a summer
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sun holiday, you must choose one of these destinations and explain why it is your recommended choice to meet the customers’ needs. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 4
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, that describes one declining and one developing European tourist destination, describing how and why they are declining or developing, using Butler’s model as part of the process. You must also describe the current factors that are affecting their decline or development. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also include: (b) An analysis of the key factors that are shaping the decline or development of two European tourist destinations (one declining and one developing). This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Evaluate the potential effects of current factors on the European travel market of the future and the influence they may have on shaping future declining and developing markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 8 Assignment – Long-haul Travel Destinations
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After finishing your BTEC National course, you’ve been given the chance to work for a small tour operator specialising in holidays to long-haul destinations. You have joined on a trial basis to see if tour operating is a career that you would like to follow.
Task 1
The company would like to test your knowledge of researching travel geography, especially long-haul travel destinations visited by British people. You have been given two blank maps of the world and should use a range of appropriate reference sources to identify and locate on the first one: (a) The continents of the world; (b) Ten major long-haul tourist receiving countries, e.g. Australia; (c) Five major long-haul tourist receiving areas, e.g. the Caribbean. On the second blank map of the world you are asked to use a range of appropriate reference sources to identify and locate: (d) Four examples of each of the following long-haul destination types – cities, coastal areas, purpose-built resorts, natural attractions, historical/cultural destinations. Each map should be clearly labelled using a key. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to describe the different types of holidays offered by five long-haul destinations in different countries of the world – one city, one coastal/seaside destination, one purpose-built destination, one natural destination and one historical/cultural destination. Your presentation should describe the types of holidays each destination provides to cater for different types of visitors and different travel motivations. You should include information on at least three of the travel factors that influence visitor choices, e.g. extreme climatic conditions, time zones, health, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain key motivators for each destination selected in Task 2 (a) and explain in detail how travel factors can affect the choice and appeal of long-haul destinations for different types of customers. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Assess the success of long-haul destinations in meeting the needs of different types of visitors, and make feasible recommendations as to how the destinations you chose for Task 2 (a) could minimise the negative effects on their popularity. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your line manager at the company would like you to write a report in which you should: (a) Describe the features that contribute to the appeal of a selected long-haul destination for different customer types. This task is designed to produce evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Assess the significance of the key features that influence the appeal of your selected long-haul destination for different customer types. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Evaluate how your selected destination could capitalise on its facilities in order to influence its future development. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
Task 4
To give you some experience in preparing tours for clients, your line manager would like you to: (a) Use a range of appropriate resources to plan a multi-centre long-haul tour to fulfil the visitor profile given below. Your tour should include a bibliography listing the sources used. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your tour should also: (b) Show evidence of independent planning, with clear justification of your selections for the chosen visitor profile. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
Visitor profile
Mr and Mrs Pugh from Manchester are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year and would like to spend the month of November touring around either Australia, New Zealand, Canada or South Africa. They would like to spend one week in the capital city at the beginning of their trip and return there for the last 3 nights before they return to the UK. The rest of the time they would like to explore as much of the country as possible, using a camper van for accommodation when not staying in the city. They want to visit at least four centres while on their trip. They have asked for medium range accommodation in the city and will fly economy class from and to the UK. They would like to fly from their home airport if possible. The camper van should accommodate two people in comfort. They would like to see as many of the country’s main attractions as possible and take in any events that are planned in the city and the other centres that you suggest they visit. They are particularly interested in heritage and culture.
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Unit 9 Assignment – Retail and Business Travel Operations
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You are working for Sundream Travel Ltd, a single branch independent agency with both leisure and business travel clients. The company is a family business run by John and Norma Minor, with three other members of staff – two full-time consultants and one parttime book-keeper. You have joined them on a trial basis after finishing your course to see if retail and business travel is a career that you would like to follow. The idea is that you will get involved in as many different aspects of the business as possible to find out what’s involved with working in the retail and business travel sector. John and Norma have four specific tasks that they would like you to tackle, which are concerned with: 4. 5. 6. 7. The retail and business travel environments; How technological advances have affected retail and business travel operations; How retail travel organisations seek to gain competitive advantage; Producing itineraries for leisure and business travel clients.
Task 1
Norma is the chair of the local chamber of trade and has been asked to give a talk on retail and business travel at the chamber’s next monthly meeting. She would like you to produce a PowerPoint® presentation that she could use at the meeting, in which you should: (a) Describe the retail and business travel environment, covering the full range of retail and business travel agency types found in the UK. You must also describe the legal and regulatory framework within which retail and business travel operate, plus a description of the relationship between retail and business travel agents and other sectors of the travel and tourism industry, giving appropriate examples. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how relationships operate in the retail and business travel environment and the impact of the sector on the travel industry as a whole. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Evaluate the effectiveness of retail and business travel organisations and how they operate in the travel industry environment. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
John is going to an ABTA regional conference at the end of the month to discuss key issues affecting retail and business travel agents. One of seminars at the conference is looking at the impact of technology on travel. John’s knowledge in this area is a little rusty and he has asked you to prepare a short written report prior to the conference in which you should: (a) Describe how technological advances have affected retail and business travel operations. This task is designed to produce evidence for P2.
Task 3
John and Norma are worried about the falling profits that Sunbeam Travel has been experiencing in recent years and are keen to try and improve the financial situation. They want you to do some research and write a report, which should: (a) Explain how retail travel organisations seek to gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Compare the effectiveness of two retail travel organisations seeking to gain a competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Recommend how two retail travel agents can gain a competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
Task 4
To give you some experience in preparing itineraries for leisure travel clients, John would like you to:
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(a) Use appropriate resources to produce two complex travel itineraries to fulfil the following client briefs. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
Client brief 1
The Quarry Valley Rugby Club have been selected to play in a prestigious rugby sevens tournament in Rio de Janiero. The party will consist of 10 players, their manager and a physiotherapist. The tournament is over 4 days starting on Good Friday and they plan to be away for 10 nights in all, departing the UK on the Tuesday before Easter. All the players live within a short drive of London and would like to fly from Heathrow. However, the manager and physiotherapist live in Edinburgh, so will need to fly from there to Heathrow to meet up with the rest of the party. They are looking for budget accommodation in a hostel or cheap hotel in the centre of Rio and don’t mind sharing with each other. Each player has set aside £1500 for all travel and accommodation costs, but the club has said that it could offer each player an extra £200 if it was needed. They will need to hire a minibus for 4 days during the tournament and would like a sightseeing tour of the city as well. Produce a suitable, fully-costed itinerary that meets the group’s needs.
