36th Skål Asian Area Congress opens in Macau

The 36th Skål Asian Area Congress swung open its doors today to top-notch tourism personnel and leaders from all over the world, who will in a two-day congress held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center, probe into the current trends of tourism development and share their insights and valuable experiences in crisis management. João Manuel Costa Antunes, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Chairman of the Macau Organizing Committee for the 36th Skål Asian Area Congress and Chairman of the General Assembly of Skål Macau, Phillip Sims, Vice President of the Executive Committee of Skål International, Earl Wieman, President of Asian Area of Skål International, Nuno Jorge, President of the Board of Directors of Skål Macau, Jim Power, Secretary General of Skål International, members of the Commission for Tourism Development and representatives of the local tourism trade are among the 200 guests and Skålleagues taking part in the congress, which features themed presentations, President’s Meeting, business to business workshops, site inspections of convention and exhibition venues and tourist attractions. João Manuel Costa Antunes, Phillip Sims, Earl Wieman and Nuno Jorge delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Deputy Director of MGTO Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes conducted a brief presentation on Macau’s latest tourism development, which was followed by an introduction on the business tourism development of Macau by Mike Williams, Consultant for Business Tourism Development of Macau, and a session on Crisis Management by Bert van Walbeek, a consultant of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and an expert on Crisis Management. Bert van Walbeek’s expertise with Crisis Management started with the First Gulf Crisis. He was a member of the PATA Bali Task Force in 2002 and has conducted seminars on Crisis Prevention and Reputation Management in Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Taipei and Wuhan. Mike Williams has been involved in international sales and marketing in both the leisure and business events industry for over 27 years. This includes working in a senior role with the Australian Tourism Commission (now Tourism Australia), and he was the General Manager Sales for the Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau which has played a major part in positioning Melbourne as one of the world’s most successful convention destinations. Mike has held several industry leadership positions including Chair of the Best Cities Global Alliance, National President of Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), and Councilor on the Business Events Council of Australia. The 36th Skål Asian Area Congress Gala Dinner will be held on May 27 at Wynn Macau and Secretary for Social Affairs and Cultural Chui Sai On will address the congress. Founded in 1932, Skål International is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. Headquartered in Spain, it is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members are managers or executives directly involved in tourism management, sales and promotions, in specified travel and tourism businesses, including: airlines, cruise companies, travel and tour operators and agencies, tourism organizations, governments and non-government tourism councils, hotels, convention centers, travel media etc. Skål International today has approximately 22,000 members in 500 Clubs throughout 90 nations/regions. Macau Skål International was officially established in 1979, with currently 37 active members from hotels, airlines, tourism studies institutes and restaurants, in addition to associate members and honorary life members. Back in 1981 Macau co-hosted the Assembly together with the Skål Club of Hong Kong, while in 1994, Macau Skål International hosted the 25th Skål Asian Assembly on its own. The 37th Skål Asian Area Congress will be held in Koh Samui and the 2008 Skål World Congress will take place in Taipei.