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    TOPSIM - Destinations Management

    1 Destination Alpenort

    The Official Flyer

    Destination: Alpenort, Schngau

    The valley of Alpenort is located in the Alps at approx. 1,450 meters above sea level. Embeddedin an idyllic landscape, Alpenort is the perfect starting point for an enjoyable vacation or for anyimportant meetings.

    Our range of services includes a number of sport options, suitable for the more active minded, aswell as a number of options to relax. Thus we cater for all ages and even offer a diversified familyprogram.

    The hotel industry in Alpenort is well-known for its diversity; each guest will find accommodation

    to suit his/her own personal needs. Common to all is the consistent focus of services based onthe desires of our guests.

    Alpenort in the summer

    The area around Spiegelsee is a dream for hikers and bikers, as wellas for those in search of relaxation. Enjoy this adventure from the topof our peaks! Whether you decide to use one of our two verycomfortable and modern cable cars (Martinus Cable Car and PerrotCable Car) or simply go by foot, you will surely be elated by thelandscape and the cosy sun terrace!

    Alpenort in the winter

    Our valley provides the ideal surrounding for families, snowsport freaks and pleasure-seekers. We offer over 120 km ofgroomed slopes and 60km of cross country ski runs for fantasticdownhill skiing and cross country skiing. Ski lifts, chair lifts andgondolas transport you throughout our superb slopes and crosscountry area. Whats more, our great suspension railwaysprovide a free ride in paradise. The Destination ManagementOrganisation, together with our local sport service providers,has a wide range of adventurous attractions just waiting for you.

    We look forward to your visit in the beautiful location of Alpenort!

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    Characteristics of Destination Alpenort

    Alpenort is simply described as a pearl of nature by those who have been there before. From ahistorical standpoint, the sun terrace of Schngau played no specific role. In particular no fightstook place and no guns were loaded on the former market square of Alpenort, which is adorned in

    by the local flower exhibition during the summer months. Fortunately, one could also say.Because otherwise the many stately built houses in diverse architectural styles in the windingalleyways could not be adequately appreciated today. Even the medieval Susegg Bridge in itsfortified construction, which connects the old village center to the new district, has been almostcompletely preserved. The Alpine village lines up seamlessly with its beautiful churches, such asthe Prngli Chapel on the small picturesque hill at the southern end of the village.

    The 3,200 inhabitants of Alpenort feel at ease, embedded in this atmosphere in the picturesquepanorama of Schngau. You can also thank its location, directly on the Spiegelsee (Mirror Lake)for attracting many of its most famous honorary citizens. Poets and intellectuals found their wayto Alpenort and have been inspired by it.

    When Spiegelsee lives up to its name and paints the panorama of the Varon mountain chain inbright colours on its surface in the setting sun, you could still spot one of the last Alpine crestednewts near the lakeshore. In the summer nightsin Alpenort, those who are interested can hear theloud chattering of the endangered corncrake in the adjacent nature reserve. For flora and faunalovers of the Alpine region, beautiful Alpenort offers a diverse repertoire in every respect and alsodoes not shy away from comparing itself to much more famous destinations and tourist magnetsin the Alpine region.

    The Alpenort hotel industry has been family run for long and has been working at a satisfactorylevel in recent years. The regulars know how to appreciate the customer orientation of the hotelsand restaurants, the sport and event service providers, and the cable cars of this location,although they often mention the rather stagnating development of Alpenort.

    Through the globalisation of tourism, Alpenort now has a great opportunity to attract new,international tourists. Competition for guests, particularly from overseas, is continuing to grow.One destination in the Alps competes with holiday and recreation destinations around the globefor guests all over the world in the 21st century. These guests now also consider the Alpine

    region as a holiday destination. Thus, it is up to Alpenort to represent itself as an attractive year-round destination. In addition, the attractiveness of the summer season is playing an increasinglycrucial role for Alpenort, say industry experts.

