SKÅL MAURITIUS WEBSITE - PAST PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Skålleagues & Friends of Skål We wish to share with you our actions as a Tourism Partner, whilst ensuring our general Skal Mission which is aligned on Skal International, including our Social Responsibility, which can be recapitulated as follows:
President Hugo AROUFF

1. In May 2006 Skål Mauritius has hosted the 35th Asian Area Assembly under the Presidency of Mrs Christine Le Clézio and Team, whilst the undersigned was the then Director of PR & Communications. The Assembly was very successful despite the prevailing crisis, as we witnessed the presence and support of our World President, Mr. Jan Sunde, as well as our Asian Area President, Mr. Earl Wieman, delegates from Asia including Singapore, Hong Kong, and delegates from the World! Skål Mauritius and Skål Affairs were extensively covered by the Medias to promote our Skal International Club Activities in general, strengthen the Asian Area, and enhance our Image and reputation, as a Tourism Partner in the World.


2. Skål Mauritius had initiated the selection of a student for the Skal Mauritius Scholarship Award in August 2007. We have processed several applications and our Skål Mauritius Selection Panel chose Mr. Kumar Appiah, who spent a few weeks on the job training at a five star hotel in Bangkok, the Chaophya Park Hotel & Resort. Our host, the General Manager, Mr. Andrew Wood, who was also the Director Membership of the Asian Area, has overviewed the process in Bangkok, to ensure its effectiveness and success. Kumar came back to us well prepared to face his future career in the Industry.

   Skål Asia is setting up a permanent structure to sustain the Scholarship Initiative, and extend it to the Region.  Our Skål Mauritius Scholarship Bond will be used as a reference document in this respect.

3. We had solicited the Consultant from the Winning Edge, Mr. Bert Van Walbeek, to conduct 2 Seminars in Mauritius in May 2008 on the subject of “Risk Prevention & Crisis Management in Tourism and Related Activities”.
   1. To contribute to the good governance and overall success of the Tourism Industry.
   2. To achieve greater awareness in the Industry about potential risks affecting our Industry.
   3. Encourage better preparedness for disaster and crisis management.
   4. Sharpen the skills of stakeholders at predicting, prepare, respond & recover from disasters.
   5. Enhance the Skål Club reputation and image as a professional Tourism Organisation.
   6. Encourage the development of a national plan for risk prevention and crisis management of the tourism industry.

The Skål Club of Mauritius objectives and positioning were clearly elaborated as follows:

We are totally satisfied that we have gone beyond our success metrics with an enhanced visibility and reputation for the Skål Club of Mauritius. Moreover, the subject chosen was Risk Prevention and Crisis Management on the eve of the World Economic Crisis in 2009!

4. Skål Mauritius had launched an aggressive Membership Development Campaign since early 2007 with its “Member get Member Approach”. We were 60 Members as at end of 2006, and we have reached 113 Members as at end of 2009, which represents 95% growth over the past three years. In this context we have earned Membership Development Awards for the past two successive years from Skål International. We have suffered from the World Financial Crisis, coupled with the Euro Crisis, which had an adverse impact on our initial plans. However, despite the difficult times, we are getting prepared to face new challenges and seize new opportunities for our continued growth!


5. We have been very present at the level of the Community, sponsored several reputable NGO’s, such as Oasis de Paix for their contribution in favour of the underprivileged through educational programs towards employability in the tourism industry, PAWS for their sterilization programs and protection of animals, Mauritius Wildlife Foundation for their recognized achievements for the protection of our fauna and flora, the best students in Tourism at the MITD Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval, the Waiters’ Race organized by the Rotary Club of Quatre Bornes in conjunction with the Tourism Authorities, which gives due recognition to this job which represents the Mauritian Hospitality and a pillar of the industry, the ‘Commission Diocesaine du Tourisme’ with the organization of the Annual Tourism Mass for the stakeholders of the Tourism Industry, to name the major ones.



6. Skål Mauritius has organized a Skål Workshop for its Members at the Hotel School on the 3rd April 09 to brainstorm on the prevailing World Economic Crisis, its impact on the Tourism Industry, the Mauritian Government Economic Stimulus Package, and identify an Action Plan for Skål Members accordingly.

