Draft:Skål International

Skål International is a professional non-profit 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 do business among friends. Within this framework, Skål International offers a valuable network of contacts encompassing over 40 sectors of the travel and tourism industry all over the world.

Founded in 1934, today Skål International has a professional network of almost 12,000 members in more than 300 clubs in nearly 85 countries*. - - Skål International declares that it does not represent any political party. According to its statutes, any discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race or religion, political conviction or social status is excluded. Among many other activities, Skål International supports charitable causes. The aim of the organization is to facilitate friendly dialogue between tourism professionals and to promote international understanding. -- Skål International adopted the word ‘Skål’ from Nordic culture and used the letters that form it to create the ‘Skål Toast’, an iconic toast the organisation uses at all its events and meetings with a clear appeal to the membership: Sundhet (Good Health), Kärlek (Friendship), Ålder (Long Life) and Lycka (Happiness). Happiness, good health, friendship, long life, Skål! Membership Being part of Skål International offers members a wide range of benefits:

- Access to different talents, expertise and knowledge globally. Doing Business Among Friends through our Global Database.

- Visibility and representation at important trade shows via Skål International´s booth and/or use as a meeting point with other members or business contacts: WTM Africa, WTM London, Matka, IMEX Frankfurt, FITUR, WTE Miami, IBTM World, etc.

- Attendance at regular local and national club functions to network with other executives from the Tourism industry locally and/or nationally.

- Annual Skål International World Congress. A great opportunity to network with other members from all around the world, B2B sessions, workshops, seminars and a leisure program.

- A real chance to place their business and Tourism community on the map of Skål International as a global destination of Tourism and Hospitality.

- Travel benefits. Discounts, special rates & upgrades offered by Skål International members worldwide. - Financial security in times of need through our Florimond Volckaert Fund.

- Sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Affiliations and partners

Skål International has enduring partnerships and affiliations with several like-minded organisations who are eager to help drive global change and cooperate closely on matters of mutual interest in order to achieve common objectives: • UN Tourism. Skål International has been an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism since 1984, for which it was recently recognised at the 25th session of the UN Turism General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It has also been a Member of the Board of Directors of the Affiliate Members between 2019 and 2021. • Pacific Asia Travel Association. • International Institute For Peace Through Tourism. • World Travel & Tourism Council. • ECPAT. • Biosphere Tourism & Responsible Tourism Institute. Organisation and governance system Skål International has a territorial structure based on clubs. It currently has more than 300 clubs in about 85 countries*. • The Executive Board is the governing body of the organisation. Consisting of the President, the Vice President and 12 Directors elected from 14 Regions worldwide, it ensures global representation at the highest level of governance. • 12 Committees, led by two Co-chairs and comprising volunteer members from the 14 global Regions, work on specific fields to enhance the organisation’s goals and remain at the forefront of the industry. • The General Secretariat is the administrative body of Skål International, located in Torremolinos (Málaga), Spain.

Skål International regions

Skål International is organised in 14 regions worldwide. According to this division, the Executive Board consists of 14 elected members, one representing each region. All are accountable to the General Assembly, led by the President of Skål International who represents the Association.

Region 1: United States of America. Region 2: Canada, Bahamas Region 3: Mexico. Region 4: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela. • Region 5: Germany. • Region 6: Switzerland. • Region 7: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom. • Region 8: Andorra, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Romania, Russia, Spain. • Region 9: Türkiye. • Region 10: India. • Region 11: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand. • Region 12: Australia. • Region 13: Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu. • Region 14: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Skål International Awards

- Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards: The Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards are geared towards enhancing the visibility and grant recognition to entities from the Travel and Tourism industry, recognising good sustainable practices in the industry, organised in partnership with UN Tourism and Biosphere - Responsible Tourism Institute. As an Affiliated Member of UN Tourism, whose mission is to promote reliable, sustainable, and universally accessible Tourism, Skål International created the Sustainable Tourism Awards following the United Nations declaration of 2002, to spotlight best practices globally.

- Skål International Club of the Year: Skål International annually convenes this award, aimed at public recognition of those clubs that have stood out for their activity inside and outside the organisation.

- Skålleague of the Year: The Skålleague of the Year Award is an annual recognition given to a member for his/her exceptional contribution to Skål International. The winner is announced at the Skål International World Congress.

- Order of Skål Merit: This distinction is established to recognise people and corporations who have furthered the goals of the Skål International Movement and have promoted its ideals.

Skål International World Congresses

Every year, Skål International organises a World Congress for its members, an event which brings together Skålleagues from all over the world and under which the Annual General Meeting of the organisation is scheduled. Then, the annual report of the President and members of the Executive Board is presented, as well as the announcement of the results of the elections for the positions of Vice President/President Elect, Directors and Auditors who will begin their term of office in the following year. Each World Congress also hosts at its Opening Ceremony the announcement of the winners of the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards, in place since 2002, which recognise good sustainable practices in the industry, organised in partnership with UN Tourism and Biosphere - Responsible Tourism Institute. The 83rd Skål International World Congress 2024 was held in İzmir, Türkiye, from 16-21 October. The organising Club, Skål International İzmir, will welcome Skålleagues from all over the world to this ancient city on the Aegean coast with an extensive programme. The 2025 Skål International World Congress will be held in Cusco, Peru.

National & Area Congresses

National & Area Committees organise annually a Congress where members have an opportunity to hear updates and news from the organisation and discuss travel and tourism related topics. Clubs' Events Skål International Clubs worldwide have a busy schedule of activities, always focused on doing business among friends, following the culture of Skål International. Travel and Tourism industry Events As an organisation made up of professionals from the international tourism sector, Skål International is committed to attending tourism industry events and trade fairs, providing visibility and presence, with its stand being a meeting point for members attending and holding business meetings. Skål International is present at major global events such as FITUR, WTM Africa, WTM London, IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America, and IBTM Barcelona, among others.

References

www.skal.org