skal

Nov 01, 2013

ORLANDO, Florida – Skal International Orlando has partnered with the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management to offer a distinctive level of membership to students aspiring to work in the travel and tourism industry. Seven Young Skal Members were inducted this year into Skal International Orlando, one of nine Skal Clubs in the United States with a Young Skal Program providing industry networking and mentoring.

Skal International Orlando’s Young Skal Program identifies highly accomplished students enrolled at UCF Rosen College who go through an interview and selection process with Skal Member Dr. Wilfried Iskat, Hospitality Administrator with the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Skal International Orlando President Scott Tripoli and select board members.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our club to share our experiences with these student members and for them to energize our club,” said Scott Tripoli, President of Skal International Orlando. “I review quality candidates who I would hire myself. We are looking for the next generation of leadership for our club and for our industry,” added. Dr. Iskat.

Aaron Rask and Ana Maria Soto are two of seven Young Skal Members with Skal International Orlando who are reaping the benefits of membership and career preparation. “I love hearing the success stories and experiences of our seasoned members at the monthly meetings,” said Rask, a native of Minneapolis in the Army Reserves, who will be graduating from the UCF Master’s Program of Hospitality Management in December 2013. “What better platform to meet future employers and also have the opportunity to contribute creative new ideas and new strategies.” Rask is interested in global career options, perhaps in Germany, and aspires to work in front desk operations for a large hotel company.

Soto, a native of Bogota, Colombia who will graduate from UCF Rosen College in the summer of 2014, will further her hospitality studies in Vienna in 2014. “I love the fact that Skal in an international organization and is far reaching in what it has to offer. I have gained much advice and insight,” she said. “It’s also valuable to bring a new way of thinking to the club, as a Young Skal Member.” Soto wants to work in the lodging or cruise industry.

Skal International, the only international organization bringing together sectors of the travel and tourism industry while networking, conducting business and helping communities locally, nationally and internationally, was founded in Paris, France in 1932 by travel trade managers. From that modest beginning, Skal members now number more than 18,000 in over 450 clubs spread throughout 87 countries.

Skal International Orlando was voted Skal International Club of the Year 2006-2007 and North American Club of the Year in 2007. For more information, go towww.skalorlando.com. For membership information, contact Dennis BeMent, Membership Development Officer, Skal International Orlando, at dennis.bement@icloud.com.

It's official! The 2013 World Congress, hosted by SKÅL International New York, will be the first in SKÅL International's history to be held at sea! We'll be sailing on Carnival Cruise Lines ship, Glory from the Big Apple to ports-of-call in New England and Canada, September 28 — October 5, 2013. Enjoy seven days of meeting and mingling with Skålleagues from around the world, with fine dining and excursions at each port.

COMBINE THE SKÅL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS WITH BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to grow your travel business. New York is home to the largest travel and hospitality companies in the world, including top hotels, tour operators, attractions, airlines, transportation companies, travel agencies, travel technology companies, travel associations, travel press and more.

The World Congress is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a cruise and explore New York City and the New York State Region with optional pre-post tours or on your own. Make it a vacation with a loved one who will enjoy all the ships amenities, activities, and meal functions. You'll find that two can cruise for a little more than the cost of one. Consider coming early or staying a little longer! In the spirit of doing business with friends, we've worked with local SKÅL clubs to bring you travel specials throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States.

BOOK TODAY FOR THE BEST CABINS

Cabins are on sale through this site and space on the Carnival Glory is limited. Follow all updates, offers and cabin availability, or just let everyone know you'll be there on the 2013 SKÅL World Congress Facebook Group.

We look forward to welcoming you to New York!

The world aviation market is one of the toughest businesses to be in at the present time. The industry is not only slowly recovering from the global financial crises that saw a dramatic downturn in passenger numbers and traffic in 2009, it is also faced with continuing fuel price increases. The introduction of the recent US budget will see cuts to air traffic management and at the same time the increase in the UK’s Air Passenger Duty on April 1 this year, (now making it the world’s highest aviation tax) will cut deeply into the projected 1.6% net profit margin for the 2013 year.

In spite of this the industry is leading the charge in the development and introduction of new and innovative design, route management systems and fuel saving concepts that are not only producing one of the greenest industries, but also one of the safest and most efficient.

Skal International, whose 18,000 members make up the world’s largest organization covering all sectors in the travel and tourism industries, including a majority of the major airlines, want to support the aviation industry in its move to continue to be one of the safest, most efficient and environmentally sound industries in the world, without undue interference from individual governments introducing ad hoc regulations, that at best can be seen as revenue gathering, and at worst major impediments to the aviation industry achieving these goals.

States Mok Singh, World President Skal International, “It is vital that an organization such as Skal International, that covers all facets of the travel and tourism industry, has a clear and concise position on an industry as important as aviation. It is our intention to make it clear to governments, both local and national, that ad hoc regulations such as cuts to air traffic management systems and the introduction of localized airline taxes have a dramatic effect on the whole travel and tourism industry, and in some cases see the loss of employment, not just in the immediate industry but via a flow on effect in an entire economy. It is also important to note that the footprint of aviation goes beyond the stakeholders in the aviation industry alone, particularly in developing countries. This often includes education and growth in skillsets which offer opportunities for foreign employment impacting inward remittances and economic upliftment of subsets of the population.”

It is Skal’s contention that the aviation industry continues to move towards a safer and environmentally sound footing by working holistically with international bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the leading safety boards. However the aviation industry also needs to work more closely with national and regional tourism boards when planning and realigning routes and timetables. On too many occasions short term revenue pressures have seen airlines remove services from destinations that result in great financial and economic harm for that region. In some cases regions have never recovered from these situations. While airlines must manage their businesses to ensure they meet their shareholder charters, it is also vital that they and their shareholders also take a wider view of the travel and tourism industry when making major route change decisions.

It is also the responsibility of airport companies to act not only in their shareholders’ interests but in the wider travel and tourism industry’s interests when they set higher landing and handling fees. Ad hoc increases can have a dramatic effect on airline profitability and ticket pricing, the latter being very consumer sensitive. Such taxes provide a strong source of revenue for tourism-heavy countries, but ongoing focus must be centered on the purpose of these taxes. It is simply not good enough for tourists to be taxed for the simple aim of raising revenues, which potentially decreases tourist interest in nations with higher taxes. Rather, these taxes should be used, either fully or with a large percentage, to fund tourism related projects – be those infrastructure, public events, hospitality training, or security.

The aviation industry is not just airlines, it consists of all those industries that directly affect the airline industry – airport companies, air traffic management, national and local tourism organizations as well as international bodies (IATA, UN, EC, etc.).

States Mok Singh “Skal calls on all these sectors to ensure they work together to ensure that the consumer is provided with the best possible service in terms of safety, efficiency and environmental concerns. This can only be done if all parties work towards this goal and are prepared to closely audit their own positions when making decisions that affect the industry.”