   Four topics were identified which needed particular attention, namely:

   • (i)Education & Training
   • (ii)Government policies
   • (iii)Sales & Marketing strategy
   • (iv)Environment – Maurice Ile Durable Project (MID).
     • Skål Mauritius has participated in the review of the various Curricula for the courses provided by the Ecole Hoteliere with a view to update their contents and adapt them to the new requirements of the Tourism Industry and to prepare our People for the recovery in 2010 /2011.
     
     
     • We have shared our views with the Ministry of Finance, and we are pleased to note that an Insolvency Act has been presented by the Minister of Finance, and voted in Parliament in 2009.
     
     
     • Skål Mauritius has solicited its participation at the level of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and we are contacted by the relevant Authorities when required on subjects of common concern.
     
     
     • We have had preliminary discussions with the President of the Committee for the project “Maurice Ile Durable”, Mr Jean Pierre Hardy as regards Skål participation in this respect. Skål Mauritius will organise a series of Clean & Green Activities in Mauritius, and which will eventually be extended to Rodrigues Island. The first outing has been organized on Saturday 26th September to celebrate the International Day for the Environment with the cleaning and replanting of Ile au Phare with endemic plants, in conjunction with the students of the MITD Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval.
   
   



7. The Skål Club of Mauritius has partnered with Daiichi Process Mauritius Ltd for the sponsorship and distribution of an International Tourism Magazine, “Visit Mauritius & Rodrigues”. The official launch of the First Edition was done at the World Travel Market in London in November 2008 by our World President, Mrs Hulya Aslantas, at the Skål Luncheon organized by Skål London.

   The 25,000 copies in the English & French version, and the 5,000 copies in the German & Italian version, which was launched at the BIT in Berlin and ITB in Milan in March 09/10, have been distributed worldwide. This event constitutes a landmark for Skål Mauritius initiative to promote the Tourism Activities of Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands, through Skål International network, and its presence at the major International Tourism Trade Fairs.

   The Second Edition has also been launched at the Skål Luncheon in London during the WTM 2009 in the presence of the Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Xavier Luc Duval, the Chairman of the Rodrigues Tourism Authority, Mr. Robertson Mercure, Mauritian Skålleagues attending the WTM, Skålleagues Worldwide, and the International Medias. Skål Mauritius has again sponsored all its Members, and we encourage Skalleagues to conduct “Business Among Friends”.

   The Third Edition has once more been launched at the WTM in London with the same commitment and enthusiasm, and we are looking forward towards our participation in other Tourism Magazines, with an enlarged coverage and distribution to further promote our destination Islands and our Skal Members business offerings.



8. The Skål Club of Mauritius was present at the Hotel World Trade Fair 09 which was held at the Swami Vivekananda Conference Centre at Pailles from the 16th to 19th June 09. Our Stand which was located at the very Entrance of the Fair has been very successful for our visibility and membership development. Skål International has accepted to add this Trade Fair on the list of International Tourism Trade Fairs where Skål International is present, which will contribute to give this event a regional and international dimension. We will be present at the next Hotel World Trade Fair which will be held in June 2011.


9. The magazine “Visit Mauritius & Rodrigues” has also triggered our initiative towards the creation of a Skål Club of Rodrigues.  We have conducted a Membership Development campaign in the Island which has been very successful. We are proud to announce that we have reached 20 members from Rodrigues Island. We have provided the Skål Rodrigues Members with a Skål Banner, as a symbolic gesture, to support their initiative and start the process to register an autonomous Skål Club of Rodrigues, which we have scheduled during 2011.


10. Air Mauritius Ltd and the Skål Club of Mauritius have formalized a Letter of Agreement whereas our National Airline has confirmed its offer for ” a 20% discount on the applicable economy fare for the travel of the Members of Skål Club on Air Mauritius services. The discount will be given to Skål Club Members, as well as one accompanying partner, based in Mauritius and Rodrigues, and will be applicable only when they are travelling to attend events organized by Skål International”. We thank Air Mauritius Ltd for their unflinching support towards Skål Mauritius to sustain our activities in the promotion of Tourism in general.


11. The 39th Congress of the Skal Asian Area was celebrated in Cebu, Phillipines in May 2010, where we were represented by our Executive Committee Member Assistant Secretary, Mrs Joan Bechard. The 71st World Congress was held during the second quarter of October 2010 in Sydney, Australia. We welcome and congratulate our World President, Mr. Tony Boyle and his Team, and wish them all the best to continue the very important Reforms, which have been initiated by the past World President, Mrs Hulya Aslantas, to bring Skål International into 2011 and beyond, with renewed dynamics to face the Challenges ahead for a stronger and more influential Skål International Platform!