    Alpenort in the summer and in the winter

    Sports and recreation activities are offered year round for every age, whereas all the necessaryservice providers reside in Alpenort. The Destination Management Organisation is thusencouraging community members and service providers to better use the potential of thisbeautiful region, not least due to the diverse events available in Alpenort in both seasons. Thepossibilities are numerous, and only the future will tell just how the participants will takeadvantage of these options to position Alpenort as a destination competing for guests from all

    over the world.The starting point for many activities are the two cable car companies (Martinus Cable Car andPerrot Cable Car) (elevation: 1,450 m 2,700 m), which also provide the 120 km network ofskiing slopes. From here the moutaineers and those seeking relaxation can choose from adiverse range of activities in the summer as well as in the winter.

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    Winter season

    The mountains around Alpenort are a popular sports area in the winter. However, over the pastfew years the snow conditions in Alpenort have varied a great deal.

    The 60 km long cross country skiing network in Sennle Valley, with the 2,100 m high Juliushornpeak soaring above it on the eastern side, is in very good condition and is regularly used. The

    over 120 km long network of ski slopes with all levels of difficulty offers fun and diversification forexperts and aficionados at every level. In addition, the Destination Management Organisation andour local sport service provider have a wide range of adventurous attractions waiting for you.

    Whether you are interested in snowboarding, downhill skiing, cross country skiing or sledding, inthe winter there are a variety of options in Alpenort which make this beautiful village in Schngauvery appealing to tourists. In addition, numerous events offer further entertainment options for theguests.

    Summer season

    Once the summer has found its way into Alpenort, the valley appears to be born again. Within afew days and weeks, flora and fauna awaken to new life. The meadows around Spiegelsee aretransformed into a flourishing sea of colour, and the animals awaken from their winter sleep. Forall hikers, bikers and recreation seekers, who would like to discover nature on their own, thesummer in Alpenort offers the best opportunity for this on the approx. 120 km of excellent hikingtrails. The longer the days are, the greater the pleasure amid the magnificent scenery whilerelaxing on the sun terraces.

    Today the summer season contributes substantially to the attractiveness, the popularity and theprofitability throughout the year in Alpenort. Thus, it is important that Alpenort, aside from thewinter season, can also actively position itself in the summer as an attractive destination.

    Prospects for Alpenort

    The residents of Alpenort all know and greet one another and are thus very familiar with thesituation in the valley. The Destination Management Organisation, the sport and event serviceproviders, hotels and cable car companies all survive based on the status of the location. But adestination in an industry which has inexorably progressed by leaps and bounds into the 21stcentury, cannot survive from its beauty alone. This view is supported by experts from the instituteof market-based tourism research who say in this way it will be impossible to grow profitably andstay healthy. Without clear direction and a future-oriented use of all possibilities for adestination, says industry expert Dr. Harald Kaemmerer, over time even the most beautiful pearlwill begin to lose some of its shine. Alpenort and its service providers already today have toughcompetition in the Alps as it attempts to attract national guests, guests from Europe andincreasingly also those from overseas. Most other destinations have already been proactive here.To successfully contend that the Alpine region is a year-round attractive tourism destination,

    Alpenort will need to target its marketing efforts as such, as well as the individual serviceproviders themselves. This is in the interest of all community members and the region as a whole.

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    Due to its location at an altitude of just below 1,500 m, Alpenort does not have completely reliablesnow conditions during the winter months; indeed recent years have painted an uncertain picturewith regard to adequate snowfall. Since the snow line continues to become higher. Primarily dueto climate change, those regions that usually have enough snow for winter sports will have moredifficulty in the future. In order not to lose the high sales volume that tourism brings in the winterseason, many communities are now investing in equipment which can produce artificial snow in

    order to ensure an adequate supply of snow, even when there is a lack of real snow. The mere6 km of snow cover thus far (out of 120 km) on the ski slope network will not be able to meet thedemands of the skiers and snowboarders of tomorrow.

    Despite Alpenorts ideal location, and the fact that its residents are all satisfied, to a large extent,with the tourist activities at the destination, there is still a need for action.

    Todays existing access to the traffic infrastructure of the destination of Schngau was plannedand implemented a good 20 years ago. However, due to the anticipatory planning methods andcrucial improvements along with the aid of federal funding for tourism infrastructure, it is able towithstand the growing tourist flow. Local transportation in Alpenort is used by approximately onequarter of all the guests for travel to and from the cable cars, visiting the location, or after a longday of skiing to simply find a less complicated way to the right hotel.