Client brief 2
The Brown family from Birmingham have £1,800 to spend on a much-needed, two-week summer holiday. Mr and Mrs Brown have 2 children – Debbie aged 6 and Darren 4. They are looking for self-catering accommodation in a fairly quiet Mediterranean resort with lots of facilities for the children, including a swimming pool. They want to travel in the last 2 weeks of July using their local airport for convenience. They would like meals for all the family on the outward and return flights, plus pre-booked seats on the aircraft. Produce a suitable, fully-costed itinerary that meets the clients’ needs.
Task 5
To give you some experience in preparing itineraries for business travel clients, John would like you to: (a) Use appropriate resources to produce two complex travel itineraries to fulfil the following client briefs. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
Client brief 1
Jenny Smith has asked Sundream Travel to produce an itinerary for her next sales trip to Europe. She is the Sales Director for JSE Design, a specialist Internet design company based in Leicester. Her travel requirements are as follows: 1. Depart from a Midlands or London airport on the first Monday of next month (morning departure); 2. Fly to Geneva in business class;
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3. Spend 2 nights in hotel accommodation in Geneva; 4. Pick up a hire car (medium size with air conditioning) from Geneva and drive to Lausanne; 5. Spend 3 nights in hotel accommodation in Lausanne (keeping the hire car); 6. Drive to Lyon and drop off the hire car; 7. Spend 4 nights in hotel accommodation in Lyon; 8. Travel by train to Paris; 9. Spend 1 night in hotel accommodation in Paris; 10. Return by air to the same airport as departure (business class). Your itinerary should include all timings and a breakdown of costs. For hotel accommodation, you should budget for approximately £90 per night. Jenny will pay for fuel for the hire car using her company credit card, so there is no need to include this in your cost breakdown. Your itinerary should also include information on additional products, services and information for the customer, e.g. foreign currency requirements in destinations, passport and visa information, health advice and requirements, insurance, local customs, events and activities.
Client brief 2
Geoff Brown, the owner of a newly-established manufacturing company GB Engineering, has been in touch with Norma about a business trip he will be making to the Far East in a couple of months time. His travel requirements are as follows: 1. Depart from a Midlands or London airport on the first Tuesday of the month after next (morning departure); 2. Fly to Bangkok for a two-night stopover in hotel accommodation; 3. Depart Bangkok and fly to Shanghai; 4. Spend 5 nights in hotel accommodation in Shanghai; 5. Depart Shanghai and fly to Hong Kong; 6. Spend three nights in hotel accommodation in Hong Kong; 7. Depart Hong Kong and return to the same UK airport as departure. Your itinerary should include all timings and a breakdown of costs. For hotel accommodation, you should budget for approximately £110 per night. All flights should be in business class. Geoff would like you to include the cost of half-day guided tours of Shanghai and Hong Kong in the itinerary. Your itinerary should also include information on additional products, services and information for the customer, e.g. foreign currency requirements in destinations, passport and visa information, health advice and requirements, insurance, local customs, events and activities.
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Unit 11 Assignment – Sustainable Tourism Development
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
In your gap year before going to Aberystwyth University to study Tourism Management you are working for a UK-based tourism development consultancy that specialises in carrying out feasibility studies for new tourism projects all over the world. You have been asked to work with Jim Edwards, one of the junior consultants, on an EU-funded project concerning tourism development in the developing countries of the world. Jim wants you to carry out some research into the subject. The project focuses on three main areas: 8. The impacts of tourism development; 9. The agents and objectives of sustainable tourism development; 10. How the travel and tourism industry supports sustainable tourism development. He wants you to complete the following three tasks, but in order to do so you will need to select one short-haul destination and one long-haul destination. Your short-haul destination could be an area within the UK or a destination less than six hours flying time from the UK. Your long-haul destination must be six or more hours flying time from the UK.
Task 1
Jim wants you to prepare a presentation on the positive and negative impacts of tourism development. Your presentation should: (a) Describe the impacts of tourism development in your selected short-haul and longhaul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how the positive impacts have been maximised and the negative impacts minimised in one of your selected destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Assess the effectiveness of measures taken in one of your selected destinations to put the objectives of sustainable tourism development into practice, with a clear assessment of the actions taken and the extent to which they do minimise and maximise impacts. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Jim wants you to prepare a booklet on the agents and objectives of sustainable tourism development that could be used by government officials in developing countries that are keen to develop tourism. The booklet should: (a) Describe the roles of the public, private and voluntary sector agents involved in sustainable tourism development in one of your selected destinations; (b) Explain how the objectives for sustainable tourism development are put into practice in one of your selected destinations. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P2 and P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your booklet should also: (c) Explain how the agents involved in sustainable tourism development could have conflicting objectives in one of your selected destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
Jim has asked you to prepare a short written report on how the travel and tourism industry supports sustainable tourism development. Your report should: (a) Describe how the travel and tourism industry supports the development of sustainable tourism at your selected short-haul and long-haul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Analyse how effectively the industry is supporting sustainable tourism development in your selected short-haul and long-haul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Recommend how the travel and tourism industry could adapt to support sustainable tourism development in one of your selected destinations, justifying recommendations by drawing on examples of good practice. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 21 Assignment – Work Experience in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
This assignment is all about you! You will complete a number of tasks in the following four distinct areas to do with the period of work experience you will complete for this unit: 1. 2. 3. 4. Identifying potential placements and preparing for a period of work experience; Undertaking your work experience and monitoring progress; Describing the nature of the work experience organisation; Describing factors that contribute to an effective placement and evaluating your own performance while on work experience.
