BMCC 2008 Switzerland Blog

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
City University of New York
Department of Business Management

Course Description
Tour Management will introduce the students to the international aspects of tour planning and implementation.

1. Students will learn negotiating skills in order to work effectively and efficiently with allied travel and tourism industry suppliers including hotels, cruise ships, attractions, tour operations and bus charter companies.
2. Students will learn about the many international career opportunities available for Tour Managers, as well as entrepreneurial opportunities in the industry.
3. This is a study abroad course.

Required Text & Readings:
Text: Mancini, M. (2000). Conducting Tours. Delmar Publishers: New York.

Additional Readings:
Argyle, M. (1996). The social psychology of leisure. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Baudrillard, J. (1998). The consumer society: Myths and structures. London: Sage.

Burkart, A., & Medlik. S. (1981). Tourism past present and future, 2nd edn. Longon: Heinemann.

GlaeBer, D. (2006). Crisis management in the tourism industry. Oxford: Butterworth Reinemann

Latham, J. (1989). The statistical measurement of tourism. In. C.P. Cooper (ed.) Progress in tourism, recreation and hospitality management, I. London: Belhaven.

Page, S.J., & Connell, J. (2006). Tourism: A modern synthesis, 2nd ed. London: Thomson Learning.

Pearce, P. (2005). Tourist behavior. Clevedon: Channel View.

Other Resources:
US State Department Travel Advisories
UK Travel Advisories
Australia Travel Advisories
Cnn.com/travel
eTurboNews.com
gallagherstravels.com
lonelyplanet.com
virtualtourist.com

Evaluation & Requirements of Students
Class and Activity participation: 20 percent
Daily Planning. Implementation, Blogging, Journal: 20 percent
Mid-term Exam: 20 percent
Term Projects- Preparing the Tour + Market Research:
Retailing and Tourism 20 percent
Final Exam: 20 percent

Outline of Topics

A. What is Tour Management
a. Overview of the Tour industry
b. Advantages of Tours: Freedoms, Financial incentives, Companionship, Educational
c. Purchasing process
d. Types of tours

B. The Tour Manager
a. Roles, Responsibilities, Career Path
b. Skills: Technological, Communication, Conceptual, Organizational, Research
c. Ethics and Values

C. Tour Conducting
a. Skills
b. Challenges
c. Income, Benefits

D. City and Site Guiding
a. Research
b. Developing presentation
c. What to say/How to say it
d. Bus tours: on-coach speaking
e. Walking tours

E. Motor Coach Environment
a. Types of motor coaches
b. Line-of-sight challenges
c. Safety/security
d. Logistical considerations
e. Working with the bus driver

F. Multi-Day Tours
a. Materials
b. Forms
c. Supplies
d. Luggage and Packing

G. Routines
a. Pre-trip
b. First Day
c. Each Day
d. Last Day
e. Post-trip

H. Itinerary Development

I. Special Routines
a. Seat rotation
b. Ticketing luggage

J. Group Dynamics
a. Providing/sharing information
b. Interpersonal skills

K. Client/Escort Psychology
a. Managing group behavior
b. High expectations
c. Flock factor
d. Regression syndrome

L. Strategic Management
a. Leadership
b. Motivation
c. Coordination
d. Sensitivity to Cultures, Customs

M. Working with Hotels
a. Hotel research
b. Hotel industry terminology
c. Ideal tour hotel
d. Negotiating with hotel managers
e. Preparing for hotel arrival/challenges
f. Hotel check-in/check-out procedures
g. Luggage retrieval systems

N. Air Travel and Tours
a. Negotiating with Airlines
b. Airline industry terminology
c. Pre-departure systems/procedures
d. Aboard the aircraft
e. Arrival/departure destination

O. Suppliers and Attractions
a. Cruises
b. Terminology
c. Negotiating cruise rates/accommodations/ amenities/ services
d. Rail travel
Features of modem trains
Check-in/out: onboard procedures
e. Dining and Tours
Selection
Negotiation of meals/rates
Meal selection (special diets, seating arrangements)
f. Attractions
Terminology
Negotiating fees/locations/safety/security/handicap accessibility

P. Expecting the Unexpected
a. Guiding principles/practices
b. On-location allies (i.e. hospitals, police, hotel employees)
c. Financial controls
d. Theft
e. Weather/transportation delays/ cancellations
f. Illness and accidents
g. Death

Q. Creating a Tour
a. Market Research
b. Target markets
c. Pricing
d. Promotion
e. Brochure design
f. Internet marketing

.
Term Projects:
a. Daily online Blogging
b. Photo-Journal
c. Acting as travel journalists, students will develop a photo-journal detailing all personal experiences, including reviews of air and ground transportation, hotels and attractions visited, government policies, cultural “surprises,” new/unusual dining experiences, etc. This journal will be handed in at the end of the program.

.
BMCC Tour of Destination
a. Working in groups, students will develop “The BMCC Student Tour of Switzerland”
b. Tour package will include: history of destination, culture, customs, cuisine, language, relation
c. Transportation options (pricing
d. Lodging options (pricing)
e. Food and beverages available (selections, pricing)
f. Attractions (pricing)
g. Cultural opportunities (pricing)
h. Student Groups will create their own 7-day tour of Switzerland, including
accommodations, attractions, air/land transportation, prices, etc.
i. Presentations will be evaluated on content as well as written and oral presentations.

Market Research: Retailing
Retailing is an important component of every travel experience. Students will conduct their own market research project to determine: consumer profile, merchandising mix, price strategies, and strengths/weaknesses of current retailing opportunities.

College Attendance Policy
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that class, you would be allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.

BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.

Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation is advised to consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online).