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    Map of Destination Alpenort

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    Email from the Outgoing Director

    From: Fritz .P. RotterTo: Mailing List Alpenort AllSubject: Challenges of the future

    Dear co-workers,

    Thank you very much for the wonderful farewell wish as I entre retirement!

    Today, during my last day in office, I would like to use the opportunity to address everyone who inrecent years has made Alpenort what it is today: a destination with excellent prospects. Thebackbone of our destination is not only our commitment to the hotel industry, but also the sportand event service providers, and last but not least, the cable car companies (Martinus Cable Carand Perrot Cable Car). The Destination Management Organisation can only supplement whatthese service providers have achieved through their marketing promotions.

    As you all know, the most important service providers in Alpenort are currently in the middle of agenerational change. This is a good thing as we, in Destination Management, are now faced withnew challenges, which we can only cope with if we have new ideas. Alpenort has already come along way. Some facilities have been modernized and adapted to the needs of tourism in the 21stcentury. But some tough choices still have to be made. Whether it wants to or not, Alpenort isalso competing with other travel destinations, in particular of course with the other destinations inthe Alpine region, and some of them have already been clearly positioned as our destination. It isunfortunately not enough to assume that Alpenort is blessed with natural beauty for eternity andcan simply take care of things on its own.w

    At this point I would first like to explain my recommendations for the next steps which will benecessary. However, I would probably only have contradicted myself with my wish for freshimpulse and new ideas. Therefore, I would like to set you on your way with a few questions toconsider:

    - Do we have a clear idea of what distinguishes Alpenort from other destinations?

    - What target groups do we want to address more intensely?

    - What can we do in order to better concentrate all of our individual efforts?

    I am sure that the new generation in their management functions will find the appropriate answersto these questions and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

    I wish Alpenort and all those who work with and for this wonderful destination every success!

    Sincerely yours,

    Fritz P. Rotter

    ------------------

    Fritz Paul Rotter, Tourism Director Alpenort

    This message (together with any possible attachments) may contain confidential or legally protected data or information. The message is solely intendedfor the person(s) mentioned in the address line above. If you have received this message by mistake, please be so kind and delete it to exclude anyfurther reproduction of the same and notify the sending party immediately. Thank you very much!

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    2 The SimulationDestination Management

    The Idea

    The basic idea of the Destination Management simulation is: Learning business by doingbusiness. Your decisions as a participant determine the market. There are no preset or random

    results.

    In the Destination Management simulation you will thus assume the role of a cable car companymanager, the managing director of a sport and event service provider, a hotel manager orpossibly the role of a tourism director. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to influence andcontrol the development of your actively simulated Organisation. At the same time you willactively shape the future of the overall destination. In a one-to-three day seminar you will havethe chance to go through several fiscal years, to develop strategies, and to lead yourOrganisation and destination to success in the competition.

    One simulation period is thus comprised of 12 months, which corresponds to a business year.The summer and winter seasons are to be planned independently and decisions for each 6-month period should be made; thus the two seasons are considered to be separate products.These individual products and services should also then be marketed independently. This is done

    against the background that customers often react not only to the components of the individualservice providers, but instead frequently perceive the service offer of the whole destination as anoverall product.

    A key process is the communication between the individual service providers, which iscoordinated in its institutionalized form through the Board of the Tourism Association. Theobjective of the negotiations is to prepare a common strategy for the overall destination and thusconsider the individual interests of the relevant stakeholders. Coordinated decisions are a clearadvantage for the destination as a whole in the longer term.

    An essential aspect of modern destination marketing is the development of long-term destinationgoals and strategies. Only in this way can marketing activities be effective. These activities areaimed at segments or target groups in the relevant market.

    The Alpenort Destination Management Organisation has prepared a concept in collaboration withthe Institute of Tourism and Economics which subdivides the guests in Alpenort into five targetgroups to support this approach.

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    These Target Groups are

    Families,

    Silver Agers,

    DINKS + Singles,

    Young & Wild, and

    Seminar/Incentive Guests.

