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Hill-Murray High School
"Our tour coordinator did more for the Hill-Murray Band and Choir tour than I ever thought possible. I received many compliments about the detailed itineraries from my staff and administration. Everyone felt confident that our music tour would be fun, safe and educational."
Eric VanScoy, Director of Bands
Minnesota
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Most schools have a general rule of collecting multiple bids from tour operators to ensure the best price. Generally speaking, we agree this is a good idea, but we want to make sure directors understand all the pros and cons of gathering multiple bids. While multiple may ensure the best price, it can cause problems too. The obvious pro to bidding out your tour is that you are essentially ‘shopping around’ for the best itinerary, best concert options, best customer service and best price. But time and time again, we see clients choose a tour with the lowest price tag, and this does not always translate to the best itinerary and almost never the best service. Just because the tour is less expensive, does not mean it’s the best value for your students. You don’t want to ask them to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a sub-par trip!
Also, when more than one tour operator vies for the same airspace or hotel space (these are the two that have the most limited availability), it can cause rates to jump. Vendors have a false sense of demand, due to multiple bids coming in for the same group. Prices go up and your group looses out on competitive rates, the best group space and most ideal flight schedules.
Comparing bids can also be deceiving. It’s always best to ask an experienced tour operator to look at both bids side-by-side and make sure every inclusion or non-inclusion is comparable. Even the smallest details such as hotel location, air tax estimates or performances can make a difference not only in price, but also in your final tour experience. Be certain you truly understand every inclusion before selecting a company and itinerary, this way you’re certain to get the best performance tour all around for your travel dollars.
Share your ideas, news and tips with us!If you have a successful fundraising project, news about your program, a great new tour activity or industry tips – share them for the benefit of others! Gateway would be happy to include your input on our Facebook page or a future newsletter. Help us spread good ideas and a spirit of cooperation. Feel free to use our Contact Page…
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