Membership in Asia continues to grow with 2,525 members today and new clubs are formed
BANGALORE: The 48th Skål Asia Congress was officially opened by Skål International President Lavonne Wittman and local tourism dignitaries recently.
The congress took place in what is often referred to as India’s I.T. city – Bangalore. The headquarters hotel was the Taj MG Road Hotel during 27th-30th June 2019.
President Lavonne said, “I am honoured to be part of your congress and proud to be your President. My Presidential theme for this year is strength through collaboration.
“Are you interested or committed to enjoy this journey with me?
“Building a strong organisation that is focused on collaboration is a key element for success. A team that works together has a strong shared vision and continually searches for ways to improve and adds to the success,” President Lavonne commented.
In front of 300 delegates, a spectacular flag parade was followed by a dazzling cultural performance and the traditional lamp lighting ceremony signifying the opening of the congress. Skål Asia with over 2,500 members in 43 Clubs, 28 grouped in five national committees and 15 affiliated, the Skål Asian Area is the most diverse Area in the world of Skål, reaching from Guam in the Pacific Ocean more than 10,000 km to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean with clubs in 19 countries in between.
During his opening address acting Asia Area President Jano Mouawad announced that membership in Asia continues to grow with 2,525 members today and new clubs are formed. President Jano went on to thank congress organiser and President of Skal Bangalore, Manoj Matthews for a job well done.
Following elections the new committee, elected for a 2-year term, is listed below:
SKÅL ASIA EXCO 2019-21
- Sanjay Datta – President / INDIA
- Andrew J Wood – VP Southeast Asia / THAILAND
- Keethi Jayaweera – VP West Asia / SRI LANKA
- Fabien Clerc – VP East Asia / JAPAN
- Saravanan Palanivelu – Treasurer / INDIA
- Shekhar Divadkar – Secretary / INDIA
- Michelle Sandhu – Int’l Councillor (IC) / SINGAPORE
- P K Mohankumar – PR & Comms / INDIA
- Dushy Jayaweera – Membership Development / SRI LANKA
- Shalini Khanna Charles – Young Skal and Student Exchange (YS & SE) / INDIA
- Sunil Acharya – Snr Auditor / INDIA
- Felix Fernandez – Jnr Auditor / MALAYSIA
Andrew J Wood was born in Yorkshire England, he is a former hotelier, Skalleague and travel writer. Andrew has 48 years of hospitality and travel experience. Educated at Batley Grammar School and a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh. Andrew started his career in London, working with various hotels. His first posting overseas was with Hilton International, in Paris, and he later arrived in Asia in 1991 on Bangkok with his appointment as Director of Marketing at the Shangri-La Hotel and has remained in Thailand ever since. Andrew has also worked with the Royal Garden Resort Group now Anantara (Vice President) and the Landmark Group of Hotels (Vice President of Sales and Marketing). Latterly he has been the General Manager at the Royal Cliff Group of Hotels in Pattaya and the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok & Resorts.
A past board member and Director of Skål International (SI), a former National President with SI Thailand and a two time past President of the Bangkok Club. Andrew is the former President of Skål Asia. In 2019, Andrew was awarded SKÅL’s highest award the distinction of Membre D’Honneur.
He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Asia.
