Thomas Cook Tour Operation UK Ltd :: Business and Management Studies

Thomas Cook Tour Operation UK Ltd Introduction Thomas Cook Tour Operation UK Ltd is the third largest travel group operating in the UK travel industry, owning it’s own travel distribution channels, tour operation and airline. The company believes that they have earned their position through consumer recognition for their quality and expertise in providing package holidays. The instability of the market caused by high sensitivity to economic change and the intangible and perishable nature of the products sold, forces companies competing within the travel industry to constantly seek new and imaginative ways to create demand and maintain or strengthen their position. A combination of economic downturn, a lack of consumer confidence, natural disasters and the effects of terrorism have had a major impact on the performance of Thomas Cook Tour Operations. In this report I will analyze the marketing strategies used by the company and discuss the effectiveness in achieving their objectives. Company The tragic events of September 11th 2001 had a devastating affect on industries throughout the world. The travel and tourism industry however was hit the hardest. Increasing fear amongst consumers afraid to fly and a downturn in the world economy caused a drastic decline in the demand for both business and leisure travel causing passenger numbers to plummet. Thomas Cook tour Operations, like it’s competitors experienced high profit losses as a result of falling passenger numbers, added security costs, falls in their share prices and increased insurance premiums in which occurred I the aftermath. Prior to September 11th the travel industry experienced a dynamic growth between 1995 to 2001. During 2001 20.6 million package holidays were sold to the British Consumer, 1 growth of 2.6%. However the deterioration of the industry’s success came immediately after the terrorism attacks. Thomas Cook Tour Operations were as a result forced to develop a new strategy in order to save their rapidly falling profits. In order to develop their new strategy, the company carried out a SWOT analysis. This is a technique that involves identifying a company’s strengths and weaknesses in the business, the opportunities presented by the trading environment and any threats opposing the company. The below information is adapted from the Thomas Cook Tour Operations’ Chief executive Update. Strengths Existing percentage market share Thomas Cook reputation Existing Thomas Cook image and brand recognition High level of awareness within target market Knowledge and experience of market trends Large number of distribution channels Good product variety Weaknesses Holiday Essential brand not well established and relatively low demand for the product. Confusion and lack of identification of other Thomas Cook brands e.g. JMC and holiday essentials. High volume costs High capital expenditure, i.e. marketing expenses, data processing costs and human resources, e.g. staff turnover Over capacity Excessive fixed assets i.

Peregrine Falcon

Introduction: Found among all continents except Antarctica, the Peregrine falcon is a common falcon throughout the globe. When they hunt, they dive from high altitudes and stoop their prey at speeds over 200 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal on the planet. The name â€Å"peregrine† falcon means wanderer and refers to the bird’s long migration path, which has been known to be as far away as 15,500 miles from their original nesting spots. After having a severe drop in Peregrine population during the 1960s and 1970s, this majestic falcon has made a comeback and can be seen throughout many suburban and urban areas of North America. Interesting Facts: * The Peregrine Falcon is on the featured on the Idaho quarter issued in 2007 * Suzuki named the company’s fastest production model, Hayabusa, after the Peregrine Falcon. Hayabusa means Peregrine Falcon in Japanese * Peregrine falcons don’t build nests. They scrape a depression into the soil on the ground or on a ledge, or an abandoned nest that was left behind Map of Region Peregrine Falcon Duck Hawk, Great-Footed Hawk, Wandering Falcon Falco Peregrinus Fact Sheet: * Size: * Body- 14-19 in. * Wingspan- 3. 3-3. 6 ft. * Weight- 18. 8 to 56. 5 oz. * Diet- Starlings, pigeons, blackbirds, jays, shorebirds, waterfowl, bats, and other small mammals * Reproduction: * Number of eggs- 3-4 * Mate once a year * Same partner for life * Nest location- Cliffs or tall buildings * Return to the same spot annually * Name for chicks- eyases * Chicks fledge 42 to 46 days * Time dependent on their parents- Up to 2 months Habitat-All continents except Antarctica * Life span- Up to 17 years Bibliography: * http://www. discoverycove. org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/falconiformes/peregrine-falcon. htm * http://ohiodnr. com/wildlife/dow/falcons/facts. aspx * http://www. raptorresource. org/facts. htm * http://animals. nationalgeographic. com/animals/birds/peregrine-falcon. html * http://www. peregrinef und. org/explore_raptors/falcons/peregrin. html * http://www. allaboutbirds. org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/lifehistory#at_food

The Sociological Perspective Of Sociology - 874 Words

The Sociological Perspective Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior. Human behavior and each respective society that is studied can be evaluated and governed by the scientific method to produce reliable results. The inquiries into these subjects are derived by the inspirations of sociological perspectives. Each stratifying field of Sociology finds an anchor in the relationships between these pieces in the human context in which they are found. Navigating the water in how these perspectives differ is necessary to gain a sociological perspective. Marx’s conflict theory is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources. It also evokes the competition between the proletariat, and the bourgeois that holds the resources. In a similar macro-sociological view, functionalism is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that, when fulfil led, contributes to society’s equilibrium; also known as functional analysis and structural functionalism. Sociology also has a more intimate perspective of symbolic interactionism were a theoretical perspective views society as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another. 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