What is Skål International?
Skål is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest.
The first Club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia. The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934, the “Association Internationale des Skål Clubs” was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the “Father of Skål”.
Skål International today has approximately 15,000 members in 400 Clubs throughout 80 nations. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees, under the umbrella of Skål International, headquartered at the General Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain.
Skål International is governed by an Executive Committee of seven members, elected by delegates to an annual General Assembly, held during the World Congress, hosted by a different country each year. This allows members first-hand observation of the travel and tourism potential around the world.
Skål is non-political and encourages advancement and evolution through affiliation with other international industry organisations such as the World Tourism Organisation. Skål does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, religion, politics or social standing. Skål supports charitable causes.
Who is eligible for Membership?
Membership of Skål is open to managers or executives directly involved in tourism management, sales and promotions, in specified travel and tourism businesses, including: transportation (airlines, cruise lines, railways, ferries), travel and tour operators and agencies, tourism organisations, governments and non-government tourism councils, hotels, convention centres, travel media; etc.
Young Skål is open to junior executives and tourism students entering the industry.
Why Should I join?
The international friendship and close personal contact of Skål must be experienced to be appreciated.
“Doing Business among friends”. Skål is not a community organisation like Rotary or Lions, rather it benefits and develops the professional sector, while assisting the community at large. Skål is an Association of Tourism Professionals which encourages and creates a network of professionals around the world. It promotes seminars and conferences to strengthen the industry’s professionalism.
Through participation in local activities and events at all levels, members meet industry colleagues from around the world. Here, in an atmosphere of amicale, ideas, opportunities and industry matters, in general, may be shared on a personal and business level.
Skål members should promote the organisation, the formation of new Clubs and recruit qualified members.
What are the benefits of joining Skål?
- Through contributions from Clubs around the world, the Florimond Volckaert Fund assists any Skål member in times of financial need or crisis.
- The Skål International Membership Card entitles members to discounts at some participating outlets, provided by Skål Members.
- The network of Skål Members worldwide is now accessible via the Skål website in www.Skål.org. Information on members around the world is at your fingertips.
- Skål Members are welcome at all meetings around the world. Wherever you travel, you can access a network of Skål friends and colleagues.
- Skål News, a magazine published quarterly, is a medium for information about the organisation and an avenue for advertising exposure to 15,000 industry professionals.
HISTORY of Skal Asia by Antonio Garcia del Valle
1963/64
1964/65
1966/69
23-06-67 Regional Committee Meeting at Mandarin Hotel.
1969/70
1970/71
1974/75
01 / 04-10-75 4th Skål Congress Asia Clubs in Singapore at Hotel Hita. Asia then comprised Tahilandia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Chairman Organizing Committee Paul ARMSTRONG.
1976/78
25-03-76 Regional Committee Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. They meet Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, with the excuse of Colombo, Manila, Seoul and Japan and the absence of Indonesia, China and India. It was the reactivation of Seoul. During the Florence General Assembly, he reports that at that time they belong to the Asia Area Committee, Bangkok, Colombo, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and the Philippines. They have been invited to join Seoul, Japan and India.
22 / 25-11-76 V Asia General Assembly in Bangkok.
22-11-76 Cocktail offered by Thai Tourism.
23-11-76 Official Opening of the Assembly, with speeches by the President of Thai Tourism and its Director General. Lunch offered by the Association of Hoteliers and Travel Agents. Dinner offered by Thai International aboard the Oriental Queen.
24-11-76 Conference of the UNWTO Regional Secretary, which dealt with promotion in tourism. Then spoke the Marketing VP of Thai International, on the development of airlines in the East. Lunch in Diman. Dinner at the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel in Pattaya offered by Skål in Bangkok.
25-11-76 Cruise on the Gulf of Siam.
15 / 18-09-77 VI Assembly of the Skål Asian Clubs in Seoul. John HILL, Area Committee Chair, was unable to attend because of a broken leg.
