Seoul & Incheon, Korea

Nearly 600 persons attended the 2012 Skål World Congress held in Seoul and Incheon, Korea, from 2 to 7 October. The event, including the Business Forum and B2B workshop, was a great success and enjoyed by all participants.

The new Executive Committee of Skål International elected on 4 October 2012 during the 73rd Skål World Congress, is as follows:

President:
MOK SINGH (Los Angeles, U.S.A.)

Vice Presidents:
KARINE COULANGES (Paris, France) – Communications & Public Relations
MARIANNE KROHN (Hannover, Germany) – Finance

Directors:
ANN LOOTENS (Belgische Kust & Vlaanderen, Belgium) – Young Skål & Florimond Volckaert Fund
SALIH CENE (Antalya, Turkey) – Membership Development (primary responsibility), Business Affairs (secondary responsibility)
GRAHAM BLAKEY (Macau) – Statutes & Special Projects Asia
NIGEL PILKINGTON (Auckland, New Zealand) – Business Affairs (primary responsibility), Membership Development (secondary responsibility)

President of the International Skål Council:
KEITH MURCOTT (Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa)

Secretary General:
BERNHARD WEGSCHEIDER (Austria)
Main duties: Membership Development, Sponsorship growth, Corporate Affiliate Development, Revenue growth, Cost control, Skål Representation on World Bodies.

In 2013 the Skål World Congress will be held for the first time on board the Carnival Glory Cruise organised by Skål International New York and the delegates at the recent Seoul General Assembly voted Mexico City as the site of the 2014 Skål World Congress.

Skål which was founded as an international association in 1934, is the largest organisation of travel and tourism professionals and brings together all branches of the tourism industry, with 18,000 members in 450 cities and 85 countries.

VISION STATEMENT:

The Trusted Voice in Travel and Tourism.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Through our leadership, professionalism and friendship, work together to enhance our Vision, maximise networking opportunities and develop a Responsible Tourism Industry.

Skål International aims for quality and supports sustainable development and responsible tourism. Skål International is an Affiliate member and Vice President of the Business Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, one of whose missions is to promote ethics in business and, in particular, the Global Code of Ethics which includes peace, the environment, security, human relations and respect for local cultures. Skål International is also a member of the Task Force on the prevention of the exploitation of children in tourism and is on the Steering Committee of the Code of Conduct drawn up as a result of the work done by the group.