orlando

january 2010 • volume 2 issue 3

2006-2007 Skål Club of the Yearwww.skalorlando.com

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2009Officers & Directors

President - Grant Bannen

Vice President - Barbara Kenney

Secretary - Brian Peters

Treasurer - Carlton Hudson

Executive Secretary/TreasurerTom White

SIUSA RepresentativeDennis BeMent

SIUSA RepresentativeFred Corrigan

Immediate Past President

Ron W. Silveira

Directors

Mike CassaraLissa Curtin

Ryan DemingMike Dyrland

Scott MajorCarla RitthamelRoger Royston

Gary SainRon W. Silveira

Steve TroverBob Van Bergen

Auditors

Jim EnosChris Reynolds

International Congress, Budapest/Twinning with the Kerry Club:As previously mentioned, Dennis BeMent, Fred Corrigan and I attended the Skål International Congress in Budapest in November. This was an interesting experience for me as, in the past, I have only had experience in my relations with local clubs.

The dynamics are considerably different when these relations are applied at the international level. Cultural differences are apparent, especially in the issues debated on the floor of general sessions. Not surprisingly, many of our international Skålleagues accused us Americans of pushing hard to get things done in a hurry (imagine that!), instead of taking extended time to debate issues. Most of this was good-natured however.

An integral part of my attendance was to execute the twinning agreement between the Orlando and Kerry (Ireland) clubs. After a series of misfires due to mistakes by planners, we finally executed our agreement a couple of days after all other twinned clubs did. The Kerry President and I signed the agreement–appropriately enough–at a bar stool! (There were witnesses!)

Christmas Galas – Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg:Our December 5 Christmas Gala was one of the best, especially given the economic stresses many of our members feel these days. Skålleague Greg Hauenstein’s team at the Buena Vista Palace did an extraordinary job; the food was great, and everyone raved about the superb and highly-personalized service. Greg’s generosity with regard to the reception and dinner wine is also deeply appreciated.

We were honored by the presence of Jeff Penner, President of Skål International USA (“SIUSA”). Those of you who attended this event know that Jeff publically described us as the “Most Energetic, Most Vital, Most Successful, Most Meaningful Club in North America!”

Thanks also to Fred Corrigan for his extraordinary efforts in once again heading up the silent auction, and to Brian Peters, for one of the best jobs in arranging venue, menu, etc., that most of us have experienced in a long time.

With Tom White and his wife, I had the pleasure of representing Skål Orlando at the 50th anniversary and Christmas Gala of the Tampa/St. Petersburg club December 13. The Tampa Bay club is a great organization, we have much in common with it (not just geography) and we are lobbying them for a joint meeting some time in 2010. This effort is being led by your vice president, Barbara Kenney.

Networking Successes Within Skål Orlando:In the last newsletter issue, I cautioned you not to under-estimate the value of networking with fellow Skålleagues. Since then, I know of at least three members who have found employment as a result of their Skål affiliation. I am sure many of you know more. At all times, but definitely in these times of economic hardship, we again encourage this ongoing personal and business networking. It works.

From the President...

Jeff Penner, Grant Bannen at the Christmas Gala

Fellow Orlando Skålleague Steve Vinciguerra, Senior Sales Manager for Worlds of Discovery, was recently selected as the recipient of the 25th Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Associa-tion International (HSMAI) Central Florida Gene T.

Hassett Award in recognition of dedicated ser-vice to the growth and prosperity of the Cen-tral Florida hospitality industry. The Gene T. Hassett Award honors individu-als who strive toward the highest levels of pro-fessional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen fields, and have devoted time and en-ergy to their communities. For those who did not know Gene Hassett during his active years in the Orlando area, he was not only active in community service overseeing several hotels, but during his active membership in Skål Orlando, he also Chaired the very successful Skål Annual Pete Powell (past Orlando presi-dent) Golf Tournament, which raised tens of thousands of dollars benefiting the Florimond Volekart Fund, which assists fellow Skål mem-

bers in times of financial need or crisis.

Vinciguerra started in the hospitality industry 22 years ago as a flight attendant. He spent sev-en years at Continental Airlines before moving to Worlds of Discovery, where he has enjoyed 15 years of dedicated work.

Aside from his professional accomplishments, Vinciguerra is an active member of the com-munity, having volunteered to serve on a num-ber of boards and spear-heading many com-munity initiatives such as his role as President of the Allied Relations Council for CFHLA (Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Associa-tion), Board of Directors for Osceola Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, President of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, past chair of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Inc. Travel Industry Marketing committee, and as-sociate member of Florida Citrus Sports. Steve is also looking forward to his first year on the Board for Skål International Orlando in 2010.

On behalf of Skål, we congratulate Steve and thank him for his friendship and dedication!

…And we truly hope that any of you that have not renewed your membership at this point will choose to do so, no later than the end of January, or we will have to remove you from the roster. While we wish that all of our mem-bership would renew for 2010, we also realize that in these challenging times not everyone will be able to re-up. But please, before you just walk away from our “award winning” club, give Tom White a call (407.902.7882) and we will attempt to work with you any way we can to re-tain you as a valued member. Last year we also had 3-4 members that missed the cut-off date as mandated by Skål International in Spain. Those people had to be reinstated at an addi-tional cost to them.

The Membership Development Committee is working hard to find qualified potential mem-bers in the tourism industry. Skål Orlando has a strong slate of leadership in both officers and board members. Skål is not open to just anyone, it is an organization of tourism leaders comprised of owners, general managers, direc-

tors of sales, and others that have earned their positions in tourism. It is an organization in which privileged leaders may belong, and it is our privilege to have them as members.

