The 47th Annual Skål Convention will be hosted in Galway this weekend from Friday, 4 to Sunday 6 April 2008 in various locations around Galway city and county.

Pictured at the launch announcing details of the 47th Skål National Convention taking place in The Galway Bay Hotel Galway from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 April 2008 are (LtoR): Michéal Cunningham Past President Skal Galway, Breda Reid President Skal International Lakelands, John Ryan President Skal International Galway and Tom Reid National President Skal International Republic of Ireland.

The theme for the convention is 'Doing business among friends'. Local Skål President John Ryan of the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway will welcome the Skål World President Philip Sims, from New Zealand for this special event. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the riches of the West of Ireland while at the same time growing our potential to develop the Skål International network together," said Mr Ryan. "We look forward to welcoming our fellow members and friends to the beautiful West of Ireland for an enjoyable, fruitful and entertaining conference."

Skål World President Philip Sims will stop off in Ireland as part of a world tour. Sims spent most of his career working in marketing in the travel and tourism industry in Australasia with world famous names like Qantas Airlines and Union Steam Ship Company. He was a consultant to a number of major New Zealand and Australian travel and aviation companies. He also served on the board of the New Zealand Tourist Industry Federation. Throughout his career he has seen many major developments in the worldwide travel and tourism industry.

Skål National President Tom Reid, Managing Director of Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, Athlone spoke at the launch of the brochure. "We look forward to a fantastic and eventful weekend in Galway. It will be great to meet up with fellow Skål members from all corners of the world. We have already confirmed bookings from the United States, Britain, New Zealand and all corners of the island of Ireland."

The weekend's official programme begins on Friday with a civic reception at the Galway City Museum where Mayor of Galway city Councillor Tom Costello will welcome delegates. Captain Brian Sheridan, Galway Harbour Master and Sean Scott, Manager of 'Let's Do it Galway[ will join the gathering to share information on the 2009 Volvo Ocean race stop-over in Galway. Convention delegates will enjoy excursions around the region including a tour to Connemara, lunch in Ashford Castle in Cong and a falconry display followed by a boat trip to Inchagoill Island. For the golfers the opportunity to try out the new Cregmore Golf Club is very attractive as well as special events in the Galway Bay Hotel and the Ardilaun Hotel.

Skål is an association embracing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, including hoteliers, travel agents, airlines, tourism media, tourism students etc which facilitates and develops a network of professionals worldwide. It promotes seminars and conferences to strengthen standards of excellence in all aspects of the industry. Through participation in local activities and events at all levels, members form connections and relationships with their industry colleagues. Through such events, ideas, opportunities and issues may be shared on a personal and business level.

According to organisers, the Galway Branch of Skål International is one of the largest and most successful in Ireland with over 100 active members including thirteen life members. In recent years Galway businesswoman Mary Bennett was elected President of World Skål and also first Lady President and acted as an ambassador for both the Skål organisation and promoted Galway and Ireland on her international excursions during her year of responsibility. During Mary Bennett's presidency, her theme for the year was 'tourism through friendship and peace', which has been carried on by her successors since then. Galway Skål dates back to 1966 having celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006 – the local organisation continues to go from strength to strength.

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