Safety & Security

At Encore Tours and ACIS, we take the welfare of each and every participant on our tours very seriously. Just as we work tirelessly to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences to group leaders and students, we are equally committed to ensuring that all of our travelers return home safely.

Our safety and support infrastructure has been a cornerstone of our business for the last 29 years and includes the following measures:

➤ Dedicated, Constantly Connected US Staff

We monitor all safety-related events, making proactive decisions to optimize security.

➤ Network of Overseas Offices

ACIS offices in London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome and our affiliate partner offices in other major destination cities ensure that we have on-the-ground support when it is needed.

➤ 24/7 Duty Officer System

Our 24-hour Duty Officer system operates seven days a week in the United States and overseas to deal with any emergency quickly and professionally.

➤ Professionally-Trained Tour Managers

Top-quality Encore Tour Managers work in tandem with group leaders throughout each trip and accompany groups every step of the way during their time on tour. They discuss security measures during each group’s Arrival Briefing and carry cellular phones to access ACIS /Encore's 24-hour Duty Officer system.

➤ Informed Group Leaders

Group organizers & teachers receive safety-related information and a card with emergency contact numbers prior to departure. During the trip, group leaders establish guidelines for free time activities, keep track of participants’ whereabouts, and provide overall adult supervision.

➤ Overseas Health Insurance

All participants are enrolled in an international medical insurance plan coordinated by EuropAssist, our round-the-clock, 365-day travel assistance provider.

➤ Affiliation with AIFS

Encore Tours is a division of ACIS, and ACIS is a division of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)—an industry leader that has organized quality international educational experiences for over 1 million students in its 40-year history.

➤ Financial Security

ACIS carries $50 million in general liability insurance that covers school districts and teachers on our tours, as well as a $1 million indemnity bond with the United States Tour Operators Association.

➤ Travel Security Waiver

All travelers are covered by a refund policy that takes effect in the event that the US State Department issues an official Travel Warning following a terrorist attack against US interests in a country to be visited on an upcoming trip.

For more information on any of these aspects of our safety policies, please contact us at encoretours@acis.com or 877-460-3801 at any time.