Abbey Tours Scotland

Placement organization

Name of organization: Abbey Tours Scotland
Town/city: Edinburgh
Country: Groot-Brittannië
Website: http://www.abbeyscotland.co.uk/

Name of student: Jessica Rick

Specialist area: ITTI
Placement period: 2014-2015

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Destination Management Company
Organization’s activities: The organisation is dealing on a B2C business model, offering either created or tailor made packages for individual travellers. Besides they offer special interest and study tours.
They are also very big in the B2B model, handling and organising tours for groups and group series from all over the world. Therefore, there are different markets in the Customer Care Department for instance French, German or Mediterranean market or International including all other English and non-English speaking countries as well as the Nordic market.

Target group of the organization: Individual or group leisure travellers
Company culture: Although there is a formal dress code and a certain hierarchy within the company structure, the communication is rather informal and very friendly. The Management Team apply an open door business culture which means (except for important meeting or phone calls) they keep their doors open and everyone is free to enter and address them personally.
Number of employees: 32
Dress code: formal
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? I am currently working in the Customer Care Department – International. We are mainly dealing with groups or group series (multiple groups on different dates from one agency) from English or non-English speaking countries (America, Australia, Poland, Belgium,…) including the Nordic market.
Brief description of your daily activities: On a daily basis I am dealing with the company’s booking system. I have to enter travel programmes on the basis of written offers, create detailed and timed travel itineraries, make bookings for different suppliers (restaurants, hotels, visits, transport) and create final documents prior to the groups arrival. Moreover I am communicating with many suppliers via telephone or via email.
Brief description of your company assignment: I have to create a “Group Customer Care Procedure Manual” as introduction to the company for new staff and interns. The manual includes for instance information regarding the history of the company, followed by introducing every department and employees, but most important a very detailed description of every individual market within the Customer Care department (French, German, Mediterranean, International and Nordic) and the daily activities. It focuses on the products that are requested by each market and gives information on internal and external partners and the relationship. Finally it addresses common challenges and solutions within the department.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: From what I have experienced so far I can tell that all interns’ supervisors are very friendly and helpful. Everyone of them takes the time to explain something and as an intern you are always free to ask questions. Moreover they keep track on your progress, help you when necessary and guide you through the placement.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? independent, team player, flexibility, stress-proofed, realiable, communication skills
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS Office, Word, Excel; good writing and oral skills, SEO
English: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
German: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate
Other languages: Language requirements depend on the department you are working in!

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? By myself
How did you go to work every day? by foot, sometimes by bus

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? no
Do you need a work permit? no
How did you arrange the necessary documents:
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents?
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance?

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? Dependent on language and department. For English no

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 150.00
Accommodation (monthly): € 480.00
Local transport (monthly): € not specified
General costs of living (monthly): € 400.00
Costs of visa: €
Costs of work permit: €
What did the company pay for/to you? Monthly salary; in urgent cases willing to contribute to temporarily accommodation if necessary until student finds own accommodation

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
No preparation at all..
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? No

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: Jessica.Rick@gmx.de

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: If you cannot find any accommodation before going to Edinburgh, don’t hesitate to move in a hostel first and then go and visit accommodations while you are here. Helpful websites are:
Gumtree
Spareroom
Facebook – “EdinRoom”
Facebook – “Edinburgh to let”

I recommend looking for private landlords and no renting via brokers since they want you to fill in three pages of documents with too many personal information regarding income and living addresses of the last three years and other..
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Edinburgh has a lot interesting places to offer: Edinburgh Castle, Arthurs Seat, the architecture, many park and gardens, and much more. It is also worth to travel around Scotland visit for instance Glasgow or Sterling or some of the many Isles, distilleries or different castles.
Night life in Edinburgh is great with its many bars, pubs and clubs but they are closing rather early (depending on the venue at 2 or 3 am) but prepare for higher prices during weekends.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link