Travel Introductory Program: TRIPKIT℠ 5th Edition

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Appreciate the evolution of the industry—its past and where it is going.

2. Explain the difference between travel and tourism.

3. Explain inbound versus outbound travel.

4. Describe the major segments of the industry and how they are related.

5. Explain Stanley Plog’s psychographic analysis of American travelers.

6. Describe the skills needed for most positions in the travel industry.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Identify the characteristics that shape the appeal of destinations, ensuring that people want to visit.

2. Explain how to locate a destination and how to calculate time differences.

3. Outline the major factors that shape the climate of a destination.

4. Describe at least five key sources of information about destinations.

5. Outline the requirements that governments place on international travelers visiting their countries.

6. Identify reliable sources of information about possible dangers abroad and common problems encountered by international travelers.

7. Suggest four methods of handling currency exchange for an international trip.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe how personal computers and GDSs are used in the travel industry.

2. Outline four major ways that travel professionals use the Internet.

3. Discuss at least three of the many new technological devices that have come into the marketplace and how they might be used in the industry by travel professionals.

4. List at least four reasons why travelers would seek out a travel professional despite the existence of online travel services.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Outline how the airline industry is regulated and coordinated by the government and suppliers.

2. Describe how airlines differ and know the codes for some major airlines and airports in the United States, Canada, and abroad

3. Explain three types of flights, five types of journeys, and the different classes of service.

4. Describe at least five factors that are likely to affect the cost of a passenger’s flight.

5. Outline the procedures involved in taking a flight and common questions and problems that come up in air travel.

6. Show why a good travel counselor needs to know about airline ticketing and how airline tickets can be an income source if handled properly.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe rail service in Canada, the United States and Europe.

2. Outline the services provided by car rental companies and the requirements that renters should expect to meet.

3. Identify the functions played by motor coaches.

4. Explain the comparative advantages of traveling by rail, rental car, ridesharing, or motor coach.

5. Discuss the roles of transfers, ridesharing services, and other ground services that travel counselors might offer.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Identify at least 10 of the 20 types of properties listed that exist worldwide.

2. Discuss the major trends in how accommodations are owned and operated, and describe some key market segments.

3. Outline the roles of hotels and travel counselors in selling accommodations.

4. List the characteristics that may affect the price of a room.

5. Make a checklist of the information needed when making a hotel reservation for a client.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe the key types of cruise lines and other ships available to tourists.

2. Identify the most popular cruising areas of the world.

3. Outline the key attractions of life onboard a cruise.

4. Explain major benefits and possible disadvantages of the typical cruise.

5. Name the factors that determine the cost of a cruise.

6. Describe latest trends in the cruise industry.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Identify at least five types of tours and packages.

2. Describe the key components of tours and packages.

3. Explain the tour contract and the responsibilities and liabilities of tour operators.

4. Discuss key criteria for selecting a tour operator.

5. Identify benefits that tours offer travelers and travel counselors.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Outline the marketing process and name the four Ps.

2. Summarize key decisions that a travel business must make about its product.

3. Describe the major forms of promotion.

4. Identify the distribution system and selling sites most often used by travel businesses.

5. Describe pricing strategies frequently used by travel suppliers and travel agencies.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe the agency-supplier relationship, which limits the agency‘s potential liability.

2. Describe the skills that provide a foundation for effective communication by salespeople.

3. Identify eight steps in making a successful sale.

4. State five questions involved in qualifying a client and three ways to close a sale.

5. Discuss the responsibilities of a travel counselor after the sale has been made.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe three key variations in selling situations that travel sellers must adjust to.

2. State four principles to follow when selling a trip to a group.

3. Discuss the distinctive characteristics of business travel.

4. Describe the special challenges involved in arranging meetings and incentive travel.

5. Identify the main types and benefits of travel insurance.

6. Name three specialties prevalent in the travel industry.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Outline the advantages of the major methods of communication in the travel industry.