08 / 09-11-78 VII Assembly Skål Asian Clubs in Manila, attends the President AISC, Salvador BUENDÍA.
1978/79
1980/81
President Tomás SHANAHAN of Barón Travel Corporation. 26 Clubs in Asia.
19 / 20-05-80 General Assembly in Bahrain. “Skål Asia” is approved. Helen COUZENS Vice-Chairman of the Area Committee is elected Editor-in-Chief. They were received by S.M. The Cheik ISA, Michael O’FLYNN, Helen COZZENS, George VOLCKAERT, Thomas SHANAHAN.
17 / 19-09-80 IX General Assembly in Bombay. Elected Secretary – Treasurer Victoria DE GUZMAN. They formed the Area Committee Singapore, Beirut, Bahrain, Taipei, Indonesia, Bangkok, Japan and Kuala Lumpur.
27 / 28-04-81 II Meeting of Asian Club Presidents at the Marco Polo Hotel in Singapore. Paul ARMSTRONG and his Committee were in charge of carrying out that meeting
Attend:
– President AISC, K. LINDBLAD
– Member of the AISC Diffusion, Antonio García del Valle
– Secretary General, AISC, C. ALLEGRA
– Chair Area Committee T. SHANAHAN
– VP Area Committee H. COZZENS
– Secretary – Treasurer V. DE GUZMAN
– International Councilor of India, N. KATGARA
– International Councilor of Thailand, M. SAKOLVIPHAK
– President CN India, Dilib MITRA
– President Singapore, Mr ARMSTRONG
– VP Singapore, E. BUCK KENG
– President Malaysia, L. YIT LOCK
– Past President Hong Kong, B. CUTHERTSON and B. NEWPORT
– President Manila, F. SCHUTZMAN
– President Tokyo, S. KAMADA
– President Seoul, A. HOLLIGEN
– President Pakistan
– President Taipei, M. ALAMGIR
– President Macao, H. CHENG
– President Madras, J. RANGEL
– S. RAO
– Secretary Colombo, C. LAWRENCE
After welcoming words from the President of the host club, the Chair of the Area Committee, the President AISC and the AISC Extension Member spoke on the need for collaboration and assistance to the clubs, to make a strong Asian Area Committee And with future. It was the beginning of this Area Committee and the presence of the AISC was highly valued. The Arrea Statutes were dealt with, solving the doubts. Subsequently, general Skål issues were addressed, in which those present recorded their interests
29-04-81 Dinner for the Presidents of Asia in the Hibuscus Room of the Marco Polo Hotel, I signed the menu: ARMSTRONG, CLAUDE, LINDBLAD and Helen COUZENS, with a personal and friendly dedication, which I keep dearly, was a great lady .
24-07-81 The AISC rGarcía del Valle Broadcast Member receives from the Committee all the necessary documents to be able to approve this Area Committee.
21 / 24-09-81 X General Assembly in Hong Kong and Macao. 120 delegates from 18 Clubs. GARCÍA DEL VALLE assists as Honorary Guest, as a Member of the Board, representing the President AISC, took full powers of the Executive Committee for the reorganization of the Arrea, Statutes, Members, etc. He was President Area Committee, Helen E. COZZENS, who was re-elected, and elected VP Victoria DE GUZMAN and Secretary Georgina FEELDERS, International Councilor Asia, Paul ARMSTRONG. That year the National Committee of Thailand adheres, according to the telegram of its President CN George VOLCKAERT. The memories of that meeting are varied, mixing the good with the bad. He was in charge of the organization Brian CUTHBERRTSON. At the working meeting I sat between the two ladies of the Asia Area Committee, Helen and Victoria. I was accompanied by C. Allegra and I remember that the limo that picked us up at the airport was charged to the hotel bill and as it was so expensive, upon returning directly we took a taxi on our own. I did not have any type of attention and if I remember that I made myself with a tie of the club, by exchange with one that I was wearing. The gift I had for the club brought me back. The actual Chairman of the Area Committee was Tomás SHANAHAN but was expelled from the Skål of Manila, which caused a difficult situation in the Area Committee. Bahrain, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Karachi, Philippines, Singapore, Colombo and Thailand attended as observers. Hong Kong tried to use Skål for its commercial purposes.
