Tour operators manager

Description

Tour operators managers are in charge of managing employees and of activities within tour operators related to the organisation of package tours and other tourism services.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to tour operators manager:

package tour manager
package tour services manager
tour operator manager
package tour operator manager

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Tour operators manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Tour operators manager career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to tour operators manager.

travel agency manager
tourism contract negotiator
tourist information centre manager
accommodation manager
publishing rights manager

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of tour operators manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of tour operators manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

destination manager
tourism product manager
hospitality revenue manager
book publisher
customer experience manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of tour operators manager.

  • Tourism market: The study of the tourism market on a international, regional and local level and considering worldwide tourist destinations.
  • Sales strategies: The principles concerning customer behaviour and target markets with the aim of promotion and sales of a product or a service.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of tour operators manager.

  • Plan marketing strategy: Determine the objective of the marketing strategy whether it is for establishing image, implementing a pricing strategy, or raising awareness of the product. Establish approaches of marketing actions to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently and over a long term.
  • Comply with food safety and hygiene: Respect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.
  • Set up pricing strategies: Apply methods used for setting product value taking into consideration market conditions, competitor actions, input costs, and others.
  • Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
  • Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
  • Prepare travel packages: Make holiday and travel packages ready and arrange, travel, accommodation, logistics and services such as chartered airplanes, taxis, car rental or excursions for clients.
  • Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
  • Translate strategy into operation: Render strategic tasks into operative level according to the planned timing to achieve planned results and objectives.
  • Manage distribution channels: Oversee distribution channels with regards to the requirements of customers.
  • Oversee quality control: Monitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.
  • Handle personal identifiable information: Administer sensitive personal information on customers securely and discreetly
  • Oversee the design of touristic publications: Monitor the design of marketing publications and materials for the promotion of tourism-related products.
  • Develop tourism products: Develop and promote tourism products, activities, services and package deals.
  • Oversee the printing of touristic publications: Manage the printing of marketing publications and materials for the promotion of tourism-related products.
  • Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
  • Measure customer feedback: Evaluate customer’s comments in order to find out whether customers feel satisfied or dissatisfied with the product or service.
  • Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
  • Select optimal distribution channel: Choose the best possible distribution channel for the customer.
  • Maximise sales revenues: Increase possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.
  • Provide customised products: Make and develop custom-made products and solutions for customer’s specific needs.
  • Develop revenue generation strategies: Elaborate methodologies through which a company markets and sells a product or service to generate income.
  • Build a network of contacts with suppliers of tourist services: Establish a widely spread network of suppliers in the tourism industry. Prepare the best possible package and tourist services.
  • Plan medium to long term objectives: Schedule long term objectives and immediate to short term objectives through effective medium-term planning and reconciliation processes.
  • Negotiate tourism rates: Reach agreements in tourism sales by discussing services, volumes, discounts and commission rates.
  • Build business relationships: Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.
  • Develop strategies for accessibility: Create strategies for a business to enable optimum accessibility for all clients.
  • Perform market research: Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of tour operators manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Identify suppliers: Determine potential suppliers for further negotiation. Take into consideration aspects such as product quality, sustainability, local sourcing, seasonality and coverage of the area. Evaluate the likelihood of obtaining beneficial contracts and agreements with them.
  • Manage distribution of destination promotional materials: Oversee the distribution of touristic catalogues and brochures.
  • Create annual marketing budget: Make the calculation of both the income and expenditures that are expected to be paid over the coming year concerning the marketing related activities such as advertising, selling and delivering products to people.
  • Negotiate tourism experience purchases: Reach agreements regarding tourism products and services by negotiating about costs, discounts, terms and volumes.
  • Develop tourism destinations: Create tourism packages by discovering destinations and places of interest in cooperation with local stakeholders.
  • Coordinate operational activities: Synchronise activities and responsibilities of the operational staff to ensure that the resources of an organisation are used most efficiently in pursuit of the specified objectives.
  • Develop working procedures: Create standardised series of actions of a certain order to support the organisation.
  • Manage production of destination promotional materials: Oversee creation, production and distribution of touristic catalogues and brochures.

ISCO group and title

3339 – Business services agents not elsewhere classified


References
  1. Tour operators manager – ESCO
Last updated on February 21, 2023

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