70TH SKÅL WORLD CONGRESS, BUDAPEST HUNGARY
Almost 700 participants are now registered for the 70th Skål World Congress in Budapest. Full information on the Congress can be found on the Skål International website www.skal.travel go to Congresses. You can also register for the B2B workshop which will be held on Wednesday 4th November 2009. Each Skål country is entitled to a free table and four chairs and extra tables and chairs can be arranged for Euro 50.00. Reservations can also be done on line.
POST SKÅL BUDAPEST CONGRESS DANUBE RIVER CRUISE
The Skål Post Budapest Congress Danube River Cruise has proven to be very popular with only 12 cabins still available. All of the lower category cabins have sold out. There are over 140 Skålleagues and accompanying partners from 18 countries now booked on the cruise. Skålleagues from Skål Australia have chartered a ship exclusively for Skålleagues, accompanying partners and friends to cruise the Danube River for four days departing 8th November from Budapest to Bratislava, Slovakia to Vienna and back to Budapest.
Full details can be obtained from the following hyperlink. http://www.globusfamily.com.au/Agents/images/ProductFlyers/Avalon/SKALcongressflyer-US_EU/090302-SKALcongressflyer-US_EU.pdf
The cost of the cruise is fantastic value from only EUR 202/ USD 288 per day which includes cruising on the magnificent MV Avalon Tapestry, all meals, wine with dinner, guided tours, gratuities, port charges, transfers from Congress hotels and a special dinner function with the Vienna Skal Club at the Vienna Town Hall. There will also be a special cocktail party hosted by Avalon Waterways on board the ship.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to cruise with Skålleagues from around the world and enjoy some great fellowship and amicale. A booking form is available from the following hyperlink - http://www.skal.org/pdf/Booking_Form_Budapest09.pdf. Don’t delay booking as cabins are almost all sold out and are going fast!
NEW BOOK TO AID THE FLORIMOND VOLCKAERT FUND
A REQUEST FOR HUMOUROUS STORIES FROM SKÅL MEMBERS FOR A NEW FLORIMOND VOLCKAERT FUND-RAISING BOOK ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY (Which won’t make you famous, but you will receive a free copy if your story makes the final cut for our book, and at your request, we can give publicity to you and your company).
Dear Skålleague:
I am a Canadian journalist and author of over a thousand national articles and three dozen books. I have been authorized by the Skål Executive Committee and commissioned by Thom Vincent, International Skal Councillor for Canada, to create a win-win project for the thousands of Skål members around the world.
I will be writing a humorous book of stories, to raise funds for the Skål admirable charity, the Florimond Volckaert Fund, which assists Skål members who may have economic, family or health challenges. As many of you have had years of experience in the tourism and hospitality business, I know you have a few great stories to tell.
Please submit as soon as possible to
amgould@sympatico.ca Read more
TTG POLAND
Skål International is working closely with TTG Poland on the development of Skål in Poland. Please click here to read information on the 4th Incoming Edition of Meet Poland.
UPDATES TO THE SKÅL SUSTAINABLE WEBPAGE
The Sustainable Development in Tourism page on the Skål International website has been updated. Click on New Trends to read about Eco Events and Green Meetings. www.skal.travel go to Sustainable Tourism.
NEW FACE FOR SKÅL INTERNATIONAL ASIA
[Seoul] Skål International Asian Area President Mr. Gerry Perez announced the launch of their new website www.skal-asia.org.
The new website is designed to be especially helpful to members and non members alike and includes details of how and where to join Skål International in Asia, the world’s largest association of travel and tourism professionals.
For the first time ever this will be an important reference tool of Skål Asian Area, including photographs and contact details of the new board of officers for 2009-2011; the five National Committees in Asia namely: Thailand, India, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan as well as the Presidents of all 42 Skål clubs in the Asian Area. Read more.
SAMUI - GREEN ISLAND TROPICAL HOLIDAY PARADISE PACKAGE
SPECIAL RATE FOR SKÅLLEAGUES ON SAMUI GREEN ISLAND. This offer of special accommodation rates for Skålleagues and Skålleague-run travel agencies the whole year round in one of the most charming holiday destinations in South East Asia. Horst Hornung, President of Skål International Koh Samui advises that you can book directly via Samui Skålleague MDs or GMs who operate the various 3-5* resorts, hotels and villa rentals. In addition, there are the best rates for local incentives on Samui such as dining, spas, excursions, shopping which will be available on location via VP Yves Baccon. For more information, check out www.skalsamui.org
NEW MICE FACILITY OPENS IN BANGKOK
Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok has added to its MICE facilities and soft opened its brand new ‘mansion house’ styled venue, Tarathep House on the 18th July, 2009. The new MICE facility is an elegant stand-alone house with an impressive façade of columns and a white dome. With its own driveway and grand entrance, guests will first glimpse a stunning new water feature at its entrance. Located close to the main hotel entrance within the hotel’s famous gardens, which include space for 900 cars, Tarathep House can accommodate upwards of 600 people for cocktails and up to 450 people for a sit down dinner. Read more
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM – TIPS FOR THE MONTH
- Reject and discourage tourist practices which are illegal and exploit people and the environment beyond any limit.
- Cooperate with local communities, ensuring that they benefit from the visits of our customers, and encourage customers to respect the local particularities and way of life in the areas they visit.
To read all 101 Tips go to www.skal.travel and Sustainable Tourism or click here.
CLEAN THE WORLD FOUNDATION
Bill Pullen a member of Skål International Orlando and Trustee of the Joe Neary Charity (Sri Lanka) writes on the activities of the Clean the World Foundation, currently based in Orlando. It is a concept where they collect used guest room soaps and shampoos, cleanse, reprocess and redistribute them to homeless shelters and other locations. The Foundation recently shipped 2,000 lbs to Haiti. Through Noel Fernando, President of Skål in Colombo and thanks to FedEx and Sri Lankan Airlines who have agreed to ship this product on a free of charge, space available basis, The Joe Neary Charity is working on sending similar shipments to Sri Lanka for distribution to some of the refugee camps there. Fox news went with and covered the delivery to Haiti, Bill Pullen believes that with Skål contacts around the world, we can assist in many ways.
Clean the World is an Orlando, Florida based organization that focuses on the collection and distribution of unused soap portions and shampoo for the purpose of distributing them to those in need. The organization was started by Shawn Seipler and Paul Till, two gentlemen who wondered what happens to all of the unused soap and shampoo left at lodging establishments around the United States. Read more from Green Lodging News.
PAST PRESIDENT BIRGER BÄCKMAN TAKES IT EASIER
Birger Bäckman, President of Skål International in 1989/90 has announced that he is planning to take life a little easier. Click here to read his letter.
PEOPLE
Past President 1986/87 Jimmy James, passed away recently in Melbourne, Australia after a long illness. Jimmy James was the first International President from Australia. We send our condolences to his wife Lynn.
Loftus Dundas, Skål International Johannesburg passed away following surgery for a heart complaint. Loftus or Lofty as he was better known was a long standing member of Skål International Johannesburg and a former President and Vice President of the International Skål Council. We send our condolences to his wife Jean and fellow members in Johannesburg.
Lynn Bogart, wife of Ray Bogaert, member of Skål International London, former Auditor and Membre d’Honneur of Skål International, passed away suddenly at her residence. Although not a Skål member herself she was very well known for her attendance with Ray at many international Congresses over a long number of years. Her last Skål function was the cruise on the Thames during the International Council Mid-Year meeting in London on May 2009.