    For a detailed view, you can request the information brochures from the Destination ManagementOrganisation (available through your instructor).

    The target groups distinguish themselves between their importance for the summer and winterseason. Furthermore, a distinction is made between day tourists and overnight tourists.

    The target groups use the offers of the various service providers of the destination in verydifferent intensities, so that adjustments in addressing the target groups can have a significanteffect on the demand for certain services.

    The individual groups also have a mutual influence on one another. For example, the Young &Wild have a rather repulsive effect on the Silver Agers.

    Furthermore, the guests are also distinguished by region. Distinctions are made among thefollowing three regions:

    National

    Europe and

    Overseas

    The guests who have travelled a great distance before arriving at the destination will on theaverage be staying more nights than those guests who live in Switzerland.

    Projects

    At certain times during the course of the simulation, the individual representatives of the serviceproviders have the possibility in addition to operative decisions of making rather strategicproject decisions. For the implementation of projects, aside from non-recurring costs, costs willalso be incurred during the period in which the project is being carried out, depending on thefollow-up costs of the project, which might be incurred in the following periods as indicated in theproject description. The projects of the service providers serve to position the company withrespect to competitors within the destination. They have an effect on the target groups and animpact in their totality on the destination performance. The most important indicator for thedestination performance is the attractiveness of the destination.

    In addition, projects will be carried out for the destination as a whole. The board of the tourismassociation decides on these projects commensurate with their scheduled board meetings. Theprojects serve to directly position the destination and have an effect on their performance. Thereporting system will be supplemented by a corresponding analysis of the project resultsbeginning in the period in which the project was selected.

    Goal conflicts may occur when making project decisions. On the one hand among the individualservice providers and on the other hand also among new alternatives as well as already selectedprojects. In addition, some projects have a stronger effect on the summer season and others astronger effect on the winter season. This way it will become clear as to which corporate policydecisions are to be made and how they are classified in the destination as a system. However,the ideal project cannot always be consistently pursued. Just like in reality, external or internallimitations and adjustments to decisions may be required. For a detailed view, you can request

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    the project file of Obermaier and Partners consulting company (available through yourinstructor).

    Aside from the active seminar participants who represent the service providers, you will also finda residual market within the Alpenort destination. This residual market is shown in the reportingsystem. The entire Alpenort destination is measured via a benchmarking of the most importantindicators/ratios which are then compared to other destinations in the Alps.

    What goals should be achieved with the service providers?

    This question is not so easy to answer. On the one hand, because the goals of the individualservice providers can differ and at the same time the development of the destination as a wholeshould be assessed. On the other hand one could draft up precisely the goals that should beachieved, which you yourself have set. Put another way, an adequate method of determining thegoals to develop is in itself one of the goals to be achieved.

    Nevertheless, there are some variables to guide you. First, the indicator Attractiveness of theDestination was mentioned. The attractiveness of the destination is such a significant variable,because it is in turn comprised of variables which describe in a few factors the perceivedperformance of the individual service providers. These include above all the customer satisfaction

    indicators of the individual service providers. The Attractiveness of the Destination expressed inan Attractiveness Index (from 0 unattractive to 5 very attractive) provides the participantswith information at a glance on the development of the destination. This does not mean, however,that it is the sole criterion for success.

    Aside from this indicator, additional output variables come into play, which serve to measure andassess the overall development. Only a comprehensive view of the key ratios of the individualservice providers produces and an overall picture in the analysis of the developments. For theindividual service providers, these are the previously designated Customer Satisfaction togetherwith, of course, the relevant business economic variables such as e.g. Profit, Share Price andReturn on Sales.

    Capacity management certainly has a major influence on the service providers in the destination.As in reality, this is directly controllable only in part, for example, by expanding the lift capacity of

    the cable cars. Otherwise, it is the result of the marketing decisions made and their effects on themarket share, target group composition and thus the usage behaviour. The effects of thesecomponents must be anticipated early enough by the participants. For example, should aneconomic boom be expected, additional capacities can be acquired or the price can be increased.If the players assess the situation inaccurately, this will either lead to overcapacities being carriedinto the next period and margins being reduced, or potential customers may drift to thedestinations of your competitors.

