2014 CIS Latin America Tour Announcement

OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LATIN AMERICA COMMITTEE
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
March 2014
Dear Colleague,
A very warm greeting from bright and sunny California! On behalf of the CIS Latin America Committee, I am
pleased to announce the 2014 CIS Latin America Tour. The Council of International Schools (CIS) is a non-profit
organization that has been sponsoring recruitment tours around the world with a specific focus on undergraduate
students for nearly 40 years. The CIS Latin America Committee is composed of a group of experienced admission
professionals who volunteer their time to plan and direct recruitment tours throughout Latin America. The
collective experience of committee volunteers allows CIS to provide thoughtful, efficient, and professional
recruitment opportunities in Latin America.
This year’s tour will take you to all the key markets in Central and South America! Each year we visit international
high schools and several local schools that historically send students to the United States. Tour participants
conduct in-depth workshops and attend events to help students, parents, US Educational Advisors, and guidance
counsellors understand topics on admission, financial aid, scholarships and adjustment to college life. Also, we will
maintain a CIS tradition by participating in a service project. We are pleased to engage the services of a
professional tour operator from Wren & Fida International who will travel with us and provide logistical assistance
throughout the tour. This will allow us to offer an exceptionally high level of service and support to tour
participants before, during, and after the tour.
The tour participants are requested to arrive in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Sunday, August 31 for our
Orientation and first high school fair on September 1. The tour will conclude in Panama on Tuesday, September
16. The following itinerary is proposed (subject change):
Week 1
Guatemala City, Guatemala
San Salvador, El Salvador
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
San José, Costa Rica
Bogotá, Colombia,
Week 2
Quito, Ecuador
Lima, Peru
Santiago, Chile
Montevideo, Uruguay
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Panama City, Panama
The application deadline is Friday April 18, 2014, and a deposit of US$1,000 is required. The cost for the
tour is US$15,200 (including deposit). Please find the preliminary itinerary (subject to change), terms and
conditions of participation, information on the tour cost and tour application at www.cois.org under the section,
“For Colleges and Universities.”
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at [email protected] or
1.714.997.6711. You may also direct questions about the tour or CIS in general to the CIS Office of Higher
Education at [email protected] or 1.607.272.5758.
The 2014 tour promises to be both productive and enjoyable. I hope you will join us in September!
Sincerely,
Marcela Mejia Martinez, Tour Director
Chapman University
401 East State Street, Suite 405 ▪ Ithaca, New York 14850 ▪ USA
Tel: 1 607 272 5758 ▪ Fax: 1 607 272 5051 ▪ E-mail: [email protected]
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
Itinerary
(Subject to change)
Weekday/Date
Sunday, August 31
Working City
Guatemala City
Monday, September 1
Guatemala City
Tuesday September 2
El Salvador/San Jose
Wednesday September 3
Tegucigalpa
Thursday September 4
San Jose
Friday September 5
Bogota
Saturday September 6
Bogota
Sunday September 7
Quito
Monday September 8
Quito
Tuesday September 9
Lima
Wednesday September 10
Santiago
Thursday September 11
Montevideo
Friday September 12
Buenos Aires
Saturday September 13
Iguazu Falls
Sunday September 14
Rio de Janeiro
Monday September 15
Rio de Janeiro
Tuesday September 16
Panama City
Wednesday September 17
Panama City
Description
Individual Arrivals. Overnight in
Guatemala City.
Orientation meeting. School Visits
and College Fairs. Opening Dinner.
Overnight in Guatemala City.
Flight to El Salvador. School Visits
and College Fairs. Flight to San Jose.
Overnight in San Jose.
Flight to Tegucigalpa. School Visits
and College Fairs. Flight to San Jose.
Overnight in San Jose.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Flight to Bogota. Overnight in
Bogota.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Overnight in Bogota.
Institutional Time. Overnight in
Bogota.
Institutional Time. Flight to Quito.
