Dear Sean, It’s my pleasure to personally guide you through the fully customized itinerary that we’ve carefully curated for your trip to Italy. 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. Sincerely,Robin H Teague617-958-9528 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. Domestic Fundraiser Info Sheet International Fundraiser Info Sheet Prelude Join Encore staff for our annual Prelude event, a free professional development weekend for ensemble directors and a guest that takes place in a different musically rich international destination. “Incredible! I cherished every moment. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Such experiences would have been impossible on my own. Being pampered in this manner and witnessing the professionalism and luxury that Encore embodies was an absolute delight.” – 2024 Prelude attendee 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. Recruitment Tools Our new Recruitment Meeting tool streamlines your recruitment process, offering customizable templates, automated reminders, and integrated RSVP tracking to ensure maximum attendance. It simplifies meeting logistics, allowing you to focus on sharing the excitement of your upcoming tour and inspiring participants to join. This tool is designed to make your recruitment efforts as smooth and successful as possible, helping you to build a strong and engaged group. Tour Inclusions Roundtrip airfare Airport and airline taxes, and fuel surcharges Accommodations at conveniently located 3- or 4-star hotels Rooming in triple room occupancy. Breakfast daily and selected dinners Local guides in Rome, Rome skip-the-line Vatican tour, Florence, and Venice; Admission to Vatican, Colosseum, Holy Stairs, San Callisto Catacombs, Trevi Fountain Lower Basin, Santa Croce, Accademia, San Marks. Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and driver Services of a professional Tour Manager throughout your program Basic gratuities for the tour manager and bus drivers Arrangements for 3 concert performance opportunities, 2 liturgies at St. Peter’s. Blessing and prayer at St. Callixtus Catacombs. Rental of an electronic keyboard if an organ is not available. All concert arrangements include venue rental and allocation, all necessary concert permits, all pre-concert advertisement, and on-site concert assistance Pre-concert rehearsal time, where possible Vox Headsets 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 10-day tour TravelersPriceLand onlyFree Spots55$5,579$4,499255$5,679$4,639350$5,699$4,639250$5,799$4,7393 Based on “Land and Air” out of PHL, accommodating the group in Twin/Triple rooms. Pricing Options 10-day tour with rev. 4.10 TravelersPriceLand onlyFree Spots55$5,300$4,100255$5,450$4,250350$5,450$4,270250$5,600$4,4003 Based on “Land and Air” out of PHL, Twin/ Triple rooms Early registration discount $150 by July 1, 2026 4-star hotel in Venice Mainland Not included and a separate line item for Opera tickets, as we are waiting for the schedule to be posted. Tickets range from $50 to $150 per person. Not included: Gregorian Chant workshop is $90 per person. Not included: Mary Major add later with supplement Payment Deadlines determined by Sean and Robin DateAmountJuly 1 $200August 1 $1,000September 1$1,000October 1$1,000November 1 $1,000November 28final payment Sample Venues Please note that venues are not confirmed until expressly stated by your Program Consultant. Band Choir Sant’Agnese Rome Sant’Agnese in Agone is a seventeenth Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the historic centre of the city and the site where the Early Christian Saint Agnes was martyred at the ancient Stadium of Domitian. A number of architects were involved in the construction of the church, including Girolamo Rainaldi and his son Carlo Rainaldi, and two of the foremost Baroque architects of the day; Francesco Borromini and the sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The church serves as a cultural gathering point for the entire city with concerts throughout the year often featuring visiting ensembles. Choir Choosing the Right Venue St. Peter’s Basilica Rome Charged as being “the greatest of all churches of Christendom,” St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, is nearly 400 years old and possesses a wealth of history, culture, and art. Adorned with works of famous Italian Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, St. Peter’s is a popular site not only for Christians, but for historians and tourists alike. Not only have Encore groups had the opportunity to explore such a remarkable sight, but some have also performed for the Pope himself! Choir St. Francis Basilica Assisi The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, in the town where St. Francis was born and died, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. The Basilica, begun in 1228, comprises two churches – the Upper Church and Lower Church – and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. With permission, choral groups can sing during Holy Mass. Non-Performing Liturgy at St. Callixtus Catacombs Rome A liturgy at the St. Callixtus Catacombs offers a rare and deeply moving connection to the earliest days of Christianity, set within one of Rome’s most significant underground sacred sites along the Appian Way. Dating back to the 2nd century and serving as the burial place of early popes and martyrs, the catacombs provide an intimate, reverent setting where natural acoustics and subdued lighting create a powerful atmosphere for prayer and unaccompanied sacred music. Rather than a traditional performance, this experience is best understood as a quiet, reflective highlight of the tour, particularly meaningful for church choirs and Catholic groups seeking a tangible link to the Church’s history. Choir Chiesa di San Gaetano Florence Constructed during the 1600s, church of St. Gaetano has become the archetypical baroque church in the wealthiest part of town. The façade, with its sculptural decorations, is not typical of Florentine churches. The interior is impressive and richly decorated as is customary in Baroque churches. The venue is ideal for medium to large choirs and can accommodate audiences of up to 200 people. 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—right in the heart of the destination you came to see. Grand Hotel Tiberio Rome This modern and chic four-star establishment is set in a tranquil residential neighborhood. Elegantly adorned, it’s positioned less than a mile from Vatican City, the site of the acclaimed Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. The location benefits from excellent access to public transportation, including the Metro, buses, and local FM3 railway services, making all of Rome’s prime attractions readily accessible. The hotel features a sophisticated lobby bar and the spacious restaurant “Le Terrazze di Tiberio.” If you’re looking to relax, head to the 6th-floor terrace to enjoy breathtaking views of St. Peter’s Dome and Monte Mario. Learn More Novotel Firenze Nord Florence This four-star hotel offers an outdoor pool and is conveniently located about one mile from the A1 motorway and two miles from the Florence Airport. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, a mini-bar, satellite flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access. The hotel’s restaurant offers a diverse menu, including a varied buffet breakfast. Learn More Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana Venice A contemporary four-star hotel situated merely a ten-minute drive from the Tronchetto ferry terminal offers seamless access to both the Venetian lagoon and the heart of Venice. From Tronchetto, private motorlaunches ferry guests directly to St. Mark’s Square in approximately 20 minutes—a voyage that captures the spirit of Venice, offering countless sights to marvel at during the trip. This mode of transport is safe and comfortable for groups of all ages. Learn More Have any additional questions? Reach out to your program manager directly, or contact us for any assistance. Contact Us