    Most of the variables have a certain persistency effect, which continues in the following periods.This means that if a higher market share were achieved in the last period, for example, it wouldthen lead to positive effects in the following period, even if the special decisions show a decline.In other words, both positive and negative developments in the development of the market sharehave a certain dynamic of their own, which is effective in the medium term. Similarly, the level ofattractiveness of the overall destination is effectively reached in the previous period or season.

    Here, however, we are talking not so much about persistence, but much more about a delay intime. Of course, even in the current period decisions made by the service providers for thebooking behaviour of the customer are responsible, but the image and the attractiveness of thedestination are sustainable here and have a certain delay. Thus, from a business point of view itmay be, for example, that your company has had an excellent season, if high capacity utilisationfigures or occupancy figures are combined with a low service level and little investment. However,the consequences of such a policy then have an effect on the next season and on the seasonafter that, if word of the diminished attractiveness has gotten around and has significantlyreduced the positive image.

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    Fig.: Illustration of the Factors Influencing the Target Variable Attractiveness of the Destination

    The figure illustrates once again the importance of the attractiveness of the destination shaped byvarious factors which are influenced by the service providers. In the reporting system that you willreceive at the beginning of the simulation, this attractiveness will be measured in the form of an

    index which can reach values from 0 (unattractive) to 5 (very attractive). Customer satisfaction,which you have achieved with the offer of your service providers, is also expressed with such anindex.

    So what is your mission?

    You will be responsible for a service provider in the destination. First, you must secure itssustainable profitability, and thus the existence of the company. So keep in mind who yourstakeholders are and for whom you are providing your services.

    An elementary component of the idea is the layered interdependence of the different areas of theservice providers themselves, and with the destination. The economically tough budgetcompetition within the destination in the Alpine region, as well as courting for the favour of

    guests from all over the world, is a part of daily business. This requires wise and thorouglyprepared decisions: on the part of the individual service providers as well as on the part of thecommunity as a whole in the destination.

    Always keep in mind that you will not make your decisions in a vacuum, but in a complex andmultifaceted competitive situation:

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    1. The interests of the respective service providers with respect to your stakeholders within thedestination can obviously differ:

    If, e.g. a service provider prefers and solicits the target group Families, another however thetarget group Incentive/Seminar Guests, there may be a conflict of interest, since seminar guestsusually prefer a quieter meeting atmosphere without the disturbing noises of children. Lessapparent may be the divergence of interests among the service providers, if the same factor, e.g.

    Season Duration has varying directional effects on the service provider. For example, a longwinter season usually means more business for the hotel industry, since more nights are able tobe booked. But at the same time, if the snow reliability conditions in the destination are relativelylow due to the extended season, this may not be in the best interest of the other serviceproviders.

    2. Each service provider must hold his ground against the rest of the market in the abstractbudget competition, i.e. comparable service providers in the rest of the Alpine region: your guestsare intelligent decision makers and are interested in getting the best possible service for theirmoney in the Alps. Your potential guests will of course consider the overall attractiveness ofdestination Alpenort compared to the entire market in the Alps before selecting their holidaydestination or venue. In addition, decisions as to where the much-valued holiday will be enjoyed,

    or where the venue should take place, and by which service providers the guest would like tohave his or her accommodation organized and to what extent, will all have to be made. All ofthese will of course be influenced by the performance of the individual service providers as well.

    As a service provider, your task will be to create a profile yourself by making entrepreneurialdecisions such as e.g. price setting, service quality, investments, if necessary, etc. This allowsyou to highlight your services and market yourself attractively to your potential guests incomparison to the so-called Residual Market of the Alps. You can thus cut your own slice of thepie out of the overall market. You therefore work in direct competition with the service providersin Alpenort and indirectly with the entire Alpine region. Through targeted and prudent businessdecisions regarding the destination, you have also managed to successfully satisfy the individualinterests of the company.

    3. The objective of the destination as such is, in coordination with other service providers inAlpenort and the Destination Management Organisation, to succeed collectively and to increasethe attractiveness. In meetings of the Tourism Association, you jointly make decisions on projectswhich are carried out at the level of the destination; thus responsibility is mutually shouldered. Inaddition, these meetings provide the institutional framework for exchanges on issues which affectall service providers.