Overnight in Quito.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Flight to Lima. Overnight in Lima.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Flight to Santiago. Overnight in
Santiago.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Service Project. Overnight in
Santiago.
Flight to Montevideo. School Visits
and College Fairs. Flight to Buenos
Aires. Overnight in Buenos Aires.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Flight to Iguazu Falls. Overnight in
Iguazu Falls.
Institutional Time. Overnight in
Iguazu Falls.
Flight to Rio de Janeiro. Overnight
in Rio de Janeiro.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Flight to Panama. Overnight in
Panama City.
School Visits and College Fairs.
Tour Review Meeting. Closing
Dinner. Overnight in Panama City.
Individual departures.
401 East State Street, Suite 405 ▪ Ithaca, New York 14850 ▪ USA
Tel: 1 607 272 5758 ▪ Fax: 1 607 272 5051 ▪ E-mail: [email protected]
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
Included Features (subject to change)
Destinations:
Guatemala City, Guatemala; San Salvador, El Salvador; Tegucigalpa, Honduras;
San Jose, Costa Rica; Bogota, Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Santiago,
Chile; Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Panama City, Panama
Transportation:
By economy class jet: Guatemala City to San Salvador; San Salvador to San Jose;
San Jose to Tegucigalpa; Tegucigalpa to San Jose; San Jose to Bogota; Bogota to
Quito; Quito to Lima; Lima to Santiago; Santiago to Montevideo; Montevideo,
to Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls; Iguazu Falls to Rio de Janeiro; Rio
de Janeiro to Panama City.
Accommodations:
Seventeen nights at first class hotels, single rooms, taxes, breakfast and internet
included. Hotel list will be posted to the Wren & Fida website.
Transfers:
Included from airport to the hotel and vice versa, by private motor coach. All
group transfers for school visits and college fairs are included.
Orientation/
Debriefing:
Mandatory orientation meeting in Guatemala City and debriefing in Panama City.
Meals:
Daily Breakfast. Opening dinner in Guatemala City and closing dinner in Panama
City.
Gratuities & Taxes: All gratuities and taxes in connection with the “Included Features” are included.
Airport and hotel porters, drivers and guides gratuities are all included. Airport
departure taxes are also included.
Passports/Visas:
The following services/items are NOT included in the price of the tour: Brazil
visa (required for all U.S. Citizens); Argentina Reciprocity Tax (all U.S. citizens
are required to pay this tax online prior to their trip and not upon arrival).
CIS Tour Director: Ms. Marcela Mejia, Director of Admission, Chapman University.
Tour Manager:
Carol Alegre, Wren & Fida International.
Pre-Trip Materials: Appropriate tour information and pre-trip literature will be provided to all tour
participants. A webpage with login and password will be provided on initial
tour communication.
Tour Materials:
Luggage Tags, Tour Booklet, Table Signs and personalized name badge will be
provided for all participants.
Travel Insurance:
A basic coverage group policy is included for all US residents.
Miscellaneous:
Information on schools to be visited on the tour and cultural background
information on the countries to be visited will be provided in advance. A CIS
brochure with information about each participating institution will be provided
to each school to share with prospective students and school counselors.
401 East State Street, Suite 405 ▪ Ithaca, New York 14850 ▪ USA
Tel: 1 607 272 5758 ▪ Fax: 1 607 272 5051 ▪ E-mail: [email protected]
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
Excluded Features
The following services/items are NOT included in the price of the tour: Passport; passport photos; visa
fees, Argentina Reciprocity Tax; rush visa fees; 2nd passports; additional passport pages; shipping of
materials; excess or overweight luggage; meals not specified in the itinerary; telephone calls, laundry,
valet service, room service, or any other items of a personal nature; and other service/items not
specifically mentioned in the itinerary or under “included features” above.
Personal Travel Insurance is not included, but is STONGLY recommended.
