Greetings from Europe! As many of you might know, I’ve been on a personal break in Germany with my partner and parents. This trip has truly reinforced for me the value of our international network. I made it a point to connect with fellow Skål clubs along the way, and in doing so, we experienced both friendship and business opportunities: a unique Skål International phenomenon.
Our journey so far has connected us to the clubs of Aachen, Liege, Luxembourg, Limburg, and Munich, to name just a few. We’ve shared luncheons and barbecues, swapping stories, exchanging business cards, and exploring new avenues for collaboration.
On behalf of Skål International Cape Town, I would also like to extend our sincerest condolences to the members of Skål International Luxembourg on the recent passing of their beloved committee member, Jean-Claude Frisch. Jean-Claude was looking forward to meeting with our Cape Town club during our visit, and we want to honour his memory and his dedication to the Skål community.
I’ve been fortunate to meet a variety of Skål members on this tour, and I’m especially grateful for the outstanding hospitality shown to us. A special word of thanks goes to Roger Thomas (Vice President of Skål International Aachen) and Petra Theunissen (Skål International Luxembourg) for opening both their hotel and home.
I’d also like to thank the Skål clubs of Luxembourg for a fantastic lunch in Liege and the club of Limburg for a great walkabout in Maastricht. In a particularly memorable moment, we exchanged Cape Town flags with Skål International Aachen during their summer barbecue.
In Munich, we were gifted a traditional Maßkrug and given a behind-the-scenes tour of the original royal Hofbräuhaus by their esteemed President, Franziska Düring.
Skål International Cape Town President Johan van Schalkwyk with Skål International Munich President Franziska Düring at Hofbräuhaus München.
Skål International Deutschland, led by president Johannes Jungwirth, has been incredible, consistently checking in on our journey and helping connect our Cape Town club with the German and surrounding clubs. Throughout the trip, I’ve found myself sharing many Cape Town stories and making new connections for our club and our city.
The importance of this network was highlighted even more when a fellow international member on a Skål International Africa page asked a poignant question: “How many of you are truly sharing business opportunities with fellow Skål members?”
My response was this: “There are very many business exchanges in Cape Town between our local and regional members. It’s about being open to giving and receiving, not just taking. Too many times, I’ve personally come across Skål members overcharging for activities or rooms that are easily booked at reasonable rates online.
You don’t pay for friendship anywhere in the world. This is not a taking organisation. It is a network for learning, expanding databases, and enabling a prosperous business environment. May you find great business partnerships through the international community. Be present. Wear the badge with pride. And be ready to engage.”
From Left to Right: Anders Björkman (Skål International Luxembourg President), Johan van Schalkwyk (Skål International Cape Town President), Hans-Jürgen Meyer (Skål International Aachen President), and Michael Meyer (Skål International Düsseldorf President).
Looking back, August was another busy and exciting month for our club, with a fully booked lunch at Ntida in the Durbanville winelands, where we celebrated our women in tourism during Women’s Month.
New Skål Cape Town Members From Left to Right: Chantel Stander (Ivanhoe Sea Safaris), Koos van Tonder (Mont Eco Private Game Reserve), Skål International Cape Town President Johan van Schalkwyk, Marnus Le Roux (The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel), and Lauren Bokelmann (Cresta Grande, Cape Town).
Looking ahead, some of our members and others from the wider South African Skål International community are making the journey to Cusco, Peru for the Skål International World Congress.
This is a particularly proud moment for our club, as some of our members are nominated for the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards, and we have the honour of being a nominee ourselves for International Club of the Year. We hope to bring these prestigious awards home to our professional tourism community.
Cross-border member engagement continues to be what makes Skål such a remarkable community. Skål Cape Town member Colleen Rens demonstrated this during her travels through Thailand, connecting with fellow Skålleagues in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi, truly embodying Skål’s spirit of friendship, connection, and doing business among friends worldwide.
Looking ahead, an exciting World Tourism Day Celebration awaits. Join tourism leaders, partners, and community champions for an inspiring evening at the beautiful Blaauwberg Beach Hotel on Friday, 26 September 2025.
Skål International has introduced the Tourism Student Subsidy 2025/26 to support promising tourism students. Backed by key partners, the initiative invests in the industry’s future. It aims to equip tomorrow’s leaders with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. Read more about the Tourism Study Subsidy here.
As we head into our Spring – and our “summer season”, I wish you all a fantastic season. With the sun beginning to appear and the flowers starting to bloom, our restaurants, hotels, day tours, and experiences will once again become livelier as we welcome the Cape Town high season for tourism and travel.
SKÅL!
Yours in friendship and tourism,
JOHAN VAN SCHALKWYK
President – Skål International Cape Town
