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October'25 Message from the President
As I write this article, I am in Antalya, being hosted by Skål International Antalya and Turkish Airlines, to have a strong Skål International presence at the Antalya Tourism Fair, 22-24 October 2025.
Skål International’s exposure at the trade fair has been remarkable and something we should strive for into the future.
Joining me are President Elect 2026 Andres Hayes, Vice President 2026 Mohan NSN, Director Deniz Anapa, Past World President Hülya Aslantas and Past World President Salih Cene. Director Jose Luis Quintero was also present as a hosted buyer to the trade fair.
Thank you to Skål International Türkiye for being such a brilliant role model for Skål International into the future.
Skål International stand at Antalya Tourism Fair 2025.
I would also like to express our gratitude to all members who attended our 84th Skål International World Congress in Cusco. We understand that some members were unable to attend due to various reasons, and we wanted to inform you that we discussed some major issues at the Annual General Assembly (AGA). We will ensure that there will be ample time for all members to contribute.Firstly, we want to thank the Local Organising Committee in Cusco for putting on a wonderful Congress for those members who were able to attend. The destination was magical, and the venue and functions exceeded our expectations. We are incredibly proud of the team in Cusco for ensuring that their destination shone.The two major presentations that our Executive Board focused on were Information Technology and Shaping Tomorrow.
Information Technology
- We presented all the facts about the failed project and the work that has been done to develop a new system. We advised that our team in Spain is the core of the project, with support from the Technology Committee, the Board, legal advice and a members’ working group.
- Director Bruce Garrett provided a transparent and factual account of our progress to date, including timelines and approximate dates. Your Board has agreed to hold an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) in December 2025 to ensure that all working on the project make the correct decisions and recommendations.
- We decided not to rush the project through to meet the Annual General Assembly dates, which was premature for the decisions. Your Board understands the importance of this project and must ensure that all recommendations are accurate.
Skål International President 2025, Denise Scrafton, President Elect for 2026, Andres Hayes, Vice President for 2026 and President Elect for 2027, Mohan NSN, and Past Presidents Hülya Astantas and Salih Cene during the Antalya Tourism Fair 2025.
Shaping Tomorrow
- In our first Executive Board meeting in Málaga, as previously advised, we terminated the company that had not delivered on our website and agreed to implement a strategy to shape our organisation for the future. We all felt that we were treading water and not actively shaping our future.
- Your Executive Board, in collaboration with the General Secretariat, has developed a comprehensive strategy that encompasses every aspect of the organisation, including our secretariat, congresses, membership, governance, and strategies to support our Clubs’ growth. We presented this strategy with the aim of developing a Plan for 2026, along with an appropriate budget. I encourage all members to attend the Congress in 2026 in South Africa to be a part of this crucial discussion.
- We are committed to bringing the younger generation into Skål International. It is our responsibility to ensure Skål International is in the best position to engage with the future generations. As I have mentioned many times, we inherited an incredible organisation built on friendship. We must ensure it is purpose-ready for the next generations and our evolving industry.
- We were fortunate to receive generous sponsorship that allowed us to have an additional meeting and contract a professional facilitator to help us translate our collective ideas into a Strategy. You may wonder why we needed a facilitator. Those who have worked in a professional setting will understand the importance of concluding discussions with a working document to take forward.
Please find the attached ‘Shaping Tomorrow’ document here.
Feedback to date
- Our Executive Board travelled extensively this year to meet with members, often at their own expense, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for their contribution and passion in driving Skål International’s success.
- I am delighted to inform you that our feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our facilitator, Michael Akin, President, LINK Strategic Partners, set up a booth at the Congress to collect all comments and discussions. He engaged in several discussions, and the main comments were:
- It is high time the Executive Board convened to plan for the future.
- While it is commendable to present a strategy, action is needed to implement it moving forward.
- Historically, when the President changes, the organisation’s direction often shifts.
Our commitment is as follows:
This is the Strategy, and the 2026 Executive Board will take the next steps to develop it with a supporting budget.
Our President Elect for 2026, Andres Hayes, Vice President for 2026 and President Elect for 2027, Mohan NSN, and I, as President for 2025, are all committed to seeing this project come to fruition. We share the same vision.
The three of us, along with the entire Executive Board, are committed to working collaboratively with the membership to ensure the establishment and continued success of Skål International.
Yours in Skål,