1981/82
1981-09-21/24 Hong Kong. Allegra, Cuthertson, Waterhouse, Bieger, Garcia del Valle, Couzens, Ramos. At the Assembly was born the Asia Area Committee commissioned by the International President Kaj Lindblad, who represented.
1981-04-27 / 28 Singapore. II Meeting of President Clubs of Asia. Lindblad, Garcia del Valle, Armstrong.
Taipei. 14 / 17-09-1982. Claude Allegra, Chang, García del Valle
1982-09-13 / 17 Taipei. XI Cº Asia. Helen Couzens, Antonio García del Valle.
1983/86
23 / 25-09-83 Meeting of the Area Committee in Bahrain. AISC President José COLOMAR was attended by 80 members of the Area Committee, Also was the SG /, Claude ALLEGRA. They were received by President Skål Bahrain, Abdul Rahman MANSOUR. The President AISC and the Area Committee Chairman had a hearing with Cheik Khalifa Bin SILMAN AL KHALIFA, Prime Minister of Bahrain. The Minister of Tourism S.E. Tarik ALMOAYED presided over the Opening. Mohamed BUZIZI was elected Alternate International Councilor for Asia.
24-09-84 General Assembly in Makati.
05-10-84 The Chairman Asia Area Committee visits Hong Kong to try to solve the problem of request of the Area Committee.
28 / 30-03-85 Meeting of Skål Sri Lanka, the decision is taken to request the XV Assembly of the Skål Asian Clubs. The Director of Tourism of the country was present.
21-09-85 At the Assembly held in Kuala Lumpur, President Victoria P. DE GUZMAN, VVPP H. C. CHENG and Len LAMBOURNE, present the VP AISC Jimmy JAMES. At the suggestion of several countries, Singapore proposed the division of the Asian Area Committee in East and Central, there were opinions in favor and against, but finally the thesis of those who said that they have 14 years of life and it is not convenient division . The division was always defended by me. International Adviser Mohamed BUZIZI, Secretary Dante U. Area CommitteeLMA, Treasurer A.J.M. RUITER. They tried Elections, Appointments to the Executive Committee of the AISC, Unconstitutionality of the Makati elections, Hong Kong requested the resignation of the Committee. Budget of the year of US $ 5,094.21. Proposals for the change of Arrea Statutes. Alternate International Councilor Cyril LAWRENCE. President Victoria P. DE GUZMAN was congratulated for the wonderful way of conducting the Assembly, preparing the Agenda and all the work carried out during the year.
24-02-86 the President of the AISC insists on the desirability of dividing this Area Committee into two or three Area Committee, due to the different distances, languages and customs, which would greatly facilitate the work and contact between countries.
25 / 28-09-86 XV General Assembly in Sri Lanka. At the Ramada Renaissance Hotel where we had the Welcome Cocktail, Meetings and Opening. GARCÍA DEL VALLE attended as President AISC, especially invited by Ciryl LAWRENCE. There were delegates from Asia, representations from Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. The Opening Ceremony was presided over by Minister of State Hon. Dr. Anandatissa DE ALWIS. The traditional lamp was lit by the Minister, by President AISC, VP Jimmy JAMES, President Tourism Bureau, President Air Lanka and by SG /, AISC Claude ALLEGRA. Among those present Uzi YALON and the President CN U. K. Dennis NEWMAN. The Presidential Table was decorated with pennants of different clubs of the world and attracted attention the color of the sharis of the ladies of the local club and of other countries of Asia. We had dances, parade of models and Varied Shows. * I have enough photos and memories in an album that they sent to me from Colombo. President Area Committee was elected to C. Nagendra PRASAD and International Advisor to Cyril LAWRENCE.
