Ground services for tour operators bringing music groups to Central Europe

What an operator gets from us, and what stays with you

You bring the group, the performance programme, the hotels and your own tour manager if you travel with one. We take over what needs a local partner: coaches sized to the group, vehicles for the instruments, drivers who know the venues, the timing between arrival, load-in and doors, and the person who answers the phone when a plan changes.

We do not sell tours to your groups, and we do not approach the ensembles you bring. A ground partner that also markets to your clients is a risk; we are not that partner.

Seven things a buyer wants to see, answered

1. Coverage. Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic as the core, with cross-border legs into the Benelux countries, France and Italy quoted as part of the same routing.

2. Vehicles. Full-size coaches, midi coaches, minivans and sedans for soloists and conductors; trailers and vans for double basses, timpani, harp and large percussion. Everything a player can carry travels in the coach; the rest travels in the same convoy.

3. Driver hours. Every day of the routing is checked against EU Regulation 561/2006: a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving, 9 hours of daily driving, 10 hours twice a week. Where a concert day does not fit, we tell you before you sell it, and we quote a second driver or an overnight stay instead of hoping.

4. Customs and carnets. Support with ATA carnets for legs outside the EU customs territory, applied for digitally since 1 June 2026 through the chambers of commerce, and with the instrument list they require.

5. One contact. A named, English-speaking person for the whole tour, and for productions with several vehicles a dedicated dispatcher who coordinates every movement.

6. Quotes and rates. Itemised quotes within 24 hours on working days; for operators with recurring tours, standing rates under a framework agreement with priority booking.

7. Company documents. Insurance certificates, company registration and, where we bundle transport and accommodation, the customer money protection required under section 651r of the German Civil Code, all available on request. Tour references from more than 30 years of ground transport for music groups on request as well.

How a typical cooperation runs

You send the routing: dates, cities, group size, instrument list, hotel addresses and concert times. Within 24 hours you receive an itemised indicative quote with the vehicle plan and any day that needs a second driver or a route change.

Once confirmed, you get one contact who holds the ground plan, communicates with your tour manager and with the venues, and adjusts the plan when a rehearsal moves or a flight is late. After the tour, you receive one invoice per tour, not one per vehicle.

Where we fit in your season

Most operators plan Central European legs 12 to 18 months ahead. We hold capacity for spring and early summer, the peak for school and college groups, and we prefer to see your routing early, when a change of concert time still costs nothing.

For last-minute requests we say honestly whether we can cover the dates rather than promising and subcontracting blindly.