    So it is in your hands to make the right decisions during the often hectic daily business. Take theopportunity and set the right strategic course. As you strive for the best possible results, do notlose sight of the impact that these results will have on the destination as a whole.

    By studying this manual you will already be laying the foundation stone for a better understandingof the effects in cooperation with the stakeholders in this destination. After each round ofdecisions, you can estimate the effects of your entrepreneurial activities based on theevaluations. The dialog with your team members will result in different interpretations of theanalysis. By exchanging information with other service providers, you will succeed in poolingresources for the destination. Your task will be complete only after the successful management ofyour service providers has been lined up with the successful development of the entiredestination.

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    3 Destination Alpenort

    The following groups are modelled as service providers in the destination:

    2 Hotels (3 Stars)

    2 Cable Car Companies

    1 Destination Management Organisation.

    Groups that are not actively simulated are stored with realistic and neutrally organized standardvalues in the simulation.

    The spheres of influence, in terms of direct decisions which have to be made, are illustrated onthe following pages. Only the project decisions are not described here; you will receive moredetailed information during the course of the seminar.

    Hotels, 3 Stars

    The market model of the hotel industry is classified into three segments: new customers, regular

    customers and allotments (bulk buyers). Decisions from the marketing mix have different impactson all three segments. Regular customers are specifically addressed via CRM measures, whilenew customers are primarily addressed through direct mail. This means that target group specificmarketing measures have to be applied. The marketing effect can be intensified throughattractive project decisions.

    Furthermore, the market share is influenced by the length of the season. The main serviceprovided by the hotels is lodging. The business divisions Restoration and Other Servicesdepend to a large extent on this service.

    The hotels already have an enlarged restaurant area as well as an expanded and equippedseminar area. The wellness area is only in a rudimentary condition. The premises have alreadybeen expanded; however, only a small sauna area is available to date as a wellness offer for theguests.

    Summary of the Initial Situation for the Hotels

    The hotels have a bed capacity of 100 beds, of which 75% are actually occupied in the winter and50% in the summer. This corresponds to over 13,000 overnight stays in the business year justcompleted. An occupancy rate of more than 50% is a medium to long-term economic benchmark,which positively supports the profitability of the hotel; an occupancy rate of 85% or more isexcellent.

    Last year a turnover of about 2 million CHF was realized, from which a period surplus of 125,000CHF could be achieved. With approximately 38% of the sales turnover personnel costs is by farthe largest cost pool.

    Further details are included in the reports which you will receive at the beginning of the seminar.

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    Cable Car Companies

    This service provider serves as a tourist magnet for the entire destination. In general, guests aremainly attracted by the specific profile which the destination achieves through the offers of itscable car companies (Martinus Cable Car and Perrot Cable Car). However, the actual usage ofthese service providers, including the frequency and number of visits by different target groups, isessentially determined by their pricing. This is why prices and discounts of the cable cars have an

    indirect effect on the whole destination, too. They co-determine the composition of the targetgroups (due to their different usage patterns with regards to the cable cars) in the destination asthey are the flagship of the destination.

    In addition to the core business, there are also influence factors on the actual available liftcapacity.

    A lift capacity utilisation which is too high leads to longer waiting times for the guests at the cablecar. If customers have to spend too much time in long lines to get to the top of the ski slopes or tothe summit they will not be satisfied.

    Attractive project decisions can strengthen the entire marketing mix and thus the attractiveness ofthe cable car.

    Summary of the Initial Situation for the Cable Cars

    The Martinus Cable Car and the Perrot Cable Car are very similar with respect to the areas oftopography and exposure and both have a ski slope network of approx 60 km, of which 3 km areprovided with artificial snow, if necessary.

    During the past fiscal year, services were sold which correspond to 270,000 skier/guest days, andsales revenues of about 9.7 million CHF. The biggest costs are staff costs with an approx. 35%share based on the turnover. A free cash flow of nearly 4.1 million CHF was achieved. Furtherdetails can be obtained from the reports which you will receive at the beginning of the seminar.

