Director FAQ

At Encore, we’re well aware that the success of your performing tour depends on majority participation of your ensemble. Toward that end, Encore offers its Fabulous Fundraiser to performing groups. Encore ensembles have earned over $30,000 from this fundraiser.

In addition to the Fabulous Fundraiser, Encore provides a $1000 scholarship for groups over 50 participants that register early (ask your Encore Tour Consultant for details).

As a division of ACIS, Encore Tours provides a level of financial stability unmatched among performance tour companies. Our established insurance policies and overseas office network protect your payments and your peace of mind.

Encore is well-versed in handling the transportation of large instruments. It is most cost effective to rent larger instruments such as harps, timpani, tubas, and bass. It is advisable to rent keyboards overseas so that ensembles don’t have to deal with voltage conversion. Other instruments such as cellos, flutes, violins, etc. are transported via the airlines, either in the main cabin or stowed in the belly of the aircraft in hard cases. In some cases, Encore is able to purchase seats on board aircrafts for cellos.

Once overseas, Encore will have a climate-controlled instrument truck and driver (sometimes a trailer) to transport your instruments. Instrument insurance is provided on our Comprehensive and Ultimate Protection Plans. Group Leaders will receive up to $1,000 instrument insurance for their own personal instruments as part of our Ultimate Protection Plan.

When Encore receives your performance information form (which will be sent to you by your Program Manager), we can discuss transportation of your instruments in more detail.

Encore individually invoices participants. Group leaders need not concern themselves with collecting money, keeping spreadsheets of who has paid what, etc. In addition to individually invoicing participants, Encore also offers 24 hour access to My Account, where group leaders may check the status of their entire group’s payments and travel arrangements. Individual participants will be provided with access to their own individual accounts. Personal check, bank check, money order, Mastercard and Visa are accepted. Encore also offers its participants Automatic Payments—an easy and convenient way to make payments.

Experienced tour consultants work with you to develop a custom performance tour that meets your performing, cultural and educational goals. Once the tour details are set, Encore puts together informational packets that you can hand out to your ensemble. We’re always happy to come out and promote the tour at your Board meeting or first tour meeting.

There are many tour companies out there. At Encore, we don’t want you for your next tour; we want to work with you on every tour. Encore is proud to say we’ve worked with many clients on six or more performance tours, and we’re happy to provide you with references from ensembles in your locale.

To familiarize first-time group leaders with Encore, we give directors/organizers the opportunity for an advance, in-person tour. If you’re interested in a site inspection, a member of the Encore team would be happy to work with you on the details.

Lastly, Encore is the only performance tour company in the industry to offer a Service Guarantee. Encore group leaders rate their overall experience as good to excellent. We’re so confident you’ll agree that we’re going to guarantee it! The Encore Service Guarantee is our written pledge that your entire trip experience—from your first contact with us all the way through to your post-trip review—will be first-rate.

If upon your return, you feel that your overall experience does not deserve a good or excellent rating, we will invite you to be our guest at our next Global Conference in London and provide a $1,000 scholarship to be used as you see fit on your next Encore tour. No questions asked, and no strings attached!

Certainly. You have three different options:

Assistants
Family members or colleagues may travel as assistants (even if minors, though children must be five years or older to travel in an ACIS group). Depending on the size of your group, an assistant may be able to travel for free or may need to cover the cost of their tour.

Family/Colleague Discount
Family members or colleagues may take a 20% discount from the program fee. These participants will not count toward your free trip, stipend or other group leader benefits. Like all paying participants, they are subject to mandatory fees (registration, tax, etc.) as well as full payment deadlines.

$150 Child Discount
For children under the age of 12, you may take a flat $150 Child Discount (plus the 20% Family/Colleague Discount) off their program fee, but they will still be subject to mandatory fees. The child’s enrollment will not count toward your free trip, stipend or other group leader benefits.

Encore individually invoices participants. Group leaders need not concern themselves with collecting money, keeping spreadsheets of who has paid what, etc. In addition to individually invoicing participants, Encore also offers 24 hour access to My Account, where group leaders may check the status of their entire group’s payments and travel arrangements. Individual participants will be provided with access to their own individual accounts. Personal check, bank check, money order, Mastercard and Visa are accepted. Encore also offers its participants Automatic Payments—an easy and convenient way to make payments.

Single accommodations are provided free of charge for Encore group leaders who do not travel with a spouse or an assistant of the same sex. Single rooms are not available aboard cruise ships, overnight ferries or trains, in China, Africa, Russia and most residence programs.

Encore groups travel on scheduled flights, using all the major carriers. These include American Airlines, Air France, Aerolineas Argentinas, Alitalia, Finnair, British Airways, British Midland Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Iberia, Spanair, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines Ltd., Northwest, Air New Zealand, Olympic Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Taca International Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines, US Airways, Air Europa, and Virgin Atlantic. You’ll receive flight information as your departure date approaches.

ACIS/Encore Tour Managers are famous for their multifaceted roles, both educational and logistical. Our Tour Managers are part commentator, counselor, troubleshooter, advocate, and stopwatch! He or she supervises hotel check-ins, directs the bus driver and leads educational activities. Your Tour Manager (usually one per coach) is with you from the time you land until the time your return flight departs—their job is to make sure everyone in your ensemble gets 150% from their travel/performing experience.

Most importantly, ACIS/Encore Tour Managers are travel gurus. They thrive on sharing their passion and love for the cultures of the world, giving you the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of those who live and work there. Over the years, we’ve employed university professors, film directors, journalists, musicians, business professionals, and other creative achievers. Our tour managers are consistently recognized as top in the industry. You’ll receive more information about your tour manager as your departure date approaches.

Yes! Encore Tours offers our passengers flexibility in their flight arrangements. Passengers may choose our “No Air Fare” package price should they choose to arrange flights on their own and join the group at the hotel. They may also choose our “Alternate Return” option which allows them to depart or return from different gateways. Learn more about the alternate return process.

Encore uses 3- and 4-star hotels located minutes (sometimes steps) from the sights you came to see. Learn more about the importance of centrally located hotels.