3 Skål chapters to be revived in Visayas, Mindanao

Skål Philippines announced it will revive its three chapters in Visayas and Mindanao to prepare the country as it plans to bid to host the next Skål Congress.

Skål is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is an 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 discuss and pursue topics of common interest.

Skål chairman Robert “Bobby” Joseph said they are scouting for someone to lead the Skål Cebu Chapter.

“There is a need to revive Skål Cebu so the organization would have a stronger voice in tourism,” said Joseph, adding that he hopes the Philippines would one day host either the Asian Area Skål or the Skål World Congress.

“We need to win to do it here in the Philippines. I think it is about time we host this prestigious convention and put the Philippines in the map of the Skål world,” he added. Events

Asian Area Skål Congress is happening on May 12 to 15 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Skål World Congress, on the other hand, is slated on Oct. 5 to 9 in Hyderabad, India.

Skål Cebu was formerly headed by Plantation Bay Resort and Spa general manager Efren Belarmino four years ago.

Aside from Cebu, Joseph said the organization will also reactivate the Bacolod and Davao chapters.

Joseph added that the recent appointment of Philippine Airlines executive Jimmy Bautista to head the Skål International Makati is a welcome development to reactivate the country’s participation in the international community.

He noted that Bautista’s experience and network in the tourism circle would elevate the country as a preferred destination for local and foreign travelers.

Skål International has 20,000 members of around 500 clubs in 87 countries. Its headquarters are located in Torremolinos, Spain. /