    Destination Management Organisation(DMO)

    The Destination Management Organisation(DMO) is the only service provider which has per

    definition the responsibility of making an effort to develop the entire destination. For one thing, itwill be active as a service provider within the destination, but it also makes marketing decisionsthat represent the destination externally.In addition, in its role as Sales Organisation for PackageDeals, the DMO bundles the strengths of the individual service providers decisions. Thepackages include allotments which the cable car companies and hotels forward to the DMO as abulk buyer. The DMO includes a commission and then resells these allotments as a completepackage of services.

    The core task of the DMO, as the primary point of contact for the guests in the destination, is theoperation of the Alpenorts Tourist Information. It also organizes events as complementary offersto the events of the individual service providers and arranges for public transportation within thedestination.

    One of the DMOs most important responsibilities is to keep an eye on the interests of the

    destination as a whole and to make sure to be available as a contact partner for the individualservice providers. In particular, if the Board of the Tourism Association has to make decisions onlong-term joint projects, the Tourism Organisation (i.e. the tourism director, as their mostimportant representative) will assume the role of the moderator, the mediator and be a source ofinspiration.

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    Summary of the Initial Situation for the Destination Management Organisation(DMO)

    The Destination Management Organisation(DMO) achieved sales revenues of more that 5 millionCHF (*) during the recently completed fiscal year, whereas the largest sales turnover by far camefrom the sale of package deals. This was followed by revenues from contributions as well asrevenues from the Tourist Information and the operation of local transportation. A profit of around

    77,000 CHF (*) was thus achieved. Aside from the acquisition costs of the packages, the maincosts units were personnel costs, the operation of local transportation and sales costs.

    (*) Depending on the number of service providers, the DMOs turnover and profit might alsodeviate from the values indicated here. Further details can be attained from the reports which youwill receive at the beginning of the seminar.

    Financial Decisions

    When making financial decisions, it is possible to take out short or long-term loans and to convertreserve funds into securities, once the instructor has activated these options for you. The

    following applies: Short-term loans will bear interest in the year of issue and are automatically

    repaid in full the following year.

    Long-term loans will also bear interest beginning in the year of issue, butwill not be amortized for the duration of the simulation.

    The purchase of securities will yield a profit in the period in which they werepurchased; in the following year the securities will automatically be sold.

    The system automatically grants an overdraft loan, where necessary,although at much less favourable conditions than for loans which areapplied for in advance. The interest payment and repayment of bankoverdrafts needed are automatically occur in the following year.

    All inputs are for the business year in CHF.

    Managing Board of the Tourism Association

    The board of the Tourism Association will decide in particular on the financial fundamentals of thedestination. Furthermore it will discuss adequate resources in relation to projects that areregarded as community tasks and projects, which only the destination as a whole can manage.During the course of the simulation, decisions will be made on three projects, depending on thenumber of rounds of negotiations. These projects will only be available for the period of timebetween board meetings of the Tourism Association. The actual decision in terms of a finalselection in the decision field will be entered by the instructor. These projects are financed

    through a contribution (based on a percentage of the service providers sales), which isseparately collected and declared. You will receive a detailed description of each project in duetime before each meeting.

    You will learn more about the rounds of negotiations in the respective Terms and Conditions ofthe Tourism Association which your instructor will provide you.

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    Scope of Decisions affecting the Target Groups

    In general, all decisions from the service providers have an effect on the different target groups,some have a direct impact and others an indirect impact.

    All service providers decide on the amount of the budget for advertising measures directed atspecific target groups. This can lead to scattering effects if individual service providers

    through their promotional activities address the target groups with varying degrees of intensityor completely different target groups. This form of direct marketing is less effective thancoordinating the participants. Addressing certain target groups can be coordinated by discussingdirect promotional measures among one another or, without the scattering effects, throughpooled marketing via the marketing contribution to the DMO.

    The price policy of Martinus Cable Car and Perrot Cable Car is a crucial criterion for theformation of the target groups. Certain price levels for cable car day passes and 7-day passes aresimply not attractive for target groups with lower income. Moreover, the target group structure willchange when the discounts and quotas for sales by allotment (bulk buyers) are changed.

