Representatives and club presidents of the four SKåL Clubs
of Thailand from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket met in Chiang Mai
last weekend at the Amari Rincome Hotel for the semi-annual executive board
meeting. Skål International is a prestigious and influential organization
made up of travel professionals from all over the world.
The
National Committee: (sitting l-r) Murray Hertz - President-Pattaya and the
East, Bessie P. Samargachan - National Committee Treasurer, Khun Malai
Sakolviphak - International Councillor and National Committee President,
Margaret Bhadungzong - President Chiangmai and the North and Somsak
Charnsirisakskul, National Committee Secretary. (Standing l-r) Pratheep
Malhotra VP Pattaya and the East, Robert de Graaff from Phuket and the South,
Ken Hill - Chiangmai and Somsak Kiratipanich from Bangkok.
In addition to the internal club matters discussed, the
major issue of the meeting concerned the bidding for Pattaya to host the Skål
World Congress in 2006. The congress, which brings in top travel executives
from all over the world is expected to attract thousands of delegates to
Pattaya should Pattaya win the bid. In 1996, the 57th Skål World Congress was
held in Bangkok. Well over 1000 delegates from all over the world visited
Thailand for this important tourism event.
Somsak
C. (r) commemorates the 25th anniversary of Elvis’ death by singing a few of
his favorite ballads.
The major competitor for this very important event is Bali,
the world-famous resort in Indonesia.
Eight Pattaya hotels were invited to submit quotations for
rooms for the delegates, but only the Royal Cliff and the Amari Orchid
complied. The Skๅl executive committee expressed great disappointment at
the apparent lack of interest among the other hotels but will soon send out
another offer for bids in hopes for a better response.
Among other matters discussed was Phuket’s bid to host
the 2005 Asian Skๅl Assembly. The Asian Assembly brings together members
of all the Asian Area clubs and like the World Congress, attracts hundreds of
the area’s top travel agents, airline executives, tour operators, hoteliers
and other travel executives. Phuket’s main competition for the assembly will
be Kuala Lumpur.
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| Skållegues
enjoy cocktails at the poolside of the Amari Rincome Hotel under the
watchful eye of GM Marc Dumur (5th from left) |
The Executive Committee also approved a donation of $250
for the victims of the recent floods in the northern provinces of Thailand.
The committee stressed that SKåL International Clubs in
Thailand are the only organizations that encompass the entire travel and
tourism industry from all parts of the world. SKåL plays an important part in
the promotion of tourism in Thailand. International Councilor Malai
Sakolviphak emphasized the important advisory role that SKåL plays in the
tourism industry of Thailand.
Khun
Malai and Khun Bessie present President Margaret with a donation to help the
flood victims in the north of Thailand.
A cocktail reception was held for the delegates of the
Executive Committee, as well as members of Skål , Chiang Mai and was followed
by a dinner at La Gritta Italian restaurant in the Amari Rincome Hotel.
Pattaya was represented by club president Murray Hertz and
vice-president Peter Malhotra. Other delegates were Somsak Kiratipanich from
Bangkok, Somsak Charnsirisakskul, also from Bangkok as well as Bessie P.
Samargachan, executive committee treasurer from Bangkok. Margaret Bhadungzong,
club president from Chiang Mai, International Councilors, Malai Sakolviphak,
also from Bangkok, Ken Hill from Chiang Mai and Robert de Graaff from Phuket.
The next meeting will be held in Pattaya in March of 2002.
Blue
ringed octopus, three inches long