Hello Les, Thank you and Monsignor Dotson so very much for meeting yesterday. There is no better way to plan a successful performance tour and pilgrimage than to set a strong foundation of communication and no better way to do that than to meet face-to-face. I truly appreciate you taking the time to do that. I have already communicated what we discussed with my colleagues in Rome and have made revisions to the itinerary that reflect our discussion yesterday. You will note that the prices have come down slightly by removing the entrances to the Colosseum and the services of an additional local guide for the visit. Every dollar helps! I Your musical experiences with an evening concert in Assisi, a sung liturgy at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, a sung liturgy at the Church of St. Lawrence in Rome and a chance to sing during mass at the Throne Altar in St. Pater’s Basilica for a scheduled mass will offer your ensemble truly inspirational moments for making music together. Complete the perfect tour with a final concert in one of the beautiful churches of Rome and your choir members and fellow parishioners will all be filled with memories of a lifetime. Nothing is set in stone, or in this case Carrara marble Les, I am here to work with you to fine tune this itinerary to ensure it meets all the needs of the ensemble and reflects your high standards of cultural opportunities and musical highlights. I look forward to the process of orchestrating this tour together. Visit Your TripSite Traveler Resources Your Encore Benefits Guaranteed Land Rates We do not raise our prices based on currency fluctuations in the marketplace. This alleviates any unwelcome currency surcharges during the planning period or immediately prior to travel. The Best Tour Managers Around Our Tour Managers are repeatedly evaluated and praised as being the best in educational travel, and they are available to you 24 hours per day. The tour manager stays in the same hotel as the group, and coordinates hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, and concert venue availability and rehearsal time. These representatives also deliver the educational portion of the tour with detailed historical commentary during travel. Protection Plans for Everyone All participants are covered at no extra cost by our Basic Protection Plan covering health insurance overseas and trip cancellation/interruption in case of illness. Participants also have the option to upgrade to our Ultimate or Ultimate Plus plans, which include the ability to cancel for any reason up to four days before departure and still receive a full refund. Additionally, all Encore participants travel with an automatic $15,000 health protection plan. Financial Security Encore Tours and our parent company, ACIS, carry a $50 million general liability insurance policy to protect our groups. In addition, as an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), we post a $1 million indemnity bond as part of USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program. Tour Fundraiser Register 30 or more participants with Encore Tours and we will award your group a FREE weekend getaway for two to Paris or London over Veteran’s Day Weekend or Martin Luther King Day Weekend. We have had ensembles raise over $20,000 using this gift as a raffle prize. Domestic Fundraiser Info Sheet International Fundraiser Info Sheet Prelude Join Encore staff for our annual Prelude event, a free professional development weekend for ensemble directors and a guest that takes place in a different musically rich international destination. “Incredible! I cherished every moment. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Such experiences would have been impossible on my own. Being pampered in this manner and witnessing the professionalism and luxury that Encore embodies was an absolute delight.” – 2024 Prelude attendee Online Billing We are excited to offer the choice of group billing or direct billing and will gladly work with your preference. With group billing you will receive an invoice with each participant’s balance and payment due prior to the due date. If you decide to enroll your group in direct billing Encore will mail invoices to each participant for all payments due. Accounts can also be accessed 24 hours a day on our website and payments can be made online with MasterCard and Visa for no additional cost. This is the suggested payment plan, however you can adjust it according to the group’s needs. Automatic Payments Plan Encore offers an auto-pay option for all participants signed up for individual billing. Enrollment in the plan is free and funds are withdrawn from the participant’s checking account on a regular basis, with the last payment being processed 45 days prior to departure. 24-7 Overseas Coverage Encore has offices overseas in the event of an emergency. In addition, US staff are always available to ensure you are receiving a quality travel experience, before, during and after your concert tour. All land arrangements including concert bookings and promotion are provided directly by Encore’s affiliate offices, offering the highest quality services and the very best value to our clients. Graduate Level Credits Enhance your professional development! Directors and participants have the opportunity to earn graduate-level credits through their tour experience and participation in our Prelude events. These educational opportunities not only enrich your tour but also contribute to your lifelong learning and professional growth. Tour Inclusions Roundtrip airfare from LAX flying into and out of Rome Airport and airline taxes, and current fuel surcharges 7 nights Accommodations at centrally located 4-star-hotels Rooming in double -room occupancy Single room accommodations available for an additional fee of $1,250 per person Note on Assisi Hotels: The Grand Hotel Assisi is 2 miles from the Parking where all buses load and unload passengers at the base of the hill in Assisi. No buses are allowed in the Assisi center. The Grand Hotel Assisi also offers free shuttrle service to the center of Assisi Assisi Center offers just one suitable hotel, The Fontebella however this would increase the cost per person by $395 and the single room supplement would increase by another $150. Additionally, the Fontebella cannot offer a large group all the same standard of rooms, which would mean some travelers would get standard rooms and other Superior room Breakfast daily and special arrival and farewell dinners at local restaurants All sightseeing and entrances as featured in the itinerary Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and driver Services of a professional Tour Manager throughout your program Basic gratuities for the