Task 1
You are to compile a work placement portfolio in which you should: (a) Write a report that identifies two potential work placements that you could undertake and describes them in terms of the type of organisation, potential roles for the placement student and any constraints that may affect the choice of placement. You should use a variety of contacts and resources to complete this task and keep a list of sources you consult. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1. (b) For one placement position only, write a letter of enquiry and a letter of application, produce an up-to-date CV, an interview checklist and a letter accepting the position. (c) Write a short report that describes the personal, career and curriculum objectives you have set for your placement. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (d) Explain how the two potential work experience placements you described in Task 1 (a) could provide opportunities to meet your personal, career and curriculum objectives. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (e) Analyse the career progression routes from the two potential work experience placements within those organisations and into other areas of the travel and tourism industry. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
This task is concerned with you undertaking your period of work experience and describing the nature of the placement organisation. In your portfolio, you should write a report that: (a) Describes the activities you carried out while on placement and the skills and behaviour you demonstrated, showing adherence to the code of conduct. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3. (b) Describes the nature of the work experience organisation, to include a description of its key activities, products and services, plus any specific health and safety issues, and includes an organisation chart. You should also describe your own roles and responsibilities, plus those of other key staff members in the organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4. To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you report should also include a section that: (c) Demonstrates your effective skills, qualities and behaviour in the work placement, and explains how the work you undertook has contributed to the key activities of the placement organisation . This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
For this task, you are to include the following in your work placement portfolio: (a) A description of the factors that contribute to an effective work placement, in relation to your own chosen placement organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5. To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (b) Explain the factors that contributed to the success for your work placement, providing supporting evidence to demonstrate personal effectiveness throughout the placement. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (c) Evaluate your own performance on work experience and produce an action plan with justified recommendations for future personal development. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 22 Assignment – Residential Study Visit
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
For this assignment you must produce a written report on a residential study visit that you have helped to plan and taken part in, either in the UK or abroad. You will complete a number of tasks in five distinct areas to do with your study visit: 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Common aims and objectives for residential study visits; A detailed proposal for a residential study visit; Risk assessments associated with a study visit; Your participation in a study visit; Factors that contribute to the success of a study visit.
Task 1
The first section of your report should: (a) Identify the aims and objectives for a residential study visit, to include at least one educational and one personal development objective. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
Task 2
The second section of your report should include: (a) A detailed proposal for a residential study visit, taking into account a range of considerations and constraints. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Explain how your proposal meets the aims and objectives of your study visit, explaining how considerations and constraints have been taken into account. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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Task 3
The third section of your report should: (a) Describe the process of risk assessment, including reasons and content, and complete a risk assessment for your proposed study visit, identifying at least six potential hazards. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Explain how hazards and risks identified in the risk assessment will be minimised. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 4
The fourth section of your report should include: (a) A description of your positive contribution throughout a residential study visit, including involvement in appropriate planning processes. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should: (b) Evaluate your contribution to the planning of, and participation in, the study visit, explaining areas for improvement. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 5
The fifth section of your report should: (a) Before the residential study visit takes place, describe the factors that contribute to the success of a residential study visit and describe two evaluation methods that will be used to see if these have been met. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, this section of your report should also: (b) Include an objective explanation of how your own efforts contributed to the success of the study visit, using at least two different sources of feedback and evaluation techniques, e.g. a questionnaire, tutor interview, etc.
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This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should: (c) Evaluate the success of the study visit and make recommendations for future visits, justifying your recommendations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 1 Assignment – Investigating Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You have always liked the idea of a career as a travel writer and have been lucky enough to secure a holiday job with Maxine London, a freelance travel writer who regularly writes for the national daily and …show more content…
Sunday newspapers. Maxine has been asked to write a series of 3 articles for a new travel and tourism trade magazine, focusing on: 1. The different components of the travel and tourism industry; 2. The roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from different sectors; 3. Recent developments that have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry, and key trends and factors that will affect the future development of travel and tourism. Maxine has asked you to help research the factual side of these articles for her and wants you to present the information as a series of Word documents so that she can incorporate them easily into her articles. She has asked you to carry out the following tasks.
Task 1
Your first document should include descriptions of the following: (a) The different components of the travel and tourism industry, giving examples of domestic, inbound and outbound tourism; (b) The ways that components of the travel and tourism industry interrelate. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Explain how the components of travel and tourism interrelate, giving examples that include domestic, inbound and outbound tourism. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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Task 2
Your second document should: (a) Describe the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors; This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (b) Compare the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Assess how the roles and responsibilities of travel and tourism organisations from the profit and not-for-profit sectors affect their operations.
This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your third and final document should: (a) Describe four recent developments (from the 1960s onwards) that have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry; (b) Describe three key trends and three factors that are affecting, or are likely to affect, the development of travel and tourism. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4 and P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your document should also: (c) Explain how recent developments have shaped the present day travel and tourism industry, and how key trends and factors are likely to shape the industry in the future. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your document should also: (d) Recommend and justify how the travel and tourism industry could respond to key trends and factors affecting the future development of travel and tourism. This task is designed to provide evidence for
D2.
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Unit 2 Assignment – The Business of Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You’ve been lucky to get a placement job with Jenny Walters, the Tourism Development Manager for Worsetshire County Council. Worsetshire has just received an Objective One grant from the EU amounting to 1.8 million Euros for tourism projects in this coastal county. The money is to be used to help tourism businesses in Worsetshire improve the quality of their facilities and services for visitors. Tourism is seen by the Council as one of the key ways of encouraging economic, social and cultural development. Part of the grant money is to be used for supporting new start-up tourism businesses and those which have been trading for less than a year. Jenny is in charge of this project and wants you to help her with some of the project tasks. The first part of your job is to gather together some information that she can use in a series of business start-up fact sheets. The first four in the series cover: 1. 2. 3. 4. The features of profit making and non-profit making organisations; Completing cash flow forecasts in travel and tourism; Planning travel and tourism projects; Gaining competitive advantage in the travel and tourism industry.
Complete the following four tasks and present the information to Jenny as draft fact sheets.
