Unit 11 Tour operation – Negotiation

Reading and Listening

Reading

Here is a summary a report that Jim Gleason of Texas Travel has made to his company.

Reading check

1 Why did Jim Gleason agree to go on a FAM of Yorkshire?

2 What type of tour programme does Jim Gleason recommend?

3 What type of company is J Parkin & Son Ltd?

4 How many days does Jim Gleason suggest for the Yorkshire part of the package?

5 Why must a decision about the Yorkshire tour be made quickly?

Listening

Listen to the following conversation between Jan Berg, a tour operator from Stockholm, and Bill Wentworth, manager of the Windsor Restaurant in York.

Listening check

1 How long are the tour groups going to stay in York?

2 What kind of meal does Mr Berg want to arrange for the groups?

3 What is included in the set meal?

4 Why do most people prefer red wine with this meal?

5 What kind of entertainment will be provided?

Language study

Past time

Notice how we can use the Past Perfect to combine sentences.

Example:

First, I received a favourable price from the carrier. Then I accepted

the invitation to a FAM. (after)

>After I had received a favourable price from the carrier, I accepted

the invitation to a FAM.

Now combine the following pairs of sentences in a similar way.

1 I made an inspection of the hotel facilities. Following that, I made a report to the Managing Director, (after)

2 First, the group attended a reception at the Globe Hotel. After that, they had a guided tour of the city, (after)

3 The tour operator agreed the '83 group rates with the Falcon Hotel. Before that, the tour operator visited five hotels in the region, (before)

4 The journalists arrived at Hull. They then travelled directly to Harrpgate by coach, (after)

5 Texas Travel included the Grand Hotel in their '83 bed plan. Before that, their representative inspected the hotel, (before)

Future time

Study the following 'Action Pad' of a tour operator.

Notice how we use the Present Continuous Tense to express individual plans and arrangements for the future, the 'Going to' form to express intention, and the Simple Future to express uncertainty.

I am meeting the UK Airways representative on 24 March. Perhaps I'll inspect the facilities at the Globe Hotel next week. I am going to check the sales plan the week after next.

Now write appropriate sentences for 4-10.

Reporting questions

Notice how we report the two types of question.

'Are all the rooms air-conditioned?' (He asked)

He asked whether/if all the rooms were air-conditioned.

'When do they have to sign the agreement?' (She wondered)

She wondered when they had to sign the agreement.

Now report the following questions in a similar way.

1 'Will the trade fair be in February or March?' (He wanted to know)

2 'Why hasn't the carrier confirmed the flight costings?' (He asked)

3 'When is the New York flight due?' (She wanted to know)

4 'Can the handling agent arrange the tour?' (He wondered)

5 'How long has Mr Pinar been staying?¹ (They inquired)

6 'Does that rate include all taxes?' (She asked me)

7 'Where will the meeting take place?' (He wanted to know)

8 'Is there a supplement payable on single rooms?' (He inquired)

Listening and Speaking

Listening

Mr Stephen Altman, a tour operator, is discussing tour arrangements Frank Gerard, the General Manager of the Carlton Hotel. While you are listening to their conversation, complete the table below.

Speaking

Confirming information

Notice in the two examples below how question tags are used with a falling tone in order to confirm information.

Service isn't included.

Tour operator Service isn 't included, is it?

The guests can order extra wine.

Tour operator The guests can order extra wine, can't they?

Now do the exercise on the tape, adding question tags in a similar way to confirm the information given.

Activities

Activity A

Two tour operators have been negotiating with an hotel chain. The tour operators have each agreed to a different kind of deal.

Tour Operator A

Tour Operator A has been offered a 20% discount per person based on the rack rate of £29. The operator must take the following amount of accommodation:

Tour Operator B

Tour Operator B has been offered different rates depending on the total amount booked. For example, if only 300 room nights are booked, they are charged at £27:

If all the room nights on offer are taken, who has the better deal: Tour Operator A or Tour Operator B?

Activity B .

Study the Paris-London rail/ship/hovercraft timetable and the London-York rail timetable.

Decide on the travel arrangements for the following clients who wish to travel from Paris to York. Indicate where reservations are necessary or advisable.

The transfer time between London Charing .Cross or London Victoria and London King's Cross is 43 minutes.

1 M Beauvoir has to be in York by 11.30 on Monday. He wishes to travel first class.

2 The Levasseur family want to leave Paris on Thursday morning and arrive in York early the same evening. They don't like travelling by hovercraft.

3 Mme Hamadi would like to be in York by 15.00 on Saturday afternoon. She is travelling second class.

4 Peter Johnson wants to travel to London on Tuesday. Any departure time is suitable but the journey must be as short as possible. He would like to travel to York as early as possible on Wednesday morning and have breakfast on the train.

Writing

Here is the main part of a letter from a tour operator to an hotelier cantons various points that were discussed at a meeting the previous week.

Now write similar letters confirming the following details that were agreed at various meetings.

1 From: Mr Leonard Bellman, a tour operator

To: Mr Gerald Rossiter, the proprietor of a local tour firm

Subject: Full-day tour program for '83

a. Full-day tour of Yorkshire Dales - to include stops at Reeth, Hawes, and Grassington

b. Every Thursday morning 6 May through 11 September inclusive

c. 1 35-seater bus. Pick up 09.15 Lawton Hotel, York/Set down approx. 16.30 at Lawton Hotel.

2 From: Mr Drew Masters, a tour operator

To: Mr Arnold Stevens. an hotelier

Subject: Hotel arrangements for '83

a. 56 people for 3 nights every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

weekly 2 May through 17 September. Arrive 17.00 Monday/

Depart 09.00 Thursday.

b. Require 20 twins with showers/16 singles with showers. Full

American Plan,

c. Option on 20 further twins for period 30 July-17 September.

3 From: Mrs Wilma Stanton. a tour operator

To: Mr Clive Denton, a handling agent

Subject: Transfer arrangements for '83

a. Every Tuesday, 1 May-16 September, pick up 59 passengers at Manchester Airport off UK 672 Houston-Manchester. Arriving 11.25. Transfer to Grand Hotel. York

b. Every Thursday, 10 May-25 September, pick up 59 passengers at Grand Hotel. York. Transfer to Manchester Airport for UK 312 Manchester-Paris CDG. Departing 09.50

Word study

Unit 12