1986-09 Colombo
1987/88
11 / 14-09-88 Congress Asia Area Committee in Chiang Mai.
1989/90
22 / 25-09-90 XIX Assembly Skål Asian Clubs in Singapore.
1990/91
1992/94
23 / 26-09-94 XXIII General Assembly in Sri Lanka. 150 delegates and wives, 26C from the area, 4C from Australia and 15C from the R. 3 observers from Bangladesh. The Inaugural Ceremony took place at the Lanka Oberoi Hotel. Presiding Minister of Tourism Dharmasirí SENANAYAKE, Guest of Honor the President AISC Uzi YALON.
1995/97
02 / 04-06-95 XXIV General Assembly in Cebu. President Skål Cebu, Uwe WAGNER, President CO, Charles LIM. The venue was the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort. The Tourism Commission offered a dinner.
1996 It is composed of CC. NN. Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Rep. Of China and Thailand and the clubs of Bahrain, Colombo, Guam, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius, Seoul and Singapore.
07 / 10-06-96 Meeting of the Area Committee in Macau, attended by President AISC, Francesco COSTA.
13 / 16-06-97 Meeting of the Area Committee in Mauritius.
1997/99
15 / 17-05-98 Area Committee Assembly in Chiang Mai at the Western Hotel, represented 25 of the 29 clubs in the Area, with a total attendance of over 250 delegates. President AISC, Clive DAVIS, arrived at the Inaugural Celebration, mounted on elephant, Jim POWER, M. BUZIZI, C. LAWRENCE, Haroon KHAMISANI. In October comes the first issue of Asian Skålink, with notes of McCUBBIN and LAWRENCE.
28 / 30-05-99 XXVIII Asian Assembly in Singapore. 399US $ in double. With a Preliminary Golf Tournament. Prem Paul OHRI was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee. HAWKINS, President AISC, J. POWER, Secretary G /, A. PASSERA, VP AISC, Jano MOUAWAD, International Councilor.
1999/00
2000 Annual Meeting of the Asian Area Committee, with the assistance of AISC President Richard HAWKINS, under the patronage of Mohamed IBRAHIM, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Information and President of the Higher Council of Tourism. He gathered 150 delegates at the Gulf Hotel.
24 / 27-05-01 Assembly of the C.A. In Okinawa, President Skål International, Alfonso PASSERA.
2000/03
24 / 26-05-02 Regional Assembly of the Skål Clubs of Asia.
2003/05
2003 The XXX General Assembly of the Asian Area Committee, held in Okinawa, was attended by members of 17 different clubs in the area, was held at the Busena Resort with great success.
07-02-04 Midyear Meeting of the Asia Area Committee at the Royale Bintang Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Among the participants: René OCAMPO of Manila, Gerald PÉREZ, International Councilor of Asia, Guam, Robert de GRAAF, Secretary of the Phuket Area Committee, Avelino ZAPANTA of Manila, Joan BECHARD, Chairman of the Area Committee, Mauricio, Ivo NEKVAPIL, Area Committee PR, Kuala Lumpur, Earl WIEMAN of Taipei, Ambica SHRESTHA of Kathmandu, Richard HAWKINS, Singapore, Buck KEN of Singapore, Zia HAIDER RIZVI, Treasurer Area Committee, Lahore, Yik NAM YEONG of Singapore.
2005/08
20 / 23-05-05 Area Congress in Phuket, Thailand, which was attended by President AISC, HECHT. During this meeting they had the opportunity to visit one of the villages that suffered most from the tsunami, Koh Lak.
2008/13
2011-03 / 31-04 / 02 40th Congress of Skål Asia in Delhi, attended by 120 delegates, chaired by International President Tony BOYLE and Vice-President Mok SINGH with the Honorable Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit. Cultural events from different regions demonstrated the ancestral culture of this incredible country.
The Delhi club was founded in 1954 and has 194 members.