Task 1
Your first fact sheet should: (a) Describe the features of a selected profit making travel and tourism organisation; (b) Describe the features of a selected non-profit making travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also:
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(c) Compare the features of your chosen profit making and non-profit making travel and tourism organisations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
Task 2
NB There are errors in the cash flow forecast on page 73 of the textbook. You can download a corrected version here Jenny wants to try and minimise the fear that many new businesses have when it comes to financial aspects of their operation. She would like to give all new business start-ups a cash flow forecast to show them how it is completed. In your second fact sheet, you should: (a) Using the example of the cash flow forecast for a travel agency shown in Figure 2.3 on page 73 as your starting point, complete a new cash flow forecast for the next 12-month trading period for the travel agency, based on the following assumptions: • • • • The owner predicts that the income received from commission on travel sales, insurance and foreign exchange will all decrease by 10 per cent each month; There will be no further capital invested by the owner; The cost of all payment items will increase by 6.5 per cent; The owner takes on a new member of staff from July 1 and pays her £1,250 per month for that month and for the rest of the year.
Remember that the closing bank balance shown in the example in Figure 2.3 will become the opening bank balance for the new cash flow forecast that you complete. You must calculate the new monthly figures for all receipts and payments, the monthly net cash flow, plus the monthly opening and closing bank balances. You can either complete the new cash flow statement on a computer package such as Excel or fill in a blank cash flow forecast (which registered tandtONLine users can download from www.tandtonline.co.uk). This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Interpret the cash flow forecast you completed in Task 2 (a), explaining how problems have occurred. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Make realistic recommendations to resolve the cash flow problems you highlighted in Task 2 (b). This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
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Task 3
In your third fact sheet you should: (a) Prepare a written plan for a travel and tourism project, covering objectives, timescales, finances and actions required. Your plan should assume that you have been allocated a budget of £250 to cover all expenditure for the project; This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Explain how your plan for the travel and tourism project enables the objectives to be met within the budget you have been allocated. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
Task 4
Your fourth fact sheet should: (a) Explain how a chosen profit making travel and tourism organisation seeks to gain competitive advantage to meet its aims; (b) Explain how a chosen non-profit making travel and tourism organisation seeks to gain competitive advantage to meet its aims. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Compare how your chosen profit making and non-profit making travel and tourism organisations seek to gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for M4.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (d) Suggest and justify other ways in which either your chosen profit making or non-profit making organisation could gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 3 Assignment – The UK as a Destination
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After completing your BTEC National course, you’ve decided to apply for a 12-month training programme with one of the UK’s Regional Tourist Boards and have been invited to attend a selection weekend at a hotel in Birmingham. The aim of the weekend is for the Tourist Board staff to select the best candidates to go forward to the full training programme. You will be given four tasks to complete during the weekend. When completing each task, you must demonstrate that you have used a range of appropriate reference materials and keep a written record of the sources consulted.
Task 1
You have been given a blank map of the UK and asked to mark on it: • • • • • • The four UK capital cities (London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh); Four examples of tourist destinations (chosen from coastal resorts, historical/cultural towns/cities and countryside areas); Four examples of different geographical features, e.g. rivers, mountain ranges and upland areas, islands, bodies of water, woodland areas and forests; Four UK seaports; Four major UK airports (with their 3-letter codes); The UK rail terminals serving the Channel Tunnel.
You are not allowed any access to books or other resources when completing this task, but you were given two weeks’ notice to prepare for the task using appropriate reference materials, which you were asked to list and hand in to the Tourist Board staff before taking the test. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1 and P2.
Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to demonstrate how natural appeal (e.g. mountains, bodies of water, gorges, etc.), location, transport routes and attractions combine to attract tourists to two UK destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Analyse the appeal of the two UK destinations described in Task 2 (a) to domestic and inbound tourists. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
Task 3
The Tourist Board staff want to find out to what extent you understand the needs of different domestic and inbound tourists. They want you to prepare three illustrated case studies, each with a bibliography of sources consulted, in which you must: (a) Describe the needs of a UK domestic tourist (e.g. a honeymoon couple, family, etc.) and the inbound tourist to the UK (to include both business and leisure markets). This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should write a report to: (b) Explain in detail how four specific UK destinations meet the needs of different types of domestic and inbound tourist markets. (You must select different destinations to those chosen for Task 2). This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Evaluate the attraction of the UK for domestic and inbound markets, using the four destinations described in Task 3 (b) as evidence. Your report must also make recommendations about how the appeal of the UK to domestic and inbound tourists can be increased. You must show an awareness of any new developments in transportation (e.g. new transport routes), new initiatives (e.g. regeneration) and new products offered in the destinations (e.g. new attractions). This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 4
The Tourist Board staff want to find out to what extent you understand the trends and factors affecting the domestic and inbound tourism markets. They want you to prepare a short report, with a bibliography of sources consulted, in which you must: (a) Describe internal and external factors influencing recent key trends (over the last 3-5 years) in the UK inbound and domestic markets, using different sources of data relating to inbound and domestic tourism; This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Analyse at least three external and three internal factors influencing recent key trends in the UK inbound and domestic tourism markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Using the examples you analysed in Task 4 (b), evaluate the likely impacts of at least three external and three internal factors on the future of the UK inbound and domestic tourism markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 4 Assignment – Customer Service in Travel and Tourism
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
In your first job since finishing your travel and tourism course, you are working for Lucy Brown, a customer service specialist who advises some of the biggest UK travel and tourism companies on how to get the best out of their staff. She has been called in by a major UK tourist attraction to help re-launch its customer service plan, following lots of complaints from customers.
Task 1
Lucy has asked you to investigate how customer service is provided in two different travel and tourism organisations. She will use the information you find in a presentation to senior managers of the tourist attraction she is advising. With advice from your tutor, you could carry out any of the following to help with this task: • A ‘mystery shopper’ exercise, where you visit two travel and tourism organisations and observe customer service in action. These could be a travel agency, tourist information centre, leisure centre, tourist attraction, hotel, coach company, etc. Remember that the organisations you choose must be from different industry sectors, so you can’t investigate two attractions or two hotels, for example; Your own experience of working in travel and tourism in a part-time job or work placement; By carrying out research on companies on the Internet and in the trade press; Watching videos and reading resource packs on customer service.
• • •
Present the information you find as a short report for Lucy, which should: (a) Describe how the principles of customer service, and methods used to monitor them, are applied in the two organisations. (b) Describe the benefits of good quality customer service, and the consequences of poor service, to the two organisations. (c) Describe how differing buyer behaviour and customer types, motivations and needs can influence the service provided by the two organisations.