    The pricing decisions of the hotel industry for an overnight stay as well as the pricing of thestandard menu offered have an impact on the target group since they like the price policy forthe cable car companies are indicators for the price level and perhaps also the quality offered.What is decisive here is that customer satisfaction will then of course only be achieved if thequality offered and the service delivered justify the price-setting compared to the previous yearand compared to other holiday destinations.

    Some target groups are addressed more intensely and others are intentionally excluded throughthe event budget of the DMO and in particular with regard to the type of selected events at thedestination level. Also the events of the sport and event service providers address the varioustarget groups, but not to the same degree. Some events offered could even act as a deterrent tocertain target groups, while at the same time attracting visitors from another target group to whichthe event is more tailored for the destination.

    In addition, the entire offer for a particularly desired target group is relevant for the formation ofthe target groups in total: each service provider must design a consistent offer regarding

    decisions on projects, investments and the marketing mix, whereas these decisions are, ifpossible, to be coordinated in a community dialog with the other service providers in thedestination.

    A part of the target groups, mainly driven by regulars, has a certain natural inertia, also knownas the force of habit in the selection of a holiday resort. It is important to note that a destinationis almost never entirely dominated by a single target group, but instead will always addressdifferent target groups through their offers. The attraction of the destination for certain targetgroups is also a criterion for the ratio of overnight guests to guests who only visit your destinationfor the day. Tourists from overseas are expected to spend more time at the destination and rarelymake only a day trip to your destination. In Section 4.2 which follows, the user profiles of thevarious target groups, and their tendency to spend the night in the destination are explained.

    A destination thus directly and indirectly sets priorities through the mentioned decision optionsand in doing so generates an attractive service offer for the desired target groups.

    It is all in your hands now, as a service provider and as a group in the destination, to attract thedesired target groups to Alpenort and to keep them coming back.

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    Initial Situation

    At the beginning of the simulation you will receive the reporting procedure for the initial situationfrom the instructor. Based on these reports, and on the information from the introduction of theseminar, you can get an analysis of the actual situation on which you can make your decisions.Once active decisions have been made, this constitutes the market results for the initial situationof the previous period, which can be extrapolated with the respective economic data from the

    scenario. The frame of reference in terms of the relevant market for the entire destination, andthus also the benchmarking, is the tourism market in the Alpine region.

    Overview of Relevant Market Data

    Basic Market Volume of Destination (Baseline: Visitors)

    Number of Tourists National Europe Overseas

    Summer 50,000 35,000 5,000

    Winter 150,000 100,000 30,000

    Customer Breakdown by Target Groups (Baseline: WINTER Season)

    Share ofDay Tourists

    (%)

    Share ofOvernight Stays

    (%)

    Length of OvernightStays (in Days)

    Families 25 35 5

    Silver Agers 25 15 4

    DINKS + Singles 30 30 3

    Young & Wild 20 15 1

    Seminar / Incentive Guests 0 5 1

    Total 100 100 -

    User Profile in WINTER

    FamiliesSilver

    AgersDinks +Singles

    Young& Wild

    Seminar /Incentive Guests

    Cable Cars + + + ++ 0

    Hotels + + 0 0 +

    Premium Hotels - ++ ++ -- +

    Sport/Event ServiceProviders

    0 0 ++ + 0

    DMO ++ + - 0 -

    Scale: very seldom - - to very frequent + + use.

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    Customer Breakdown by Target Groups (Baseline: SUMMER Season)

    Share ofDay Tourists

    (%)

    Share ofOvernight Stays (%)

    Length ofOvernight Stays

    (in Days)

    Families 25 40 5

    Silver Agers 35 30 4

    DINKS + Singles 25 20 2

    Young & Wild 10 0 1

    Seminar / Incentive Guests 5 10 1

    Total 100 100 -

    User Profile in SUMMER

    FamiliesSilver

    AgersDinks +Singles

    Young& Wild

    Seminar /Incentive Guests

    Cable Cars + ++ ++ 0 -

    Hotels + + 0 0 +

    Premium Hotels - ++ ++ -- -

    Sport/Event ServiceProviders

    0 - ++ + --

    DMO ++ + - - --

    Scale: very seldom - - to very frequent + + use.

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