Terms & Conditions
Costs:
2014 CIS Latin America Tour Land & Air Package - Starting in Guatemala City and ending in Panama
City: US$15,200.00
•
•
•
Tour applications due:
Deposit due to CIS
Tour Balance due to Wren & Fida
April 18, 2014
April 18, 2014 US$1,000.00
May 19, 2014 US$14,200.00
Late Fee: 5%
Terms and Conditions: Tour price is subject to change due to: revaluation of the U.S. dollar, fuel
surcharges, government taxes, airport departure taxes, reciprocity taxes, entry visa fees, itinerary
changes and all other items not in the control of Wren & Fida International.
Registration/Payment:
•
•
Your deposit of US$1,000, directed to CIS must accompany the enclosed application form.
Participants must meet the conditions for participation and application deadlines in order to be
considered. If for any reason an institution cannot be accommodated, the tour deposit will be
fully refunded.
Payment for the balance of the tour costs will be due to Wren & Fida International no later than
May 19, 2014. Institutions will receive an invoice for tour costs directly from Wren & Fida
International.
General Conditions for Participation:
•
This CIS tour is a rigorous recruitment trip designed for full-time, campus-based
international admission officers. Applicants must have at least two years of full-time
professional admissions experience and preference is given to applicants with at
least three years of professional admissions or related experience.
•
Participants must take part in the entire tour due to group travel arrangements
and advance publicity. Deviations from the tour itinerary are not permitted.
•
Any substitution in traveler, after formal tour acceptance, must meet all criteria for
participation. Any substitutions must be approved by the CIS Committee. No
substitutions are allowed within 45 days of departure. Approved substitute
travelers will pay a US$1000 change fee plus any additional tour expenses.
•
No institution may send more than one representative, nor may any additional travelers
accompany the tour participant.
401 East State Street, Suite 405 ▪ Ithaca, New York 14850 ▪ USA
Tel: 1 607 272 5758 ▪ Fax: 1 607 272 5051 ▪ E-mail: [email protected]
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
•
•
•
•
•
The tour will be limited to 29 participants plus the CIS tour director and the Wren & Fida tour
manager.
The CIS Latin America Tour is only available to U.S. institutions.
Participants must be prepared to make presentations on U.S. higher education and/or the
college admissions process in general. They must also be familiar with the specific admission and
financial aid policies of their own institutions, and be familiar with the concerns of international
students.
Participants must adhere to the statements on ethical professional practice and behavior of the
Council of International Schools and the National Association for College Admission
Counseling.
Due to space restrictions, we will be unable to permit any institutional floor displays at the
college fairs. Promotional giveaways are also not permitted.
Cancellations/Penalties:
CIS and Wren & Fida will only accept written cancellations. Fees will be assessed for cancellations in
the following manner:
Date of Cancellation
On or before
May 19 ,2014
After May 19 through
June 6, 2014
After June 6, 2014
2014 CIS Latin America Tour
Refund Policy
Full refund of the total tour fee, including US$1,000 tour deposit.
50% of the total tour fee is refundable, less the tour deposit of US$1,000 and any
unrecoverable tour expenses.
No refund
APPLICATION DEADLINE
April 18, 2014
Please send the completed application form along with your US$1,000.00 deposit made payable to CIS to:
Council of International Schools
Office of Higher Education
401 E. State Street, Suite 405
Ithaca, NY 14850
Tel: 1.607.272.5758 • Fax: 1.607.272.5051
Email: [email protected]
For further program information contact:
Marcela Mejia Martinez, Tour Director
Director of Admission
Chapman University
One University Drive
Orange, California 98266
Tel: 1.714.997.6711 • Fax: 1.714.997.6713
Email: [email protected]
For any questions concerning the travel arrangements contact:
Carol Alegre
Director of International Programs
Wren & Fida International
320 East 900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Tel: 1.801.364.4481 or 888.303.4481 • Fax: 1.801.364.4330
Email: [email protected]
401 East State Street, Suite 405 ▪ Ithaca, New York 14850 ▪ USA
Tel: 1 607 272 5758 ▪ Fax: 1 607 272 5051 ▪ E-mail: [email protected]