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These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P1, P2 and P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (d) Compare the service provided by the two organisations, explaining how each meets the needs of different customer types. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (e) Evaluate the customer service provision in the two organisations and make justified recommendations as to how improvements could be made to meet the needs of a wider range of customers. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Lucy wants to show the senior managers of the attraction how customer service should be delivered in a practical sense and has asked you to be a ‘guinea pig’ by demonstrating effective customer service and selling skills in action. This could be through simulated role plays or in real-life situations – you should agree this with your tutor. To complete the task you will need to: (a) Use customer service skills to provide service to customers in two different travel and tourism situations, e.g. a customer requesting information, making a complaint, etc., in two different types of travel and tourism organisations, e.g. a tourist information centre and a travel agency. (b) Deal with two complaints, one of which must be in writing. (c) Demonstrate selling skills in a travel and tourism situation. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4, P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task you will need to: (d) Independently demonstrate skills in handling customer service situations effectively and dealing with complaints to the satisfaction of both the customer and the company. (e) Demonstrate effective selling skills and a high level of product knowledge to bring the sale to a close. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for M2 and M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task you will need to:
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(f) Consistently, effectively and confidently handle customer service situations (including a complaint and a sale) showing a thorough understanding of customer types, needs and wants in different situations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 5 Assignment – Marketing Travel and Tourism Products and Services
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You have managed to secure a summer placement with a small marketing consultancy that works with tourist attractions all around the UK to improve their marketing activities. The company has just won a European-funded contract to provide marketing advice to new, start-up tourism businesses in the UK. You will be working for Annette James, one of the partners in the firm, and she wants you to help with some of the project tasks. The first part of your job is to gather together some information that she can use in a series of business start-up fact sheets. The first four in the series cover: 5. 6. 7. 8. The factors affecting marketing in travel and tourism; The marketing mix; Market research activities; Promotional campaigns.
Complete the following four tasks and present the information to Annette as draft fact sheets.
Task 1
Your first fact sheet should: (a) Explain the factors affecting marketing, using examples from different travel and tourism organisations; This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Analyse the factors affecting marketing in relation to a selected travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also:
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(c) Recommend how the selected travel and tourism organisation could adapt to the factors affecting its marketing. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Your second fact sheet should: (a) Describe the marketing mix of a selected travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (b) Explain how the 4 Ps work together as a marketing mix in a specific travel and tourism organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
In your third fact sheet you should: (a) Prepare a plan and documentation for a market research activity in a travel and tourism organisation; (b) Conduct a market research activity for a travel and tourism organisation. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P3 and P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Explain how your plan and documentation will meet the market research objectives. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (d) Recommend how the organisation can use the results of its market research activity. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Task 4
In your fourth fact sheet you should: (a) Plan a promotional campaign for a selected travel and tourism organisation to achieve stated marketing objectives; (b) Prepare an item of promotional material as part of a planned promotional campaign for a target market. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P5 and P6.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your fact sheet should also: (c) Explain how the planned campaign would enable the objectives to be met. This task is designed to provide evidence for M4.
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Unit 6 Assignment – Preparing for Employment in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You are beginning to think about the sort of job you might like in the travel and tourism industry, and what research you need to carry out to give you the best chance of securing the job you want. In this assignment, the tasks you need to complete focus on your own career development.
Task 1
This task is divided into five parts, with the materials you produce being presented in a ‘career development folder’ for future reference. (a) Using the information included in this unit and other sources, describe a range of career opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. This could be presented as a series of information sheets or a booklet that would be of interest to other people in a similar position to yourself. You must describe opportunities in a minimum of four industry sectors, e.g. retail travel, tour operations, attractions, cruising, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
(b) Produce a comprehensive description of two travel and tourism jobs that interest you (the jobs selected could be from the same or different industry sectors). You should include job title, role, main duties and responsibilities, entry requirements, etc. covering the full range, and write job descriptions and person specifications for the two posts. Specific issues affecting the two jobs, such as seasonality, must be clearly indicated. This could be presented as two written reports to include in your career development folder. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (c) Compare the two jobs in the travel and tourism industry that you chose for Task 1 (b), highlighting similarities and differences, with particular reference to the entry levels and opportunities for promotion and progression.
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This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
(d) Produce a personal skills audit in preparation for employment, which must include an accurate review of your personal skills, attributes, experience, achievements and qualifications, together with supporting evidence to show how they have been acquired. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (e) Evaluate your own suitability for a chosen job in travel and tourism, and prepare an action plan to meet all the necessary training and development needs identified, plus how these might be met. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
This task focuses on the recruitment and selection process. (a) Produce a booklet that describes the stages of the recruitment and selection process in travel and tourism, from the perspective of both the organisation and the applicant. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
(b) Demonstrate your suitability for employment during different stages of the job selection process, by producing an up-to-date CV and a fully-completed job application form, supported by a correctly-formatted letter of application, for a specific job in travel and tourism that is of interest to you. (c) Participate positively in a simulated one-to-one or group interview. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (d) Produce guidelines for success in the different stages of the recruitment and selection process, and use these to evaluate your personal performance. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
As part of your career development folder, you have decided to produce an illustrated booklet on the subject of ‘The effective workplace in travel and tourism’. Your booklet should include:
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(a) A description of the factors that contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism organisations, e.g. the working environment, working relationships, incentives and training. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you booklet should also include: (b) An explanation of how different travel and tourism organisations motivate staff in the workplace, quoting relevant industry examples. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your booklet should also include: (c) An analysis of the factors that contribute to an effective workplace, highlighting good practice from different travel and tourism organisations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 7 Assignment – The European Travel Market
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After finishing your BTEC National course, you’ve been given the chance to work for a small tour operator specialising in holidays to Europe. You have joined on a trial basis to see if tour operating is a career that you would like to follow.
