Tom Merrill
Travel Consultant
Meet Tom
Your travel partner.
Tom’s 20 years of experience in the performance travel industry is rooted in over a decade of music education and a lifetime of performing. A wind musician and vocalist, Tom’s personal love of music inspired him to pursue an undergraduate degree in music education and then a Masters in conducting and clarinet. He taught middle and high school band in Colorado and Iowa for ten years before launching a new career as a performance travel consultant and festival event organizer. Since 2000, he’s been working with fellow educators to create impactful performance travel tours for students. He believes the opportunities for growth outside the walls of the rehearsal room can be students’ most meaningful performance experiences.
Tom Merrill
Travel Consultant
Direct Line:
Main Office: (800) 373-1423
Extension: 263
My favorite travel memory
One of my favorite memories would be visiting Ellis Island in New York for the first time. My grandfather arrived there from Denmark in 1908; I remember standing in the Great Hall trying to imagine what it must have been like for him. He was a 7 year old boy from the tiny town of Tylstrup who only spoke Danish, and had just gotten off of a boat that sailed across the ocean and walked into a building where he was surrounded by hundreds of people speaking strange languages. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t comprehend how frightening and disorienting that must have been. That experience gave me a real appreciation for what my ancestors had been through and how fortunate I have been in my life.
My hobbies and pastimes
My wife Jen and I play in an adult community wind ensemble and I sing in my church choir. One of the things I promised myself when I started teaching was that I would keep playing or singing in groups because being on the ‘other side of the podium’ would help me be a better conductor. And it did – because I didn’t forget how it feels to be in the ensemble. Recently I had the opportunity to guest conduct a couple of bands and it was wonderful rehearsing a group and bringing all the parts together.
My favorite destination
Believe it or not – Washington, D.C.. It has everything that appeals to me: I’m a history nerd, a news and politics junkie, an aviation and space exploration enthusiast, and with the top military ensembles in town it even satisfies being a band geek. When we were there a few years ago on a family vacation, I got up early one morning and walked a few blocks from the hotel to see John Philip Sousa’s birthplace.
Top reasons to plan your trip with Bob Rogers Travel
- Every trip is customized to your vision and your program
- Access to a world-class team with over
450 years combined travel experience - Easy payment tools to make your travel experience seamless
- Work with a family-owned business that has the scale and experience to take you anywhere you want to go
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Moments that Matter …
Tom-Merrill-Midwest
Giving my presentation “Making the Where Match Your Why” at the Midwest Clinic in 2022.
Tom-Merrill-Six Show
We’re always up for a great show!
Tom-Merrill-Washington DC
Where the travel career started: Washington, D.C., July 4, 1983.
Tom-Merrill-Yosemite 1
My wife Jen and I on a picture perfect first visit to Yosemite National Park.
Tom-Merrill-Yosemite 2
My wife Jen and I on a picture perfect first visit to Yosemite National Park.
Tom-Merrill-Yosemite 3
My wife Jen and I on a picture perfect first visit to Yosemite National Park.
I have yet to have a less than stellar experience when working with BRT. Any small issue that may arise is always taken care of quickly and the stress is taken off the directors and the chaperones. It's truly a first-class experience and I end every trip excited for the next.
Jason Heeren, Johnston HS
Beyond happy with my BRT experience. Our BRT team was wonderful, extremely quick to communicate and get to certain tasks, beyond generous and simply a pleasure to work with. I could not recommend BRT more!
Jamie Mancuso, Northside College Prep
Overall the trip was very well organized. Everybody we worked with was very helpful and friendly. Working with BRT makes my job so much easier.
Cory Goshorn, Evergreen HS
I have never seen a company go so far out of their way to make the directors, staff, and students feel so special. BRT's attention to detail is unmatched.
David Needham, Carter HS
We had a wonderful trip, as always. The consistent communication and care shown from BRT makes traveling fun and easy.
Anna Patenaude, Mora HS
This trip was one of my favorites that we have ever done. Communication and implementation from start to finish was excellent. I did not have to worry at any point about the details that BRT was handling.
Scott Gumina, Lisle HS
From the start of the planning process, to the end of the trip, we felt that everything about this trip was well done. All questions were answered promptly, all issues taken care of without delay. In thinking back to all of the band trips I have been on, this trip was one of the best.
Jason Frank, Pleasant-North Union HS
The trip was great. BRT makes the travel experience really easy and low-stress on the directors.
Paul Levy, Oak Lawn HS
Bob Rogers Travel made our trip a tremendous success and I cannot think of another company that looks after and makes arrangements for performing ensembles better than BRT.
Brent Duford, Somerset Academy Sky Pointe HS
I'll likely never plan a trip myself again! I wasn't stressed leading up to the trip because I knew everything was taken care of. The students had a BLAST in part because of the incredible job done by the team at BRT. Will undoubtedly be recommending BRT to friends and colleagues.
Tyler Busick, Trention HS
This was our school's first time traveling overseas, and I don't think it could have been a better experience. Bob Rogers has that great combination of doing wonderful advance-planning but also smoothly dealing with challenges as they arise on the trip. It led to a fantastic overall experience!
Amanda Thoms, Midland Dow HS
I enjoyed the expertise that Bob Rogers Travel offered and felt our wants and needs were always listened to!
Ellen Moon, Ashwaubenon HS
I will always travel with Bob Rogers, and I recommend them to all my director friends. They make the whole process easy and as stress free as possible.
Makayla West, Sperry HS
We've been using Bob Rogers Travel for a number of years now. They have always been great to work with. They are attentive and prompt and work hard to accommodate whatever we need. We have always have a great experience using this company.
Joe Pondaco, Duxbury HS
Bob Rogers makes it so easy to travel! They take care of every detail and once you leave everything is stress free! They plan great activities that keep the kids engaged the whole time. The coordinators are so easy to work with and are very timely with communication. I would 100% travel with them again.
Julia Richards, Farmington STEAM Academy