2. Describe at least four guidelines for selling travel on the telephone.

3. List five situations in which a travel counselor should communicate by letter.

4. Review at least five guidelines each for effective letter writing and use of e-mail.

5. Understand how digital communications are impacting agents’ interactions with
sales prospects and clients.

6. Describe four methods of interoffice communication.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Describe three types of expenses and two types of financial statements.

2. Outline how suppliers receive their payments and how travel agencies receive their commissions and other earnings.

3. Identify three benefits of preferred supplier relationships.

4. List at least five sources of income for travel agencies, key expenses, and major strategies used by agencies to hold down expenses and increase income.

5. Describe precautions that should be taken when accepting credit cards and
checks.

6. Discuss the relationship between customer service and a travel agency’s success.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Distinguish three types of home-based agents.

2. Discuss the importance of developing a business plan and seeking professional advice when setting up your own business.

3. Identify the issues that should be considered when selecting a host agency or suppliers.

4. Describe how home-based agents can differentiate their services and grow their businesses.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Design a plan for your search for employment.

2. Describe the items to include in a portfolio and in a résumé.

3. Identify at least six sources of information about possible openings.

4. Discuss at least three keys to a successful interview.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

1. Suggest at least four ways to ensure success in a new job and four steps to take to prepare for advancement.

2. Outline a path for advancing in a travel/tourism career.

3. Identify at least four ethical responsibilities of travel professionals.

4. Describe how to develop your skills and knowledge as a travel professional.

When you have completed Chapter 1, you should be able to

1. Read a map.

2. Explain the system of time zones.

3. Differentiate between weather and climate.

4. Describe how cultural factors influence tourism.

5. Identify sources of information used in planning trips.

When you have completed Chapter 2, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of the eastern United States.

2. Identify the region’s attractions, matching travelers and destinations suited for each other.

3. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the eastern United States.

When you have completed Chapter 3, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of the Midwest.

2. Identify the region’s attractions, matching travelers and destinations suited for each other.

3. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the area

When you have completed Chapter 4, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment of the western states.

2. Summarize the special physical attractions of Alaska and Hawaii.

3. Match travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the western states, Alaska, or Hawaii.

When you have completed Chapter 5, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of Canada.

2. Identify Canada’s provinces, territories, and most-visited sites.

3. Match travelers with the Canadian destinations best suited for their trip.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to Canada.

When you have completed Chapter 6, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of the islands.

2. Identify and locate the most-visited islands.

3. Match travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the islands.

When you have completed Chapter 7, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of Middle America.

2. Identify and locate Mexico’s most visited sites, matching travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

3. Recall and locate the most-visited sites in Central America.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to Middle America.

When you have completed Chapter 8, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of South America.

2. Identify and locate South America’s countries, dependencies, and most visited sites.

3. Match travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to South America and Antarctica.

When you have completed Chapter 9, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

2. Identify and locate the most-visited sites of the United Kingdom.

3. Describe the attractions of the Republic of Ireland.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

When you have completed Chapter 10, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of northern Europe.

2. Locate each country’s principal gateway and major cities.

3. Describe the key attractions that the region offers visitors.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to northern Europe.

When you have completed Chapter 11, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of eastern Europe.

2. Identify eastern Europe’s most-visited attractions

3. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to eastern Europe.

When you have completed Chapter 12, you should be able to

1. Describe the geography and people of southern Europe.

2. Identify and locate southern Europe’s most-visited attractions, matching travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

3. Recall areas of special-interest touring.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to southern Europe.

When you have completed Chapter 13, you should be able to

1. List the geographic features that make Africa and the Middle East attractive tourist destinations.

2. Describe the appeal of Africa, matching travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

3. Summarize the appeal of the Middle East.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to Africa and the Middle East.

When you have completed Chapter 14, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of Asia.

2. Identify the most-visited attractions, matching travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

3. Recall factors limiting tourism to Asia.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to Asia.

When you have completed Chapter 15, you should be able to

1. Describe the environment and people of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania.

2. Identify and locate the region’s main attractions.

3. Match travelers and destinations best suited for each other.

4. Provide or find the information needed to plan a trip to the region.