Task 1
The company would like to test your knowledge of researching travel geography, especially European travel destinations visited by British people. You have been given two blank maps of Europe and should use a range of appropriate resources to identify and locate on the first one: (a) The countries of continental Europe; (b) The European Union (EU) countries; (c) The Schengen countries; (d) Countries within the Eurozone. On the second blank map of Europe you should use a range of appropriate resources to identify and locate: (e) Key air gateways (including 3-letter codes), key ports (where applicable) and Eurostar rail terminals (where applicable) for ex-UK travellers in the following countries – France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, Ireland, Czech Republic, Monaco, Norway, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Sweden, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, Malta and Iceland. (f) Examples of key leisure destinations within the main tourist-receiving areas of – France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Switzerland, Croatia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Serbia, Cyprus, Malta and Norway. Your examples must cover all leisure destination types (where applicable), including seaside resorts, winter sports resorts, countryside areas, cities and cruise areas. Each map should be clearly labelled using a key. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
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Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to describe the factors that contribute to the appeal of three leisure destinations in Europe, selecting one destination from three of the following types of destinations – seaside resorts, winter sports resorts, countryside areas, cities and cruise areas. Your presentation must cover accessibility, geographical features, attractions, cultural issues and economic factors relating to each of the destinations chosen. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how different factors influence the appeal of your three chosen destinations for different types of customers. For each destination you should consider at least two different types of customer, e.g. groups, families, couples, young travellers, retired people, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Recommend how one of the destinations you chose for Tasks 2 (a) and 2 (b) could increase its appeal to attract different types of customers than it currently welcomes. For example, you may suggest that a ski resort could introduce a range of activities to attract customers in the summer season, e.g. walking, wildlife and cycling tours. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your line manager at the company would like you to write a report in which you should: (a) Describe three European tourist destinations that meet the leisure experience needs of specific customer types, making sure that all four customer types – solo travellers, couples, families and groups – are covered across these different leisure experiences – summer sun, winter sun, winter sports, activity, adventure, cultural, cruise, touring and event. You must suggest three suitable European destinations for each leisure experience and clearly indicate how each of these destinations meets the selected customers leisure experience needs. The destinations you choose must be different from those selected for Task 2 and each example should be from a different European country. This task is designed to produce evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (b) Choose one preferred destination for each of the leisure experiences and explain how it would best meet the needs of the customer. For example, if you recommended Benidorm, Palma Nova and Sidari as suitable destinations for a family wanting a summer
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sun holiday, you must choose one of these destinations and explain why it is your recommended choice to meet the customers’ needs. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 4
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, that describes one declining and one developing European tourist destination, describing how and why they are declining or developing, using Butler’s model as part of the process. You must also describe the current factors that are affecting their decline or development. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also include: (b) An analysis of the key factors that are shaping the decline or development of two European tourist destinations (one declining and one developing). This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Evaluate the potential effects of current factors on the European travel market of the future and the influence they may have on shaping future declining and developing markets. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 8 Assignment – Long-haul Travel Destinations
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
After finishing your BTEC National course, you’ve been given the chance to work for a small tour operator specialising in holidays to long-haul destinations. You have joined on a trial basis to see if tour operating is a career that you would like to follow.
Task 1
The company would like to test your knowledge of researching travel geography, especially long-haul travel destinations visited by British people. You have been given two blank maps of the world and should use a range of appropriate reference sources to identify and locate on the first one: (a) The continents of the world; (b) Ten major long-haul tourist receiving countries, e.g. Australia; (c) Five major long-haul tourist receiving areas, e.g. the Caribbean. On the second blank map of the world you are asked to use a range of appropriate reference sources to identify and locate: (d) Four examples of each of the following long-haul destination types – cities, coastal areas, purpose-built resorts, natural attractions, historical/cultural destinations. Each map should be clearly labelled using a key. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
Task 2
(a) You are to make a presentation, using appropriate visual aids, to describe the different types of holidays offered by five long-haul destinations in different countries of the world – one city, one coastal/seaside destination, one purpose-built destination, one natural destination and one historical/cultural destination. Your presentation should describe the types of holidays each destination provides to cater for different types of visitors and different travel motivations. You should include information on at least three of the travel factors that influence visitor choices, e.g. extreme climatic conditions, time zones, health, etc. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain key motivators for each destination selected in Task 2 (a) and explain in detail how travel factors can affect the choice and appeal of long-haul destinations for different types of customers. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Assess the success of long-haul destinations in meeting the needs of different types of visitors, and make feasible recommendations as to how the destinations you chose for Task 2 (a) could minimise the negative effects on their popularity. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 3
Your line manager at the company would like you to write a report in which you should: (a) Describe the features that contribute to the appeal of a selected long-haul destination for different customer types. This task is designed to produce evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Assess the significance of the key features that influence the appeal of your selected long-haul destination for different customer types. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Evaluate how your selected destination could capitalise on its facilities in order to influence its future development. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
Task 4
To give you some experience in preparing tours for clients, your line manager would like you to: (a) Use a range of appropriate resources to plan a multi-centre long-haul tour to fulfil the visitor profile given below. Your tour should include a bibliography listing the sources used. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
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To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your tour should also: (b) Show evidence of independent planning, with clear justification of your selections for the chosen visitor profile. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
Visitor profile
Mr and Mrs Pugh from Manchester are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year and would like to spend the month of November touring around either Australia, New Zealand, Canada or South Africa. They would like to spend one week in the capital city at the beginning of their trip and return there for the last 3 nights before they return to the UK. The rest of the time they would like to explore as much of the country as possible, using a camper van for accommodation when not staying in the city. They want to visit at least four centres while on their trip. They have asked for medium range accommodation in the city and will fly economy class from and to the UK. They would like to fly from their home airport if possible. The camper van should accommodate two people in comfort. They would like to see as many of the country’s main attractions as possible and take in any events that are planned in the city and the other centres that you suggest they visit. They are particularly interested in heritage and culture.
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Unit 9 Assignment – Retail and Business Travel Operations
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
You are working for Sundream Travel Ltd, a single branch independent agency with both leisure and business travel clients. The company is a family business run by John and Norma Minor, with three other members of staff – two full-time consultants and one parttime book-keeper. You have joined them on a trial basis after finishing your course to see if retail and business travel is a career that you would like to follow. The idea is that you will get involved in as many different aspects of the business as possible to find out what’s involved with working in the retail and business travel sector. John and Norma have four specific tasks that they would like you to tackle, which are concerned with: 4. 5. 6. 7. The retail and business travel environments; How technological advances have affected retail and business travel operations; How retail travel organisations seek to gain competitive advantage; Producing itineraries for leisure and business travel clients.
