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Skål is the only international organization which brings together all
branches of the travel and tourism industry. |
John Scott,
President |
Representing the
industry's managers and executives,
Skålleagues meet at local, national and international levels in an
environment of friendship to discuss subjects of common interest. |
Shortly after the inauguration of the first joint Swedish and French
air service between Stockholm and Paris in 1932, a group of travel men
from the French capital were invited to make an exploratory flight over
the new route. The welcome they received in Stockholm led to many
pleasant friendships.
Realizing the importance of closer relationships among those who strive
to develop and promote both national and international travel, the men
who made the flight to Stockholm were determined to found a permanent
organization whose primary aim would be the creation of goodwill and
friendship in travel and transportation circles throughout the world.
The Paris Skål Club was formed on December 16, 1932, with Rene Genestie
as President. In 1934, twelve other clubs had been formed and Florimond
Volckaert conceived the idea of uniting them into an international
organization. The Association International des Skål Clubs (A.I.S.C.)
was created on April 28, 1934, and Volckaert became its founding
President.
On April 1, 1938, the Skål Club of North America (Skål Club of New
York, No. 28) was founded.
As the first Skål Club established in North America, the New York Club
assisted and guided in the formation of other Skål Clubs on this
continent. Canada's first Skål Club was established in Montreal,
followed by Vancouver and then Toronto.
From that modest beginning, Skål now has 20,000 members in over 450
clubs spread throughout 90 countries. As in other associations of
professionals (such as Rotary, Oddfellows and Lions), most Skål
activities take place within the Clubs, but the movement also features
National and Area Committees coming under the umbrella of the A.I.S.C. (Skål International),
which has its own Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain.
Skål is managed by an Executive Committee of seven members, elected by
Club delegates to the General Assembly, which is held in conjunction
with the World Congress. This five-day Congress is hosted by a
different country each year, thus offering members and their companions
the opportunity of observing, first hand, the travel and tourism
industry potential of other countries.
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Meeting Dates
Please
Note: Some of the Clubs have alternative dates and floating "cities"
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