Problem Solving Exercise #4 Instructions

Read the following descriptions of Quest Specialty Travel and its problem.

Company description: Quest Specialty Travel is a tour company in San Diego, California, that organizes adventure, cultural, and educational tours. Quest travelers enjoy activities ranging from hiking to hang-gliding while becoming familiar with the culture of the regionthe food, the people, and the history.

Quest sponsors tours to five regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand). Customers are usually traveling for pleasure, though Quest occasionally organizes business trips.

Problem: Typically, the late spring and summer months are the most popular times for personal travel. For the last five years, the top sales months have been April-August. This year, however, sales did not increase during these months. For the first time in five years, Quest annual sales are decliningthey now expect to make less this year than last year.

1. Identify the problem. Explain.

2. What data did you use to help you with the problem.

3. What data or information did you use to observe current conditions?

4. Provide a statement on how you would summarize this problem.