Task 1
Norma is the chair of the local chamber of trade and has been asked to give a talk on retail and business travel at the chamber’s next monthly meeting. She would like you to produce a PowerPoint® presentation that she could use at the meeting, in which you should: (a) Describe the retail and business travel environment, covering the full range of retail and business travel agency types found in the UK. You must also describe the legal and regulatory framework within which retail and business travel operate, plus a description of the relationship between retail and business travel agents and other sectors of the travel and tourism industry, giving appropriate examples. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how relationships operate in the retail and business travel environment and the impact of the sector on the travel industry as a whole. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Evaluate the effectiveness of retail and business travel organisations and how they operate in the travel industry environment. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
John is going to an ABTA regional conference at the end of the month to discuss key issues affecting retail and business travel agents. One of seminars at the conference is looking at the impact of technology on travel. John’s knowledge in this area is a little rusty and he has asked you to prepare a short written report prior to the conference in which you should: (a) Describe how technological advances have affected retail and business travel operations. This task is designed to produce evidence for P2.
Task 3
John and Norma are worried about the falling profits that Sunbeam Travel has been experiencing in recent years and are keen to try and improve the financial situation. They want you to do some research and write a report, which should: (a) Explain how retail travel organisations seek to gain competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Compare the effectiveness of two retail travel organisations seeking to gain a competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Recommend how two retail travel agents can gain a competitive advantage. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
Task 4
To give you some experience in preparing itineraries for leisure travel clients, John would like you to:
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(a) Use appropriate resources to produce two complex travel itineraries to fulfil the following client briefs. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
Client brief 1
The Quarry Valley Rugby Club have been selected to play in a prestigious rugby sevens tournament in Rio de Janiero. The party will consist of 10 players, their manager and a physiotherapist. The tournament is over 4 days starting on Good Friday and they plan to be away for 10 nights in all, departing the UK on the Tuesday before Easter. All the players live within a short drive of London and would like to fly from Heathrow. However, the manager and physiotherapist live in Edinburgh, so will need to fly from there to Heathrow to meet up with the rest of the party. They are looking for budget accommodation in a hostel or cheap hotel in the centre of Rio and don’t mind sharing with each other. Each player has set aside £1500 for all travel and accommodation costs, but the club has said that it could offer each player an extra £200 if it was needed. They will need to hire a minibus for 4 days during the tournament and would like a sightseeing tour of the city as well. Produce a suitable, fully-costed itinerary that meets the group’s needs.
Client brief 2
The Brown family from Birmingham have £1,800 to spend on a much-needed, two-week summer holiday. Mr and Mrs Brown have 2 children – Debbie aged 6 and Darren 4. They are looking for self-catering accommodation in a fairly quiet Mediterranean resort with lots of facilities for the children, including a swimming pool. They want to travel in the last 2 weeks of July using their local airport for convenience. They would like meals for all the family on the outward and return flights, plus pre-booked seats on the aircraft. Produce a suitable, fully-costed itinerary that meets the clients’ needs.
Task 5
To give you some experience in preparing itineraries for business travel clients, John would like you to: (a) Use appropriate resources to produce two complex travel itineraries to fulfil the following client briefs. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
Client brief 1
Jenny Smith has asked Sundream Travel to produce an itinerary for her next sales trip to Europe. She is the Sales Director for JSE Design, a specialist Internet design company based in Leicester. Her travel requirements are as follows: 1. Depart from a Midlands or London airport on the first Monday of next month (morning departure); 2. Fly to Geneva in business class;
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3. Spend 2 nights in hotel accommodation in Geneva; 4. Pick up a hire car (medium size with air conditioning) from Geneva and drive to Lausanne; 5. Spend 3 nights in hotel accommodation in Lausanne (keeping the hire car); 6. Drive to Lyon and drop off the hire car; 7. Spend 4 nights in hotel accommodation in Lyon; 8. Travel by train to Paris; 9. Spend 1 night in hotel accommodation in Paris; 10. Return by air to the same airport as departure (business class). Your itinerary should include all timings and a breakdown of costs. For hotel accommodation, you should budget for approximately £90 per night. Jenny will pay for fuel for the hire car using her company credit card, so there is no need to include this in your cost breakdown. Your itinerary should also include information on additional products, services and information for the customer, e.g. foreign currency requirements in destinations, passport and visa information, health advice and requirements, insurance, local customs, events and activities.
Client brief 2
Geoff Brown, the owner of a newly-established manufacturing company GB Engineering, has been in touch with Norma about a business trip he will be making to the Far East in a couple of months time. His travel requirements are as follows: 1. Depart from a Midlands or London airport on the first Tuesday of the month after next (morning departure); 2. Fly to Bangkok for a two-night stopover in hotel accommodation; 3. Depart Bangkok and fly to Shanghai; 4. Spend 5 nights in hotel accommodation in Shanghai; 5. Depart Shanghai and fly to Hong Kong; 6. Spend three nights in hotel accommodation in Hong Kong; 7. Depart Hong Kong and return to the same UK airport as departure. Your itinerary should include all timings and a breakdown of costs. For hotel accommodation, you should budget for approximately £110 per night. All flights should be in business class. Geoff would like you to include the cost of half-day guided tours of Shanghai and Hong Kong in the itinerary. Your itinerary should also include information on additional products, services and information for the customer, e.g. foreign currency requirements in destinations, passport and visa information, health advice and requirements, insurance, local customs, events and activities.
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Unit 11 Assignment – Sustainable Tourism Development
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities and read the case studies throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
In your gap year before going to Aberystwyth University to study Tourism Management you are working for a UK-based tourism development consultancy that specialises in carrying out feasibility studies for new tourism projects all over the world. You have been asked to work with Jim Edwards, one of the junior consultants, on an EU-funded project concerning tourism development in the developing countries of the world. Jim wants you to carry out some research into the subject. The project focuses on three main areas: 8. The impacts of tourism development; 9. The agents and objectives of sustainable tourism development; 10. How the travel and tourism industry supports sustainable tourism development. He wants you to complete the following three tasks, but in order to do so you will need to select one short-haul destination and one long-haul destination. Your short-haul destination could be an area within the UK or a destination less than six hours flying time from the UK. Your long-haul destination must be six or more hours flying time from the UK.
