Skål International, Pretoria –Membership Drive / JAMM Forum

Article written by: Laurinda Sumares, PRO, Skål International, Pretoria

On Tuesday, 18 August ‘09 Skål International Pretoria held their Annual Membership Drive at the Capital Hotel School in Arcadia Pretoria.

The evening drew no less than 90 members and potential members from all over Pretoria. With representatives from the Hospitality Industry, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Tour Guides as well as reporters from The Pretoria News and the local Rekord.

Dare we say that the most notable guests were Steve Pillay President Skål International, South Africa and Dave Snuggs Vice President, Skål International, South Africa. They together with Lavonne Wittmann President Skål International, Pretoria made for a formidable trio.

The attendees were exposed to the powerful network and benefits of Skål International. The organisations promotional DVD together with an address by both Steve Pillay and Lavonne Wittman gave the attendees a taste of what was yet to come.

There was also an exciting line up of high profile Guests who had been arranged by Derek Houston. The presentations took the format of a Forum the theme of which was Tshwane: Post Confederations Cup and the readiness of Tshwane for the World Cup. The forum was represented by: Mr Mvenselwa J Mahlangu, Director Tourism Development Tourism; Mr Prem Gangiah, Chairman Tshwane Tourism Association; Ms Vivienne Bervoets, Senior Accommodation Manager MATCH; Willem Cloete: Operations Co-ordinator, LOC Tshwane; Sharlotte Kopano van Rooyen, Manager Tourism and Accommodation City of Tshwane 2010 programme.

It was the general consensus of the speakers that Tshwane was well prepared and that there had been few problems experienced within the greater metropolis of Tshwane during the Confederations Cup – Pretoria they agreed was probably one of the cities which are most prepared.

Vivienne Bervoets from MATCH Events Management said that she was unable to comment on the preparedness of Tshwane, but could only comment on the issues related to Accommodation country wide. Ms Bervoets confirmed that there was still a shortage of accommodation but that MATCH was fast reaching the target which it had set out for itself. The most frequently asked question by all Hotel and Guest Houses/Lodges is whether or not they should be contracting with MATCH Events Management? Ms Bervoets approached this question with caution but did indicate that this was not a necessity, it was however emphasised that MATCH Events Management could not guarantee accommodation to establishments not contracted with them nor could they be held responsible for loss of income during this time. MATCH Events Management, she said, had tried to engage medium to small guest houses in discussion but it appeared that there was much apprehension. Ms Bervoets said that MATCH may not need to contract with any more establishments but, that it would consider any late applications or discussions. The other point of discussion related to non-graded accommodation she said that these might have to follow the process of being graded in the interim, she was very emphatic that MATCH Events Management were not waking the path of home accommodation and that they were in no way contracted to any Estate Agents for this purpose.

The attendees engaged in some questioning but time limited a hefty answer and question session. The real time for networking and engaging with friends and acquaintances in the industry began. Dave Snuggs had the honour of doing the Skål toast much to the delight of all the attendees and then all were treated to gastronomical delights ably prepared by students of the Capital Hotel School and which was arranged by Benita Bezuidenhout. A number of wine farms sponsored and showcased their vintages. The hall rocked with discussions, chatter, music and most of all laugher. Now isn’t that exactly what Skål is all about.