Information is now being uploaded on the Skål International website on the 71^st Skål World Congress which will be held in Sydney, Australia, from Thursday 7^th to Tuesday 12^th October 2010. The theme of the Congress is “Linking the World Downunder”. Skål International Sydney has put together a very interesting programme for the event including a Sydney Harbour cruise, a visit to the Hunter Valley as well as many opportunities for members to do business together. Information on special air fares from Qantas is now on the website and information on pre-and post-tours will be added shortly. 

HAITI APPEAL The events unfolding in Haiti, following the earthquake on Tuesday 12 January 2010 have been described as apocalyptic by those rescue workers on the ground with possibly hundreds of thousands of people dead and up to one million people injured or rendered homeless. The Executive Committee of Skål International has set up a Haiti Relief Fund and kindly requests Skål members and non-members all over the world to contribute what they can towards this terrible disaster. Donate here		MEMBERSHIP FEES 2010 Invoices for 2010 membership fees have now been sent to all Clubs worldwide. Membership fees are due on 1 January each year and must be received at the General Secretariat on or before 28 February. FORM 2 Annual notification of officers for Clubs should be received at the General Secretariat by 11 April 2010 at the latest.   FORM 3 Annual notification of officers for National and Area Committees must also be received at the General Secretariat by 11 April 2010 at the latest.   SKÅL JOBS BANK As a free service to our members Skål International has a jobs bank where jobs in the travel and tourism industry are offered and sought. You will find the jobs bank in the members’ only area of the Skål website.
FLORIMOND VOLCKAERT FUND AUCTION We have two items for auction online for the Florimond Volckaert Fund. Please view information on the items and make your bid below. The auction room for these items remains open until 12 February 2010. BIDS WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 12 FEBRUARY 2010 FOUR-NIGHT SEATTLE + VICTORIA PACKAGE VALUE: €1,500 approximately RESERVE PRICE: €750 1 night at the Crowne Plaza on arrival in Seattle Victoria Clipper Navigation high speed passenger – only ferry Seattle to Victoria 2 nights at the fabulous new Parkside Aviawest – 1 bedroom suite with full kitchen 3 days Budget Rent-a-Car, unlimited mileage Harbour Air sea plane flight-seeing or day return to Vancouver Ticket to The Butchart Gardens Tickets to the new Ocean Discovery Marine Centre A gift certificate to the best steak house in Victoria – “Vic’s” in the Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites Return travel to Seattle 1 night at the Crowne Plaza on return Valid until 20 December 2010. PLACE BID CRUISE ON KATARINA LINE VALUE: €1,400 approximately RESERVE PRICE: €700 7 day cruise for two persons on half board basis along the magnificent Croatian coastline and islands. Name of the winner should be sent at latest 31 March 2010. Valid for departures in May, June or September 2010. PLACE BID

Following the very successful congress held in Budapest from 1-6 November 2009 a survey was conducted among those members who participated in the Congress. Again we congratulate George Paldi Chairman of the Organising Committee, PCO Peter Javorkai and all their colleagues for the very good work they did. Please click here to view the results of the survey. We also congratulate and wish success to George Paldi who has taken over the management of the four-star Regency Suites Hotel, Budapest.

In line with the Skål policy of “Doing Business Among Friends” and Skål attendance at all major Trade Shows, Buck Wilson, a member of Skål International Colorado is organising a number of Trade Shows in the United States of America on which he is offering special rates to Skål members. For more information, please click on the following hyperlink: http://www.travel-trade-shows.com/Skal.html. Numerous contacts for new members and those interested in membership of Skål have been received from those who have visited the Skål booth during Trade Shows. Furthermore, it underlines the fact that we are professionals in travel and tourism and that we are proactive as far as marketing our products is concerned.

Two other Trade Fairs in March 2010 which have a Skål presence are:

• UTAZAS Budapest, Hungary 5-7 March 2010. For more information click here
• ITB Berlin – 10–14 March 2010. For more information click here

Herbert Hoffmann (Germany) and Martin Vogt (Switzerland), both Councillors for their countries and dedicated mountain hikers are organising for the first time, Skål  hiking days in Lugano from 11-16 May 2010. The participants will stay in a very good Lugano downtown hotel of a Skål member and start every day for a special hiking tour in the surrounding mountains. The full programme is offered for CHF1040 per person in double and 1170 CHF in single, including breakfast, five dinners in typical restaurants and a free pass for public transportation. For more information and booking: msvogt@bluewin.ch or skal@hoffmann-herbert.de until 28^th February 2010.  “Doing Business among Friends”

“International Tourism on Track for a Rebound after an Exceptionally Challenging 2009. Growth returned to international tourism in the last quarter of 2009 contributing to better than expected full-year results, according to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. International tourist arrivals fell by an estimated 4% in 2009. Prospects have also improved with arrivals now forecast to grow between 3% and 4% in 2010. This outlook is confirmed by the remarkable rise of the UNWTO Panel of Experts’ Confidence Index.

Details of all National and Area Congresses can be found on the Skål International website www.skal.travel go to congresses or click here.

Energy Conservation

• Always choose to stay in environmentally friendly accommodation when travelling.
• Check the condition of electrical appliances periodically.
• Employ systems that are able to reuse the heat emitted from air conditioners to heat water or the pool.
• Install insulation to prevent heat loss, and use double glazing.

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