The President of Skål International, Nik Racic received an IMEX Academy Award for Europe on Wednesday 26th May 2010. The award was presented to Nik Racic by IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom during the IMEX Gala Dinner. In announcing the award IMEX Managing Director, Paul Flackett said IMEX wanted to recognise Nik Racic for his pivotal role in developing the tourism industry in Croatia. He eschewed a professional tennis career, despite being Yugoslavian junior champion and began working in the industry as an advisor to the Tourism Association in Zagreb in 1978, later becoming General Secretary of the Yugoslavian Congress Office and then advisor to the Ministry of Tourism in the first government of the Republic of Croatia. In 2001 Nik Racic was appointed as Director of the Croatian Congress and Incentive Bureau.

Since his election to the Executive Committee Nik Racic has been instrumental in fostering a close association with all the major trade fairs. Skål International is a Supporting Association of IMEX. 

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A special Skål Story book was launched during the celebrations in Paris. Honorary President Antonio García del Valle, who has written the history of Skål, provided numerous historical records going back to the foundation of Skål in 1932, two years before it became an international association.

The book was generously sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. The Skål Story is now available for sale from the General Secretariat at €25 plus postage and packing. Twenty per cent of the sale price will go to the Florimond Volckaert Fund. Please send us an e-mail if you are interested at skal@skal.travel

The President of the International Skål Council, Bent Hadler welcomed four new Councillors during the International Council meeting held at the Hotel Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada on 4th May 2010. Pictured left to right, following the pinning ceremony are Ann Looters, Vice President, International Skål Council, Jeff Penner, International Councillor – United States of America, Bent Hadler, President, International Skål Council, Julia Lambertini, International Councillor – Argentine, Praveen Chugh, International Councillor – India, Keith Murcott, Secretary, International Council, Mads Olsen International Councillor Norden Area and Arturo Sierra, Vice President, International Council.