A New Zealand Skalleague of the Year Award is being launched to recognise a member who has made an exceptional contribution to the club in this country.

Nominations will be accepted from the five regional Skal Clubs (Auckland, Wellington, Te Tauihu, Christchurch and Queenstown).

Skal Christchurch held its AGM at the Pavilions Hotel recently and Rebecca Rosie from The South Island Office was elected in as treasurer to join the existing executive officers – Catherine Blanchfield GCH Aviation, president; Victoria Wales, HOT Events, vice president and Nikki Rogers, Service IQ, secretary. Kate Blundell from Collective Concept was voted on as a committee member, joining existing members – Todd Schmidt, Bruce Garrett, Cathy Hemsworth and Kim Chan.

This month’s event will be in conjunction with the New Zealand AGM taking place at The Canterbury Club on Thursday 25 March. Members from throughout New Zealand are welcome, and can contact the club on skalchc@gmail.com for registration details.

• Skal CHC's executive officers Rebecca... Skal CHC's executive officers Rebecca...
• Skal CHC president Caroline Blanchfield... Skal CHC president Caroline Blanchfield...
• Welcome to the committee –... Welcome to the committee –...
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With Skal Nadi’s Christmas Party being cancelled due to Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December, the New Year’s event was the first time members had been able to meet for just on two months.

The meeting was held at a Nadi Skaleague’s restaurant, Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant at Port Denarau where owner Amy Subam arranged a menu of traditional local cuisine. About 30 people attended, including the entire Nadi-based membership. The acting CEO of Tourism Fiji, Robert Thompson was the official guest and gave an update on the latest news from the organisation.

The Auckland weather came to the party after a damp morning for yesterday afternoon’s Travel Industry Bowls, with 12 teams competing in 30-minute bursts and some individual prizes going too. The first winner of the day was the Broken Mash team, who took out a $50 bar tab for being best dressed.

Organised and sponsored by Skal Auckland, the tournament included lunch and prize giving. The event was held at West End Bowling Club. Major prizes included stays at Park Hyatt and a trip with KiwiRail.

• Best dressed… Sally Brasell, Peter... Best dressed… Sally Brasell, Peter...
• Mighty Mentors meet Vikings …... Mighty Mentors meet Vikings …...
• Burglars and Butchers…. Tim Butcher,... Burglars and Butchers…. Tim Butcher,...
• Skip meet skip… Pail Hailes,... Skip meet skip… Pail Hailes,...
• Not playing but looking flash…... Not playing but looking flash…...
• Winning the Lloyd Tremain cup... Winning the Lloyd Tremain cup...
• Taking out second place: Burglars... Taking out second place: Burglars...
• Taking out the winning 'silverware'... Taking out the winning 'silverware'...
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Strong interest in the new Park Hyatt Auckland as a venue added to the strong turn out at yesterday ‘travel and tourism lunch with friends’, SKAL Auckland’s monthly function. But there was also an obvious desire for travel industry people to catch up again after a trying couple of months in the city.

President Michael Shah says the 50 available spots sold out in record time, with 21 guests joining the contingent of SKAL members. ‘We had a waiting list very early on,’ says Shah.

The occasion included the opportunity to look around the hotel, which opened with last month with views over the viaduct and back towards the CBD.

• Anna Black, General Travel; Danny... Anna Black, General Travel; Danny...
• Young Skal member Alba Kamberi... Young Skal member Alba Kamberi...
• Alan Wilcock, Oceania Cruises; Rachel... Alan Wilcock, Oceania Cruises; Rachel...
• Jo Saunderson, Innovative Travel; Marija... Jo Saunderson, Innovative Travel; Marija...
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A New Zealand travel and tourism industry tradition will return this year, with the Auckland Skal bowling tournament scheduled for Thursday 3 December.

It was a Skal lunch to suit the Covid times yesterday – good networking and tasty traditional food at Matamata Memorial RSA, but planned to suit a budget. The venue also meant Skaleagues from Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty could all meet at one place. The day included raffles, a two course meal and cash bar (all at RSA prices), with sponsored transport from Auckland, with Hallmark, for those who wanted it.

• Auckland Skal club president Michael... Auckland Skal club president Michael...
• Jo Saunderson, Ifnnovative Travel and... Jo Saunderson, Ifnnovative Travel and...
• Richard Froggatt and Gay Wood,... Richard Froggatt and Gay Wood,...
• Megan Singleton, Blogger at Large... Megan Singleton, Blogger at Large...
• David Boyce, Mondo Travel, Anna... David Boyce, Mondo Travel, Anna...
• Debbie Summers, ID Tours and... Debbie Summers, ID Tours and...
• Sally Attfield, Skal NZ president;... Sally Attfield, Skal NZ president;...
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It was less formal and possibly a bit more subdued than usual, but at least SKAL Auckland found a bit of normality with a catch up at The Good George bar at North Wharf late last week.

About 20 members of the travel fellowship and friendship organisation shared Covid lockdown stories and talked about what the future has to hold.

• Gaye Wood, Regency Tourism; Megan... Gaye Wood, Regency Tourism; Megan...
• Anmole Gulati, Park Hyatt Auckland;... Anmole Gulati, Park Hyatt Auckland;...
• Richard Froggatt, Regency Tourism; Tony... Richard Froggatt, Regency Tourism; Tony...
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Popular Mission Bay restaurant, Mamma Mia was the venue for Skal International Auckland’s annual Italian lunch last week.

More consultation and work between the travel and tourism industries and educators is necessary to make real change in the teaching of the subject in schools – and in the perception people hold towards travel and tourism as a career path, the SKAL Auckland club heard yesterday.