Dear Mark, Please find to follow, full details on a proposed tour to Italy for your music department in 2025. In every aspect of your tour, your goals and desires are our priority, ensuring a travel experience that is as personalized as it is seamless. From our industry-leading protection plans and guaranteed rates that safeguard against the unexpected, to the unrivaled expertise of our tour managers who bring every destination to life, every detail is thoughtfully considered. What truly sets your experience apart are our dynamic venues, handpicked for their ability to enchant and engage, complete with guaranteed audiences to elevate every performance. This unique blend of meticulous planning, exclusive access, and comprehensive support ensures that your performance tour transcends the ordinary, making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience. I very much look forward to working with you, Best, James Visit Your TripSite Traveler Resources Your Encore Benefits Guaranteed Land Rates We do not raise our prices based on currency fluctuations in the marketplace. This alleviates any unwelcome currency surcharges during the planning period or immediately prior to travel. The Best Tour Managers Around Our Tour Managers are repeatedly evaluated and praised as being the best in educational travel, and they are available to you 24 hours per day. The tour manager stays in the same hotel as the group, and coordinates hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, and concert venue availability and rehearsal time. These representatives also deliver the educational portion of the tour with detailed historical commentary during travel. Protection Plans for Everyone All participants are covered at no extra cost by our Basic Protection Plan covering health insurance overseas and trip cancellation/interruption in case of illness. Participants also have the option to upgrade to our Ultimate or Ultimate Plus plans, which include the ability to cancel for any reason up to four days before departure and still receive a full refund. Additionally, all Encore participants travel with an automatic $15,000 health protection plan. Financial Security Encore Tours and our parent company, ACIS, carry a $50 million general liability insurance policy to protect our groups. In addition, as an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), we post a $1 million indemnity bond as part of USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program. Tour Fundraiser Register 30 or more participants with Encore Tours and we will award your group a FREE weekend getaway for two to Paris or London over Veteran’s Day Weekend or Martin Luther King Day Weekend. We have had ensembles raise over $20,000 using this gift as a raffle prize. 2025 Domestic Fundraiser Info Sheet 2025 International Fundraiser Info Sheet Online Billing We are excited to offer the choice of group billing or direct billing and will gladly work with your preference. With group billing you will receive an invoice with each participant’s balance and payment due prior to the due date. If you decide to enroll your group in direct billing Encore will mail invoices to each participant for all payments due. Accounts can also be accessed 24 hours a day on our website and payments can be made online with MasterCard and Visa for no additional cost. This is the suggested payment plan, however you can adjust it according to the group’s needs. Automatic Payments Plan Encore offers an auto-pay option for all participants signed up for individual billing. Enrollment in the plan is free and funds are withdrawn from the participant’s checking account on a regular basis, with the last payment being processed 45 days prior to departure. 24-7 Overseas Coverage Encore has offices overseas in the event of an emergency. In addition, US staff are always available to ensure you are receiving a quality travel experience, before, during and after your concert tour. All land arrangements including concert bookings and promotion are provided directly by Encore’s affiliate offices, offering the highest quality services and the very best value to our clients. Graduate Level Credits Enhance your professional development! Directors and participants have the opportunity to earn graduate-level credits through their tour experience and participation in our Prelude events. These educational opportunities not only enrich your tour but also contribute to your lifelong learning and professional growth. Tour Inclusions Roundtrip airfare Airport and airline taxes, and fuel surcharges Accommodations at conveniently located 3- or 4-star hotels, all city taxes included Rooming in triple rooms Breakfast daily, 1 Tuscan Lunch, 6 dinners Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and driver Instrument Truck throughout Private motorlaunch transfers in Venice Services of a professional Tour Manager throughout your program All gratuities included Arrangements for two concert performance opportunities and one impromptu performance Rental of an electronic keyboard All concert arrangements include venue rental and allocation, all