Dear Skalleagues
Just a brief snippet of our meeting in Johannesburg. What a month for Skal International South Africa we finally broke the hoodoo and have both legs in government. Dave and I finally had a meeting with the global product manager for S.A Tourism, "Hanneli Slabber" in Johannesburg to secure a project to bring a number of Skalleagues who are tour operators to South Africa during Indaba May 2010. They will travel around the country and will be hosted by skalleagues at each of the nominated cities. South African Tourism Organization have finally recognized that all of the tourism organizations that operate in our country, only Skal International has international credibility and they are looking at us for marketing South Africa in the global context.
Kind regards
Steve Pillai
National President
Skal South Africa
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At the bi-annual hosted in Pretoria during September 2009 from left to right are special guest Hannali Slabber (Global Product Manager SA Tourism), Rory Goldhill (President Garden Route) and Steve Pillai (National President Skal South Africa)
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National President Steve Pillai has been on his travels again, on a recent visit to Cape Town to support the Sharks are from left to right Karen from Oceanare, Sagren from Rennies, Phylis, Pravesh and Steve
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"PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND PRESIDENT SKAL INTERNATIONAL S.A STEVE PILLAI” – National President Steve Pillai seen with a life size image of American President Barack Obama at the recent 233rd American Independence Day Celebrations
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"USA INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION- DEPUTY MAYOR LOGIE NAIDOO, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND PRESIDENT SKAL INTERNATIONAL S.A STEVE PILLAI” – On the left is Durban Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, a life size image of American President Barack Obama in the centre, and on the right Skal National President Steve Pillai.
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Dear Skalleagues
The Celebrity Equinox class of ship includes the latest and most innovative vessels ever, to sail for the Celebrity Cruises.
Guests will enjoy a wealth of dining, spa, and entertainment options that rival anything found at sea, as well as an entirely new approach to stateroom design, a product of their collaboration with top designers from around the globe.
I was very privileged to be invited to the pre- inaugural celebration on board the Celebrity " Equinox" and experience a new world of indulgence showcasing 13 bars, a theatre which accommodates approximately 5000 people hosted by Nick Weir with singers, dancers and aerobatics, spa, night clubs, hot glass blowing, international restaurants and many other activities.
Celebrity Cruises very kindly hosted me with a deluxe ocean view stateroom with veranda which features floor to ceiling sliding glass doors to watch the ocean, sitting area with sofa, 37" LCD Television, vanity, free mini bar and host of other features.
For your information, the Equinox costs in the region of USD 800 000 000.
We were among 2300 delegates from 130 countries with over 150 media personnel and journalists including CNN.
There was no money to be exchanged on board, everything was sponsored by our hosts, and the 2 boutique hotels in London the Chesterfield and the Montague, which is part of the Red Carnation group was very special.
The Montague, located near the British Museum, a short walk to the south, lies the narrow streets of Soho and Convent Garden and the west end theaters.
The cuisine and service at the hotels were unquestionable, they pride themselves to provide the highest degree of service, as they say " NO REQUEST TOO LARGE, NO DETAIL TOO SMALL"
You will never be disappointed booking any of your clients at these hotels, they are very special.
Overall a well planned event and congratulations must go to Celebrity Cruises and the Red Carnation group, 4 a job well executed.
Yours in Skal
Steve
Hi All
I have just returned from the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Workshop with the host being national Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
I must confess that the meeting was very informative and many subjects on tourism, inbound and outbound were discussed.
The entire presentation was put together to hear from the role players, what the stumbling blocks are to grow tourism in South Africa.
We had a 2 and half hour debate and thereafter the minister answered some of the questions and has appointed a company called Grant Thorton to allocate all the information and produce a document for all of us to assess and thereafter the ministry will deal directly with us and answer questions that we put forward.
I certainly believe that the meeting was meaningful and a great success and talking to the people at lunch it turn out that the meeting was well accepted by all industry players.
this is the first time in 40 years that a minister has personally invited industry players to listen and learn so they can understand and do the job!
It seems to me that Big Daddy is placing pressure on the Ministers to consult the right people and move forward with tourism!
All in all a great productive meeting!
Best Regards
Steve
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