We ask that each of you, through your par-ticipation in other tourism associations, keep your eyes open for people that you might know and respect and believe to meet our high stan-dards and qualifications. Then give a call to Tom White, Mike Dyrland, or myself (Dennis BeMent) to review their qualifications, and any of us should be able to tell you if we believe they would, in fact, qualify for membership.

The reality is that we know there are many po-tential qualified members out there, and with your help we could not only mitigate any loses, but actually grow our club. As always, our mot-to is Quality, not Quantity. Help us grow our club in the right direction.

Happy New Year!Dennis BeMent

Steven Vinciguerra receives Gene T. Hassett Award

Membership has privileges...

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Florida Tourism...

It begins with a handshake at

January 24-26, 2010Register today at FloridaHuddle.com

St. Petersburg/ClearwaterHarborview Center200 Cleveland St.

Clearwater, FL 33755

2009Advisory Council

Mark BrownExecutive Vice President

American Automobile Association

Steve ContosVice President - Managing Director

Grande Lakes OrlandoThe Ritz-Carlton - JW Marriott

Bill DavisPresident

Universal Orlando Resort

Carolyn FennellDirector of Public Affairs

Orlando Aviation Authority

Randy GarfieldExecutive Vice President

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Richard KesslerChairman & CEO

The Kessler Collection

Mark McHughPresident/CEO – Gatorland

Chairman – Orlando/Orange County CVB

Abe PizamDean

University of Central FloridaRosen College of

Hospitality Management

Gary SainPresident/Chief Executive Officer

Orlando/Orange County Convention& Visitors Bureau

Bob StolzExecutive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Buena Vista Hospitality Group

Peter YesawichChairman/

Chief Executive OfficerYpartnership

The 2010 Tourism Leadership Summit is the fourth in a series of highly popular programs designed specifically for executives and senior managers in the world’s most exciting industry.

This year’s day-long program is scheduled for Thursday, May 20, 2010 - the day immediately following the end of the US Travel Associa-tion’s “International Pow Wow” here in Orlan-do (May 15-19, 2010). The Tourism Leadership Summit is presented separately by your Skål In-ternational Orlando. The registration fee for the entire day, including lunch and breaks, is just $99 per person! The site for the programming will be the Darden Auditorium at the Rosen College. The confirmed program and speakers include: “Consumer Travel Trends”Peter YesawichChairman & CEOYpartnership(www.ypartnership.com)

“International Travel Outlook”Bruce BommaritoExecutive Vice President & COOUS Travel Association(www.tia.org)

“Domestic Travel Outlook”Mark BrownExecutive Vice PresidentAmerican Automobile Association(www.national.aaa.com)

“The Future of Destination Marketing”Michael Gehrisch

President & CEODestination Marketing Association Interna-tional (www.destinationmarketing.org)

“Building Strategic Partnerships”(Panel Presentation)Peter CranisVice President of Leisure MarketingOrlando Convention & Visitors Bureau(www.orlandocvb.com) “Meeting Market Outlook”Bruce MacMillanPresident & CEOMeeting Planners International(www.mpiweb.org) “Social Media”Michael PusateriPresident & CEOVantage Strategy (www.vantagestrategy.com) Attendance is limited to 200. Make plans now to confirm your spot, and remember the Sum-mit is open to anyone in our industry, includ-ing nonmembers of Skål. What a great way to introduce them to our organization and all we have to offer!

Sponsorships are also available. The $1000 lev-el includes three complimentary registrations; while the $500 level includes one comp.

For more information, visit the Tourism Lead-ership Summit at www.tourismsummit.com, or call Fred Corrigan at 407.992.8102, or Tom White at 407.902.7882.

2010 Leadership Summit

NEW MEMBERS

OCTOBER - none

NOVEMBER - Alexander Carius, General Manager,

Blue Heron Beach Resort Kellie Bauer, Director of Revenue,

Royal Plaza HotelJoe Kane, Life Member,

Transfer from Skål Pittsburgh

DECEMBER - none

CALENDAR OF CONGRESSESFor more information go to www.skal.org

49th Annual N.A.A.S.C. Congress 2010, Chateau Frontenac, Quebec

6-8 of May 2010

Skål International Congress 2010Sydney, Australia - 10-15 of October

Skal International Congress 2011Turku, Finland - October (exact dates in

October will be determined later)

From time to time Orlando Skål members have positions available in their companies that could be filled by other members in the Skål organization. To that end we have added a new section to the club’s web site where job information can be posted. This section is for available positions only. We are unable to post resumes or job requests from members seeking employment.

To put a “Jobs Board” posting on the web site call Tom White at 407.902.7882 or send an email with the information you want posted to eolatvl@aol.com. You can view this new web site section at www.skalorlando.com.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

Eric Szymanski, Director of Sales & MarketingOrlando Marriott Downtown - 407-244-7487 Rick Lohr, Resort ManagerWyndham Ocean Ridge, S.C.- 843-869-4511 Richard Jackson, Director of Sales & Marketing, CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort Orlando - 407-506-4317 Jo Bailey, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Stay Orlando Resorts407-346-3990 Mike Dyrland, Vice President Business Development, Orlando Convention Aid407-522-2932 Bob Dees, Regional Vice PresidentConferenceDirect - 407-522-2932 Tom Schwinden, Global Account ExecutiveConferenceDirect - 407-366-5090 Marcus Lund, Director of Sales and MarketingBlue Heron Beach Resort - 407-387-2914

Skål International OrlandoP.O. Box 720423Orlando, FL 32872-0423

New Web Site Section: Jobs Board