HOME OF SALUTING AMERICA'S BAND DIRECTORS™
HOME OF SALUTING AMERICA'S BAND DIRECTORS™
The following table gives the per-person Grueninger Music Tours (GMT) package prices for various numbers of room occupants. As a way to help reduce your costs in New York City, please note that you can save substantially on the per-person prices by rooming with one or more marchers or non-marching guests. All packages include four nights in an excellent New York City hotel, breakfasts for four days, lunches for three days, two dinners (including one Thanksgiving banquet), rental of rehearsal space, bus transportation to all events, and several sightseeing excursions. Your total per-person trip cost includes the specific tour package you choose from the table below, plus your registration fee, your own transportation costs to and from New York City, and a few meals on your own. Optional pre- and post-trip accommodations will also be available.
Package pricing details
The four-night packages include the nights of November 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2023, departing after the Macy's Parade on Thursday, November 23. The term "occupant" is defined as a marcher or a non-marcher age 10 and older (not including children age 3-9). Count up the number of people staying in your room that are buying marcher or non-marcher packages (any combination of marchers and non-marchers). That total is the number of room occupants and determines the type of rooming package to select.
Important notes:
If you pay by credit card, a 3% external processing fee will be added, as that is what the banks charge our tour company. Personal checks and ACH bank transfers incur no fee.
• A non-refundable $250 registration fee will be due no later than the date specified in the marcher's acceptance letter. See Payment schedule below for the payment balance information.
• Package prices do not include transportation costs to or from New York City.
• Because of the transportation logistics involved in getting marchers to all events in a timely manner, all packages include hotel accommodations.
Payment schedule
Accepted and confirmed marchers will need to remit a $250 registration fee, plus applicable processing fee, using our e-commerce site here. The balance of your payments will be submitted to the GMT registration site. GMT will then notify you directly of your remaining payment amounts (based on your selected tour package) prior to their due dates. Your acceptance email will explain how to confirm your participation, how to pay your deposit and will direct you to the registration site.
Payment schedule for marchers
• A $200 non-refundable registration fee per marcher is due to Saluting America’s Band Directors (SABD) on the date specified on your acceptance notification, and is not part of your scheduled payments. This fee—only required for marchers and not for non-marchers—is to help defray initial administrative costs for the trip, including band uniforms, music copyrights, software expenses, etc.
Please be aware that SABD and GMT have payment requirements to the hotel and transportation company. Therefore it is very important we receive your payments on time.
While the overall payment schedule above indicates the deadlines by which payments must be received, a number of our directors have expressed interest in paying for the trip in more installments rather than just the dates shown above. GMT's registration system allows you to implement a payment plan that works for you, as long as it meets the overall primary payment deadlines above. This may help you budget for the trip.
For specific questions on the packages or deposits, you may use the form at the bottom of the Home page.