Gestione informatica dei servizi turistici - TUR

COMPUTER MANAGEMENT OF PACKAGE TOUR

Prof. Angelo Colombo

Course Code: e0262
Subject code: SECS-P/10
4 ECTS – 32 hours
Location: Novara

Course objectives
The course provides the theory and practice necessary for the use of computer programs in the management of air fares, ticketing and bookings (planes, hotels, excursions, insurance).
For each topic dealt with, the focus is on computer management, although a general overview of the topic is also given for clarification.
The aim of the course is to bring together practical and applied aspects that will help the student to develop the basic skills necessary to work in the tourism sector; we will also look at company case studies, both in the lecture theatre and in the companies themselves.  The course is made up of the following 12 modules:

Contents of the course
1    Introduction to the course. The lecturer will introduce himself, giving details of his training and professional background, as will the students.
2    Travel agencies and tour operators in Europe and Italy.  Networks and franchises.  Overview of tourism legislation.  Tourism federations and associations.
3    Hotel chains.  Current usage of computers in hotels.  Case studies in the lecture theatre, made by experts in the tourism sector.
4    Airlines: scheduled, charter and low cost flights. Flight safety and reliability, airport and passenger safety.  Airport systems, with particular reference to the Milan airports: Mxp, Lin, Bgy.
5    Aspects of airline ticketing: IATA e BSP.
6    Airport of Milan Malpensa: visit to the airport, meeting with the head of SEA (the company that manages Milan’s airports) with a presentation of the airport services.  Simulation of the check-in procedure.  Visit to the airport security department.  
7    The elements that make up a package tour: transport, ground services, auxiliary services (insurance, visas, passports, etc).
8    Package tour sales interview.  Practical techniques used in sales and customer management.
9    CRS and GDS Amadeus, Galileo-Sigma, Sabre, Worldspan.
10    Internet: The main booking sites for the tourism services:  flights, packages, cars, ferries, insurance, theatre tickets, last minute offers.
11    Public tourism organisations: ENIT, ATL, IAT.
12    Hotelplan: visit to the Milan branch, meeting with the head of personnel and a sales promoter.

Prerequisites
There is no pre-course entrance exam.

Teaching materials
Handouts and notes during the lectures/talks.

Teaching methods
Lectures and company visits; presentations given by experts in the tourism sector.

Examination
Oral examination