tour manager and bus drivers Arrangements for 1 Formal Evening Concert performance in Assisi, 1 Formal Evening Concert in Rome, and opportunities for Liturgies at St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, St. Lawrence and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Rental of an electronic keyboard as needed per the performances. Organ available for liturgies if needed All concert arrangements include venue rental and allocation, all necessary concert permits, all pre-concert advertisement, and on-site concert assistance Pre-concert rehearsal time, where possible Vox Headsets All Entrances as outlined in the itinerary including: Vatican Museums (Vatican Gardens pending group size), Sistine Chapel, and Wednesday Papal Blessing. What’s Not Included? Baggage Fees imposed by the airlines Instrument stands Any meals not listed in your itinerary Programs for the concerts Allocations of specific seat assignments on flights Pricing Options Travelers #3 Free80 (2 Buses)Air and Land: $5909Land Only: $436970 (2 Buses)Air and Land: $5969Land Only: $454960 (2 Buses)Air and Land: $6309Land Only: $474950 in One Extra-Long MotorcoachAir and Land: $6069 Land Only: $4549 Based on “Land and Air” out of Los Angeles flying into and out of Rome accommodating the group in double occupancy rooms. SAMPLE VENUES Please note that venues are not confirmed until expressly stated by your Program Consultant. Choir Choosing the Right Venue St. Peter’s Basilica Rome Charged as being “the greatest of all churches of Christendom,” St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, is nearly 400 years old and possesses a wealth of history, culture, and art. Adorned with works of famous Italian Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, St. Peter’s is a popular site not only for Christians, but for historians and tourists alike. Not only have Encore groups had the opportunity to explore such a remarkable sight, but some have also performed for the Pope himself! Choir St. Francis Basilica Assisi The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, in the town where St. Francis was born and died, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. The Basilica, begun in 1228, comprises two churches – the Upper Church and Lower Church – and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. With permission, choral groups can sing during Holy Mass. Band Choir Sant’Agnese Rome Sant’Agnese in Agone is a seventeenth Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the historic centre of the city and the site where the Early Christian Saint Agnes was martyred at the ancient Stadium of Domitian. A number of architects were involved in the construction of the church, including Girolamo Rainaldi and his son Carlo Rainaldi, and two of the foremost Baroque architects of the day; Francesco Borromini and the sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The church serves as a cultural gathering point for the entire city with concerts throughout the year often featuring visiting ensembles. Choir Orchestra Sant’Andrea della Valle Church Rome It is hard to imagine a more dramatic church than Sant’ Andrea della Valle, it is therefore not hard to understand why Puccini set the first act of his opera, Tosca, in the Barberini Chapel. It is here that Angelotti seeks a hiding place from the Roman chief of police and Tosca’s suspicions of her lovers’ supposed infidelity are aroused. This is a venue of unmatched opulence and operatic history and would be the perfect venue for a choral performance. Choir Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Rome Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola is a stunning venue celebrated for its exquisite Baroque architecture and remarkable artistic treasures. Built in the 17th century, this church features a striking façade and an interior adorned with elaborate frescoes and intricate stuccoes, including works by prominent artists such as Andrea Pozzo. The church is particularly famous for its spectacular ceiling, which creates the illusion of a soaring dome, drawing visitors into its captivating atmosphere. Hotels Please note this quotation is based on 4-star standard well-located hotels in all cities. Munich and Salzburg Hotel information is contained in email dated April 26, 2024. BV Grand Hotel Assisi Assisi This 4-star hotel, situated on a hillside with breathtaking views of Assisi and the lush valley below, provides a peaceful and luxurious stay in Umbria. The air-conditioned rooms come with modern amenities like free WiFi, and some include private terraces or hydro-massage showers. The restaurant serves regional dishes, including homemade pasta, and features terraces and a rooftop garden offering stunning panoramic views. Guests can unwind at the wellness center, swim in the heated indoor pool, or attend events at the conference center. Complimentary parking and a free shuttle to the center of Assisi make it a convenient and relaxing choice for travelers. Learn More Palace Hotel Fontebella Assisi Assisi Hotel Fontebella offers groups an elegant, centrally located base in the heart of Assisi, just steps from the Basilica of Santa Chiara and a short walk from the Basilica of San Francesco. Housed in a restored 17th-century palazzo, the hotel blends historic Umbrian charm with modern comforts, including well-appointed rooms, attentive service, and an on-site restaurant known for its regional cuisine and panoramic views over the Spoleto Valley. Its prime in-town location allows groups to explore Assisi’s medieval streets and religious landmarks entirely on foot, offering travelers an immersive, authentic stay without ever needing to leave the historic center. Learn More Hotel Mediterraneo Rome Hotel Mediterraneo offers groups a distinctive 4-star stay in central Rome, set atop Esquilino Hill just steps from Termini Station and within easy walking distance of the city’s iconic monuments. Designed by Art Deco architect Mario Loreti in 1938, the hotel features authentic 1930s architecture and luxurious décor throughout its 242 rooms, with marble busts, mosaics, and a striking cantilevered marble staircase adding to its distinctive character. Groups can start their day with breakfast in the ornate Polene Room or take in sweeping views of Rome from the rooftop terrace, La Terrazza, before heading out to explore the city’s top attractions on foot. With its blend of historic Art Deco charm, central location, and excellent transport access, Hotel Mediterraneo gives travelers a memorable and stylish home base in the heart of Rome. Learn More Have any additional questions? Reach out to your program manager directly, or contact us for any assistance. 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