Road Scholar Launches Learning Adventure to Mark Anniversary of Beatles' American Invasion

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' iconic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Road Scholar, the world's largest educational travel organization, understands the impact this iconic band had on baby boomers and beyond, and in 2017, offers participants the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the band that revolutionized popular music and introduced America to the creative genius of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

This five-day learning adventure in Washington D.C. features several experts who take participants on a journey back to the 1960s to learn about the shifting landscape of popular music and the role the Fab Four played in influencing American music, fashion, culture and politics. Road Scholars will stay at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. the same city where the band played their first concert following their appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

"The Beatles revolutionized the early 60s, creating a new genre of music, and influencing fashion, style and politics," said James Moses, president and CEO of Road Scholar. "The 60s were a particularly tumultuous time in America, as baby boomers entered adulthood and challenged the status quo altering social and political mores. The Beatles were, for many of us, the soundtrack of the times, and re-visiting that period from our current perspective should provide a deeper understanding of a revolutionary time in our history."

The Beatles weren't the only famous band to stay at the hotel. The Rolling Stones followed shortly after, as well as many former Heads of State. Phil Hollywood (Yes, that's his real name) was the general manager of the hotel during their stay and has spoken about the excitement and chaos surrounding the event.

"If it weren't for Mr. Hollywood's quick thinking, the Beatles would have been mobbed by fans in the lobby," explains Jill Flynn, current director of sales & marketing of the hotel. "When they arrived to the hotel, he thought to bring them up the freight elevator to room 625 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, which is now the Beatles Suite. As the band prepared to leave, Mr. Hollywood staged two limousines with a motorcade out back as fans crowded every exit. The Beatles were escorted through the kitchen to avoid the fray. John Lennon jotted down a 12 song playlist on Omni Shoreham Hotel stationery, which included songs such as "Twist and Shout" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" which they played the night of their first show on American soil in Washington D.C., February 11, 1964."

Road Scholar is offering a special incentive for this program: Participants who enroll before October 31, 2016 will save $200. To learn more, please visit our website at roadscholar.org/22739

Love the Beatles but looking for an international adventure? Road Scholar offers Beatlemania on the Queen Mary 2: A Transatlantic Phenomenon (roadscholar.org/22672) or The Beatles: From Penny Lane to Strawberry Fields (roadscholar.org/22802).

About Road Scholar Road Scholar is the nation's largest educational travel organization for adults. The not-for-profit offers 5,500 extraordinary educational adventures in 150 countries and 50 states. Road Scholars are immersed in a variety of experiential learning activities, enlisting world-renowned faculty and local experts who offer insider access not available to most individuals. Dedicated to making educational travel available to everyone, Road Scholar offers financial assistance for those who otherwise could not participate in its programs.

Road Scholar learning adventures are created by Elderhostel, the not-for-profit world leader in educational travel since 1975. To learn more, please visit our new website at roadscholar.org/press.

About the Omni Shoreham Hotel The Omni Shoreham Hotel, with 834 rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, is Washington's finest convention and meeting venue. Expert service, creative banquet culinary and stunning interior and outdoor spaces reflect the monumental nature of our Nation's Capital. The hotel is known for attracting famous politicians, as well as stars of Hollywood past and present. Today, the Omni Shoreham Hotel retains that tradition, while providing modern amenities and conveniences.

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