12. Skål International, the World’s Largest Organisation of Tourism Professionals, has celebrated its 75th Anniversary on the 27th April 09 in the “Galerie des Fetes” of the “Assemblee Nationale de France”. The Skål Club was created in Paris in 1934, with our Founder President, Mr. Florimond Volckaert. This international celebration was a resounding success with a full house for each event.

    Skål Mauritius will in turn celebrate its 20th birthday in July 2011… still young… but alive, kicking, and active!

13. Skal Mauritius has partnered and sponsored La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes for their participation at the Skal International Eco Tourism Award. The Project, Francois Leguat in Rodrigues Island, consisted of the re creation of the original eco system and the reintroduction of the giant tortoises from aldabra, including natural caves equipped with fully eco friendly systems. This project was a runner up in their category. More details can be obtained from our Skalleague’s website : http://www.lavanille-reserve.com


14. We have celebrated our End of Year Function 2009 at the splendid Domaine Les Aubineaux in Forest Side which is a living memory of our beautiful architectural heritage. This event started with a cocktail party in the veranda of the main house, whereas we had the opportunity to share with you a PowerPoint presentation covering our past activities, remit the Skål Banner of Rodrigues to their attending representatives, and confer the Honorary Membership to our Founder President,  Mr. Suresh Seegobin, followed by a Dinner under the Stars.


15. Our Annual General Meeting was conducted on the 19th February 2010 at the Hotel School SGD whereas we have presented our achievements for 2009, our positioning for 2010, and beyond.



16. Skal Mauritius activities during 2010 can be recapitulated as follows:

    
    
    • After our AGM, we have celebrated the World Skal Day at our Skalleague Patrice Dumont Courtyard Restaurant in Port Louis whereas we had the opportunity to welcome the National President of Skal International South Africa, Mr Steve Pillai. This was also a Candle Night Dinner where Skalleagues could learn more about the national status of the project Maurice Ile Durable from its President Mr Jean Pierre Hardy.
    
    
    • The International Day for the Environment was celebrated at Casela Nature Park with a safari, followed by a hunters’ lunch.
    
    
    • Skal Mauritius sponsored the 3rd Edition of the Waiters’ Race organized by the Rotary Club of Quatre Bornes in conjunction with the Tourism Authorities.
    
    
    • Skalleague Robert Gordon Gentil hosted our Skal Luncheon at Tante Athalie Restaurant with a typical Mauritian Lunch, where Skalleagues could admire the antique car collection, practice Nordic Walking, and get refreshed with an Italian wine tasting exercise from the selection offered by Clamade Ltd.
    
    
    • During the “World Tourism Month” of September, Skal Mauritius has sponsored the Best Students in Tourism from the MITD Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval, the Best Speaker of the Debate Competition on the theme of “Tourism & Biodiversity”, the Annual Tourism Mass organized by the Commission Diocesaine du Tourisme, and closed these related activities with a Dinner Function where Skalleagues had the opportunity to take stock of the National status pertaining to the National Corporate Social Responsibility through a presentation made by its President, Mr Robert Pallamy.



17. We will close 2010 with our End of Year Function which will be celebrated at Casela Nature & Leisure Park Restaurant in Black River which will be held on Saturday 27th November 2010.

    I am eager to meet you all on this Festive Occasion !

    We wish to express our gratitude towards our numerous Sponsors and Friends of Skål Mauritius who have supported our Initiatives over these past years in a repeated and consistent manner. Thank you!

We thank all our Skalleagues for their involvement and presence at our various Functions and Activities, as well as our Founder Members for their vision with the creation of Skal Mauritius, which allows me today to address you, in continued Friendship!

Our most sincere thanks are extended to the Executive Committee Team Members who remain at your entire disposal for any information you may wish to share, any proposal you would wish to discuss, and accompany us in our Skal Mission !

Please consult our Newsletters and Website www.skalmauritius.org for more information on Skal activities.

With our very warm regards. Skål!

Hugo Arouff
President Skal International Mauritius

Nov 2010