The Congress website www.skal.travel is constantly being updated with information on the Sydney Congress which will take place from 7-12 October 2010. More pre- and post-tours have now been added. Click here to find all the information regarding the Sydney Congress. We are waiting for an agreement with regard to the airfares for the congress and as soon as we have information on this we will update the website.

INVITATION FROM NEW ZEALAND In association with their Skål friends in Australia, the Clubs in New Zealand are inviting you to consider New Zealand as part of your itinerary before or after the Congress. Read more. INTERNATIONAL SKÅL COUNCIL The Mid-Year meeting of the International Skål Council will be held at the Hotel Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada from 2-5 May 2010. The Councillor is the link between the National and Area Committees and Skål International. It is essential that the National and Area Committees ensure that they are represented at this important meeting. FORTHCOMING AREA CONGRESSES A reminder that the following Area Congresses will be held during the month of May 2010. Latin American Congress, Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador 2-7 May 2010. Click here for information NAASC Congress, Quebec, Canada, 6-9 May 2010. Click here for information Asian Area Assembly, Cebu, Philippines, 27-30 May 2010. Click here for information. REBUILDING HAITI Generous donations from Skål members now amount to over €15,000 (fifteen thousand Euros) and we thank you most sincerely for your generosity. The Executive Committee has decided that the charity to benefit from these donations is SOS Children’s Villages. Click here to read more information.

IMEX 2010 The IMEX Trade Fair will be held in Frankfurt from 25-27 May 2010. Skål International will once again have a stand at the fair, stand Nº C400. All Skål members worldwide are welcome to use the stand as a base and meeting point during the fair. We invite you to a “happy hour” sponsored by the Croatian National Convention and Incentive Bureau from 12.00-14.00 on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 May 2010. All are welcome and please bring a prospective member.   On Thursday 27 May 2010 a special Skål function will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Frankfurt. More information on this later. Please put a note in your diary.    More information on Trade Fairs in general can be found by clicking here EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE We are also mindful that the people of Chile suffered terribly from the recent earthquake there. We were in touch with the President of the Clubs in Chile to ensure that no Skålleagues were affected. SKÅL INTERNATIONAL CANNES Skål International Cannes will celebrate its 60th Anniversary on 4 June 2010. Please click here to see full details of the programme.

Skål is also a member of TERN (Tourism Emergency Response Network) set up by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and has participated in teleconferences on the H1N1 Virus and more recently on the emergency created by the volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Click here to read the most recent press release.

We remind all Clubs who have met the criteria for Skål Club of the Year that they may now submit their entries. The deadline for receipt of entries is 30 September 2010. Click here to review the criteria.

 A reminder that the deadline for receipt of entries for the 9^th Annual Skål International Ecotourism Awards is 30 June 2010. The awards will be presented in Sydney on 8 October 2010 by the President of Skål International, Nik Racic. Please click here for all the information.

World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is delighted to announce P&O Cruises Managing Director Carol Marlow and www.lowcosttravelgroup.com Chief Executive Paul Evans are to speak at the WTM Vision Conference. Marlow and Evans will be involved in a session comprehensively reviewing the UK outbound market, at the mid-year half-day conference, in association with Kingley Event Management, which will take place on Wednesday 16 June at 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT from 9.15am, for a 10am start until 1pm. Read more

WATER CONSERVATION

• Use or install water savers in the taps, especially showers and baths.
• Use or install water cisterns with full and half flush options.
• Use the shower instead of the bath.
• Use washing machines and dishwashers with low water consumption.
• Use water sprinklers in gardens.
• Separate waste water for recycling use. Only use recycled water in gardens.
• Repair all leaks promptly.
• Regulate water use so as to prevent waste.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Carry out periodic maintenance of swimming pools to prevent unnecessary costs. Avoid using chemicals.

read more Eco Tips