Task 1
Jim wants you to prepare a presentation on the positive and negative impacts of tourism development. Your presentation should: (a) Describe the impacts of tourism development in your selected short-haul and longhaul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your presentation should also: (b) Explain how the positive impacts have been maximised and the negative impacts minimised in one of your selected destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your presentation should also: (c) Assess the effectiveness of measures taken in one of your selected destinations to put the objectives of sustainable tourism development into practice, with a clear assessment of the actions taken and the extent to which they do minimise and maximise impacts. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
Jim wants you to prepare a booklet on the agents and objectives of sustainable tourism development that could be used by government officials in developing countries that are keen to develop tourism. The booklet should: (a) Describe the roles of the public, private and voluntary sector agents involved in sustainable tourism development in one of your selected destinations; (b) Explain how the objectives for sustainable tourism development are put into practice in one of your selected destinations. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P2 and P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your booklet should also: (c) Explain how the agents involved in sustainable tourism development could have conflicting objectives in one of your selected destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
Jim has asked you to prepare a short written report on how the travel and tourism industry supports sustainable tourism development. Your report should: (a) Describe how the travel and tourism industry supports the development of sustainable tourism at your selected short-haul and long-haul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Analyse how effectively the industry is supporting sustainable tourism development in your selected short-haul and long-haul destinations. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should also: (c) Recommend how the travel and tourism industry could adapt to support sustainable tourism development in one of your selected destinations, justifying recommendations by drawing on examples of good practice. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 21 Assignment – Work Experience in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
This assignment is all about you! You will complete a number of tasks in the following four distinct areas to do with the period of work experience you will complete for this unit: 1. 2. 3. 4. Identifying potential placements and preparing for a period of work experience; Undertaking your work experience and monitoring progress; Describing the nature of the work experience organisation; Describing factors that contribute to an effective placement and evaluating your own performance while on work experience.
Task 1
You are to compile a work placement portfolio in which you should: (a) Write a report that identifies two potential work placements that you could undertake and describes them in terms of the type of organisation, potential roles for the placement student and any constraints that may affect the choice of placement. You should use a variety of contacts and resources to complete this task and keep a list of sources you consult. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1. (b) For one placement position only, write a letter of enquiry and a letter of application, produce an up-to-date CV, an interview checklist and a letter accepting the position. (c) Write a short report that describes the personal, career and curriculum objectives you have set for your placement. These tasks are designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (d) Explain how the two potential work experience placements you described in Task 1 (a) could provide opportunities to meet your personal, career and curriculum objectives. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (e) Analyse the career progression routes from the two potential work experience placements within those organisations and into other areas of the travel and tourism industry. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 2
This task is concerned with you undertaking your period of work experience and describing the nature of the placement organisation. In your portfolio, you should write a report that: (a) Describes the activities you carried out while on placement and the skills and behaviour you demonstrated, showing adherence to the code of conduct. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3. (b) Describes the nature of the work experience organisation, to include a description of its key activities, products and services, plus any specific health and safety issues, and includes an organisation chart. You should also describe your own roles and responsibilities, plus those of other key staff members in the organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4. To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you report should also include a section that: (c) Demonstrates your effective skills, qualities and behaviour in the work placement, and explains how the work you undertook has contributed to the key activities of the placement organisation . This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 3
For this task, you are to include the following in your work placement portfolio: (a) A description of the factors that contribute to an effective work placement, in relation to your own chosen placement organisation. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5. To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, you should also: (b) Explain the factors that contributed to the success for your work placement, providing supporting evidence to demonstrate personal effectiveness throughout the placement. This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
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To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, you should also: (c) Evaluate your own performance on work experience and produce an action plan with justified recommendations for future personal development. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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Unit 22 Assignment – Residential Study Visit
Introduction
This assignment is made up of a number of tasks which, when successfully completed, are designed to give you sufficient evidence to meet the Pass (P), Merit (M) and Distinction (D) grading criteria for the unit. If you have carried out the activities throughout this unit in the accompanying textbook, you will already have done a lot of work towards completing the tasks for this assignment.
Scenario
For this assignment you must produce a written report on a residential study visit that you have helped to plan and taken part in, either in the UK or abroad. You will complete a number of tasks in five distinct areas to do with your study visit: 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Common aims and objectives for residential study visits; A detailed proposal for a residential study visit; Risk assessments associated with a study visit; Your participation in a study visit; Factors that contribute to the success of a study visit.
Task 1
The first section of your report should: (a) Identify the aims and objectives for a residential study visit, to include at least one educational and one personal development objective. This task is designed to provide evidence for P1.
Task 2
The second section of your report should include: (a) A detailed proposal for a residential study visit, taking into account a range of considerations and constraints. This task is designed to provide evidence for P2.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Explain how your proposal meets the aims and objectives of your study visit, explaining how considerations and constraints have been taken into account. This task is designed to provide evidence for M1.
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Task 3
The third section of your report should: (a) Describe the process of risk assessment, including reasons and content, and complete a risk assessment for your proposed study visit, identifying at least six potential hazards. This task is designed to provide evidence for P3.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, your report should also: (b) Explain how hazards and risks identified in the risk assessment will be minimised. This task is designed to provide evidence for M2.
Task 4
The fourth section of your report should include: (a) A description of your positive contribution throughout a residential study visit, including involvement in appropriate planning processes. This task is designed to provide evidence for P4.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should: (b) Evaluate your contribution to the planning of, and participation in, the study visit, explaining areas for improvement. This task is designed to provide evidence for D1.
Task 5
The fifth section of your report should: (a) Before the residential study visit takes place, describe the factors that contribute to the success of a residential study visit and describe two evaluation methods that will be used to see if these have been met. This task is designed to provide evidence for P5.
To be considered for a Merit grade for this task, this section of your report should also: (b) Include an objective explanation of how your own efforts contributed to the success of the study visit, using at least two different sources of feedback and evaluation techniques, e.g. a questionnaire, tutor interview, etc.
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This task is designed to provide evidence for M3.
To be considered for a Distinction grade for this task, your report should: (c) Evaluate the success of the study visit and make recommendations for future visits, justifying your recommendations. This task is designed to provide evidence for D2.
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