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Dear Skalleagues,
The Skal International Club of Phuket and South Thailand has a professional vehicle to communicate with all of our members and appeal those of you who would like to join us. We are updating our Skal Phuket website to give you the latest information about your club in Phuket, our next activities, members’ profile, and the committee who’s who. We have also created since July 09 a Facebook account to give you instant information and news and photos of the latest events.
We have been keeping what has been our Club’s successful formula based on simply gathering friend for a monthly dinner. These dinners have a typical relaxed island feel to them and are centered on building friendship within our industry more than business there and then. Each month for the last 15 months we are more numerous and our monthly host put a lot of efforts to provide us with the best.
When I took over the presidency in March 08, we had 38 members: with the work, dedication of the committee and all your efforts as Skal Ambassadors, we have more than doubled the number of active members and reached end July 09 86 International members and 10 local Phuket members. When I went to the 38th Skal Asia Congress in May 09 in Korea, I gave a commitment of reaching 80 International members by Dec 09, we have already achieved it!
We are proud to be part of the largest association of tourism professionals uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. I am especially pleased to see the constant increase in number of members in our Club. Skal International Club of Phuket and South Thailand is part of Skal Asia which counts in January 09 2,500 members in 46 clubs. In 2008, Skal Club of Phuket was rewarded by the Ex Com of Skal International the prize for the fastest growing club. Today our club represents all branches of the travel and tourism industry with the top executives and a large number of rooms with International standard hotels and resorts.
The challenge for us all is to assert our leadership roles in the communities we serve and to use the goodness of peace and friendship while acting on the local economy, exercising proper use of tourism resources and inviting others to join our cause.
With the 2009-11’s committee we are working on some sustainable projects. We have a role to form the future managers of the industry and for the end of the year and in 2010 we will focus on the launch of Young Skal Phuket open to young graduates with no real experience who will learn their way up from us. A 2nd project came after I attended the Skal Asia Congress in Korea in May 09 and met most of Skal Asia area presidents: We are also working on a project of Twinning with the Skal Club of Penang. We have so many similarities and we are the closest of all clubs. We have about the same traditions and so many of businessmen from Penang have their businesses in Phuket and vice versa.
We are both islands and both islands depend on tourism which can benefit from each island tourism. The benefit will also be the promotion of our Skal Phuket members services to Penang members and Penang Skal members will promote for Phuket: we will create a business directory.
If you are not already a member, the simplest way to satisfy your curiosity and to see what we are all about, is to join our next event. A membership form is available on the website. To all members and new ones, Looking forward to seeing you and welcoming you to our next event, With my best Skal regards,
Blandine Cressard
President
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