necessary concert permits, all pre-concert advertisement, and on-site concert managers Pre-concert rehearsal time, where possible Private recital on Stradivarius instruments at Museo del Violino Luthier violin making workshop visit Glassblowing demonstration in Venice Entrance to Carrara Marble Quarry and impromptu opportunity Visits to Lucca and Pisa Local guides in Cremona and Florence Entrance fees to Verona Arena, Violin Museum, Pisa Cathedral, Accademia (Florence) Vox Headsets Round trip airport transfers to JFK or EWR including driver tips Instrument rental allowance T-Shirt allowance view of Montecatini Alto in Tuscany Italy What’s Not Included? Baggage Fees imposed by the airlines Instrument stands Any meals not listed in your itinerary Programs for the concerts Allocations of specific seat assignments on flights Pricing Options Per Bus PayeesAir IncludedLand OnlyFree Spots45$4,375$3,190240$4,499$3,3142 Flight package departing from NYC Prices based on two buses Allowances included; $12,000 instrument rental, $400 airport transfer driver tips, $4,500 parent chaperone subsidies, $1,200 custom T-Shirts Prices include a $7,500 contribution from the Booster group payable to Encore Tours Double/Twin Room supplement $350 Single Room supplement $770 Payment Deadlines DateAmountJune 1st, 2024$200July 1st, 2024$1,000September 1st, 2024$1,000January 15th, 2025Balance Due Sample Venues Please note that venues are not fully confirmed until repertoire and ensemble bios have been submitted and approved. In addition to the two fabulous venues below, also included is the opportunity to experience the unique acoustic of singing inside a marble cavern in the Carrara Quarry. Orchestra Auditorio Arvedi, Museo del Violino Cremona Auditorio Arvedi, located within Cremona’s Museo del Violino, stands as a modern architectural gem designed to highlight the exquisite sound of Stradivari instruments. This unique venue combines innovative design with optimal acoustics, specifically tailored for string ensembles. Its intimate setting allows audiences to experience the richness of your music with unparalleled clarity, making every performance an unforgettable experience. The hall not only showcases Cremona’s celebrated violin-making heritage but also serves as a cultural beacon, hosting concerts and educational events. Choir Santa Maria Nera Lucca The church of Santa Maria Nera owes its name to the sculpture that reproduces the image of a black virgin. This is an exact 19th century reproduction of the Madonna of Loreto which, it is said, was flown to Italy by angels and whose original was completely burned in a devastating fire in 1921. Also known as Santa Maria Corteorlandini, the church is one of the city’s hidden gems and a fantastic example of baroque style in Lucca. The interior is stunning and provides a welcoming venue for visiting choirs. Sample Hotels Traveling on a performance trip is a moving experience, and our goal is to ensure that all travelers have a life-changing experience. We also know that time is money, and comfort is essential. That’s why, when you’re touring with Encore, you will always stay in well-located, three- or four-star hotels in close proximity to the sites and venues you came to see and perform in. Park Hotel Villa Fiorita Treviso Villa Fiorita, a 4-star hotel in Monastier di Treviso, combines comfort with elegance. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a pool, restaurant, and fitness center. Each room features modern conveniences like a minibar, TV, and private bath. Breakfast includes various options. Additional amenities include a hot tub, table tennis, and bike rentals. Multilingual staff assist in several languages. Situated 19 miles from Caribe Bay and close to Treviso Central Station and Treviso Airport. Learn MOre Hotel Continental Cremona Cremona Hotel Continental Cremona, an iconic 4-star hotel in the city of Cremona, reopened in 2012 after a complete renovation, setting a new standard of elegance and hospitality. The hotel features the sophisticated pizzeria “La Pizza d’Autore” on the ground floor and the “Al Quarto Terrazza Mediterranea” restaurant on the top floor, which offers a panoramic view of the Torrazzo. Additionally, there are two meeting rooms and a small gym available. Committed to environmental sustainability, the hotel utilizes a photovoltaic system for renewable electricity, an insulating coat on all external facades, and a modern heat pump system that recycles hot water from the air conditioning. Learn more Hotel Settentrionale Esplanade Montecatini This serene 4-star hotel is perfectly positioned just a short walk from the town center, offering an oasis of tranquility. Guests can unwind by the crystal blue outdoor pool and garden or enjoy the shade on the summer terrace beneath blooming wisteria. With the option to dine at the onsite restaurant or explore the quaint town on a complimentary bike provided by the hotel, relaxation and rejuvenation are assured. Learn MOre Have any additional questions? Reach out to your program manager directly, or contact us for any assistance. Contact Us