Reema Lokesh – Mumbai
SKAL recently hosted its presidential dinner at the Renaissance in Mumbai in honour of its international president, Nigel A Pilkington, and Bernard Whewell, president of the international council. The event, under the leadership of the Bombay Skal Club president Carl Vaz, took place after several years. Apart from the traditional raising of the toast and the oath, the gathering built the momentum for 2017, wherein India will host the international Skal Congress in Hyderabad.
Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Pilkington stated that the future of Skal is in Asia Pacific. Emphasised Pilkington, “I am glad to meet our Skal team in India and have an interesting meeting in Mumbai. The travel business has undergone changes over the years, with airlines moving towards revenue management and other new changes in the business. However, I clearly see the future of Skal is in the Asia Pacific region. Our membership is growing from this region. We are positive and excited about the India Congress in 2017. It is an excellent platform for India to showcase to the world’s leading travel trade professionals its unique specialities.” Whewell added, “We intend to have break-out sessions and present post tours. It is a perfect platform for India to offer the international SKAL delegates on what it has to offer as a superior tourism product. Our delegates would be glad to experience India, first hand.”