is the only international organization which brings together all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. Representing the industry's managers and executives, Skål members meet at local, national and international level in an environment of friendship to discuss subjects of common interest.

The first Club was founded in Paris in 1932 by travel trade managers who had been on an educational tour of Scandinavia and so the idea of professionals in travel and tourism working closely together in a spirit of friendship was born. The idea of professionalism and international friendship became immediately so popular that in l934, Skål achieved international status with the formation of the Association Internationale des Skål Clubs (A.I.S.C.), on the initiative of the first President of the Paris Skål Club and the man considered the "Father of Skål", Florimond Volckaert. The Association is now known worldwide as "Skål International".

From that modest beginning, Skål now numbers almost 25,000 members in over 500 Clubs spread throughout more than 80 countries. As in other associations of professionals most Skål activities take place locally, but the movement also features National and Area Committees under the umbrella of Skål International, which has its permanent General Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain.

Skål International is governed by an Executive Committee of seven members, elected by member delegates to the General Assembly, which is held in conjunction with the World Congress. The General Secretariat is the management body. This five-day Congress is hosted by a different country each year, thus offering members and their companions the opportunity of observing, at first hand, the travel and tourism industry potential of other countries.

Being made up of Travel, Tourism and Transport Professionals, the business advantage of joining Skål is obvious. By attending local meetings, National and International Congresses and other events, members are able to meet industry colleagues from clubs throughout the world and above all to network with their colleagues in the industry. These meetings, held in an atmosphere of "amicale", give members the chance to make contacts, on both a business and personal level, and to forge new and lasting friendships. 

Skål is totally non-political and does not discriminate on the grounds of sex, age, race, religion, politics or social standing. It does, though, support charitable causes.

	Contacts for Business - more than 20,000 tourism related companies to choose from.
	Speakers & Discussions - annual Tourism Forum and many opportunities to attend seminars, nationally and locally.
	Networking - 25,000 tourism professionals worldwide with whom to make contact.
	Starting a New Business - Skål is an ideal way to meet new professional contacts.
	Moving to a new City - Use Skål to meet the other tourism professionals there.
	Worldwide Opportunities - annual Congress and more than 80 countries to choose from.
	Friendship and Amicale - develop new friends within the travel and tourism industry.
	Traveling - many opportunities to attend national, regional and international congresses often offering special travel arrangements.
	Monthly Meetings - opportunities to meet local colleagues in the industry and the occasion to use local functions to entertain business associates.
	Skål News - quarterly magazine edited by Skål International has news and articles of an international nature.
	Access to the Skål Database - Membership Directory Worldwide with close to 25,000 contacts at your finger-tips.
	Membership Advantages - as a Skålleague your membership of the Association will be recognized in many ways as you travel.
	Florimond Volckaert Fund - help for members and their families who have fallen on hard times through loss of employment, illness, etc.

Locally and Internationally, a warm welcome awaits all visiting Skålleagues. Each club has a varied program of professional activities with a social content.

Every tourism professional, in managerial capacity is eligible for membership of Skål International, provided they have worked in the travel and tourism industry for at least three years. Your membership application should be proposed and seconded by two existing members of Skål and submitted to the Club nearest you.  Information on all the Clubs worldwide is available on SkålNet at http://www.skal.org/. You can also e-mail the General Secretariat at skal@skal.org for information on the Club nearest you.  Membership is effective on receipt of your official membership card which is renewed annually. This is your passport to 25,000 travel and tourism professionals worldwide.

If you wish to join, print and send the application form, which should be completed in full, signed by your proposer and seconder and forwarded to the Club to which you wish to join.