At the 2nd April Assembly, Gerald PÉREZ was re-elected Chairman of the Asia Committee for 2011/13 with this team:
– President, Gerald PÉREZ
– Vice-President Southeast Asia, Marco Giovanni BATTISTOTTI of Penang – Malaysia
– Vice President East Asia, Raymond Tait of Osaka. Japan
– Vice President West Asia, Praveen CHUGH of Delhi – India
– Director of Development, Jason SAMUEL of Bombay – India
– Director of Finance, Malcolm SCOTT of Bali – Indonesia
– Director of RR. PP. And Marketing, Robert SOHN of Seoul – Korea
– Director Skål Young, P. SARAVANAN from Chennai – India
– International Councilor, Graham BLAKELY of Macau
– Executive Secretary, Ivo NEKPAVIL of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
There was a souvenir for the victims of the Tsunami in Japan on 11-03-2011 and President PÉREZ thanked
The support of the Government of Delhi and thanked the delegates for their confidence in re-electing him as President. It was chosen as venue for 2012 in Penang, 41st Congress of 10 / 13-05-2012 and Colombo for 2013.
31 / 02-05 / 06-2013 XLII Asian Skål Congress in Negombo, Sri Lanka, attended by about 100 delegates, local members and Skål authorities, chaired by Mok SINGH, assisted by the Secretary-General Bernhard WEGSCHEIDER. Local authorities include Vice Minister of Investment Promotion Faiser Mustapha, Provincial Minister of Tourism Nimal Lanza, President of Tourism Board Claude Tomasz, Director General of Development Authority DS Jayaweera and Director General of the Convention Bureau Vipula Wanigasekera .
The following directive was elected:
– President, Marco G. BATTISTOTTI, of Penang Malaysia
– VP Eastern Region, RR. PP. Marketing, Robert SOHN of Seoul, Korea
– VP Southeast Region. Alistair G. SPEIRS, of Jakarta, Indonesia
– VP Western Region, Jason SAMUEL, from Bombay India
– Secretary-Treasurer, Malcolm SCOTT, from Bali Indonesia
– Director of Development, Blandine CRESSARD, Hong Kong
– Director of Young Skål, Chennai, India
– CIS, Gerry PÉREZ, from Guam
– Auditor, Patria CHIONG, Manila, Philippines
– Auditor, Keethi JATAWEERA, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The next congress will be held in Bali in 2014
2013/16
Interim president appointed was Jason Samuel till the end of the term bur since he was elected to SI Baord as director he resigned and Robert Sohn was apointed president which was retified at the Singapre congress in 2016 .
SAA Board 2017-2019
VPEA Tsotomo Ishizuka
VPSEA- Robert lee – he resigned and subsequently Andrew wood toll over
Secretary: Arun Raghwan
Treasurer: keethi Jayaweera
Young Skal : Dushy Jayaweera
Director Pr & Comm: NSN Mohan
Director Mem dev: Robert lee(Taiwan)
ISC: Adele Kim
2018 Robert Sohn resigned due personal reasons and JANO took over as president
2019-2021
President: Sanjay Datta
VPWA: Keethi Jayaweera
VP SEA: Andrew J Wood
VPEA: Fabien Clerc ( he was relocated to Brazil and Interim Hiro (Taiwan) was appointed)
Secretary : Shekhar divadkar
Treasurer: Keethi Jayaweera Interim Treasurer
Director Mem dev: Dushy Jayaweera
Director Pr & Comm: PK Mohan Kumar
Director YS: Shalini Khanna Charles
ISC: Michelle Sandhu
2021-2023
President: Andrew J Wood
VPWA: Keethi Jayaweera
VP SEA: Kevin S Rautenbach
VPEA: Hiro Liao
Secretary : Shekhar Divadkar
Treasurer: Nasir Shah
Director Mem dev: Dushy Jayaweera
Director Pr & Comm: Windy Yang
Director YS: Shalini Khanna Charles
ISC: Michelle Sandhu