HRTM 1110 Syllabus
Subject Code
HRTM
Course Number
1110
Course Title
Travel Industry and Travel Geography - Americas
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Terms Offered
Credit Hours
Course Description
This course introduces students to the importance of travel agent in the hospitality industry and provides an understanding of international, national, and state, major cities and their points of interest to the travel customer. Emphasis is placed on career options, industry trends, travel documents, identifying why people travel and how geography is linked to their needs. Topics include terminology, agency operations, travel reference guides, airline industry, other transportation modes, hotels and resorts, individual travel needs, travel and tourism careers, miscellaneous services, geographical and physical aspects of the Americas, and travel regulations and documents needed to travel internationally.
A work ethic grade is assigned for this course. For more information see Work Ethics.
Course Outcomes
Basics of the Travel Industry
- Explain how the travel agency industry has changed since the internet.
- Identify the various customers that use travel agents and why.
- Describe the different jobs that are offered ii the travel industry.
- Recite the terminology and the major reference guides.
- Understand the home-based travel agent.
- Summarize the other travel-related jobs in the travel industry.
- Understand the steps that are needed to take in opening up a travel agency.
- Identify the many jobs that are part of a travel agency including the Travel Manager, Corporate Sales Manager, SMERF Manager, Cruise Sales Manager, Travel Broker, etc.
- Describe the many ways that a travel related company produces revenue.
- Discuss the role of marketing in a travel agency.
- Interpret the changes in laws including security problems that impact that travel industry.
- Identify the many travel-related associations.
- Explain the purpose of an incentive travel company.
The Business of Travel
- Summarize the challenges of the airlines in regards to unions, security, flight delays, and the addition of low cost airlines.
- Identify the ten major airlines and their hub of operations.
- Understand how new global routes have impacted the international airline companies.
- Predict the future of the airline industry emphasizing public perception and customer service.
- Describe the role of the following government agencies in the operation of public transportation: Department of Transportation, federal and local laws, taxes, etc.
- Understand the impact of the economy on the travel industry.
- Predict the future of public transportation emphasizing public perception and customer service.
- Discover the other methods of transportation including rail, motor coach, cruises, and rentals.
- Predict the future of all methods of transportation emphasizing public perception and customer service.
- Describe the role that sales and marketing has in the travel industry.
- Identify the ways that cities and states market themselves including convention and visitors bureaus, state tourism agencies, etc.
- Understand the impact that politicians have in selling tourism.
New Travel Trends
- Identify the reasons for ecotourism including the impact of the environment, the financial benefits, and the cultural awareness.
- Report on the ecotourism destinations.
- Understand how developing countries are using ecotourism to improve living conditions.
- Articulate the definition of ecotourism.
- Articulate the definition of sustainable tourism.
- Discover the ways to be a sustainable tourist.
- Give examples of the ways various countries and destinations within the United States are exploring sustainable tourism.
- Give examples of cultural tourism, heritage tourism, nature tourism, and culinary tourism.
- Review the many ways that technology has affected the travel industry and predict the ways that technology will change and improve the industry.
Travel Geography
- Understand the physical aspects of geography including landforms and waters, longitudes and latitudes, time zones, and weather patterns.
- Summarize why understanding geography is important in the travel industry.
- Identify the many changes that have occurred in world geography including new countries, new governments, and the opening of may third world countries.
- Identify the North and South American continents and adjacent islands including the Eastern United States, the Western United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Report on the various travel visa and immigration laws throughout the world.
- Examine the various health challenges in different countries.
- Understand the document that is required when traveling.
Travel Revenues
- Determine the amount of tourism revenue that is generated in various countries.
- Understand the negative impact of countries, such as Cuba, that are not totally open to tourists around the world.
- Discuss the multiplier effect of tourism revenue on the economy.
- Identify the top twenty tourist attractions.
- Discuss the ways that cities and attractions can increase revenue.
- Define the historical events that have impacted tourism and understand the importance of preservation.
- Predict the future of at least twenty countries around the world, taking into account their economy, political stability, and historical trends.
- Define the purpose of a destination management company.
- List the services of a destination management company.
- Understand the importance of developing relationships among the destination management companies, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and catering companies.
- Report on the impact that major sports events have on the local economy.
- Explain how cities try to attract major sporting events such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl, etc.
Business Travel
- Compare how the business traveler is different from the leisure traveler, emphasizing expense accounts, length of stay in a hotel, and the amount of travel time.
- Discuss the selection process and the role the business traveler plays with hotels, conventions, and the local economy.
- Identify the many ways that travel suppliers attempt to attract the business traveler.
- List the various purposes of business travel such as conventions, introduction of new products, trade shows, corporate meeting, etc.
- Understand the various challenges of traveling abroad relating to security, culture, and health safety.