I think it’s safe to say that Cape Town is officially in high season – and with that comes the energy, excitement, and sunshine of a Southern Hemisphere summer! I’d like to wish all our members a successful and vibrant season ahead.
A heartfelt thank you to our partner organisations in the JAMMS group: Cape Town Tourism, Fedhasa, SATSA, SAACI, and Wesgro – for their continued dedication in positioning Cape Town as a must-visit destination.
October marked the official launch of the Cape Town cruise season, with an impressive 72 ship calls expected. What a brilliant opportunity for our members to tap into this exciting visitor flow. At the same time, Cape Town International Airport is now handling over 220 international flights a week, connecting the “world’s best city” with the world.
Skål International Cape Town Vice President Aimee Lentz with new member David Nurick
We kicked off the month with a fantastic business breakfast at The Commodore Hotel, where members and industry friends enjoyed a morning of networking, shared updates, and international Skål insights, covering highlights from the recent World Congress, the World President’s report and international board plans.
Committee member Rue Zimuto also gave an informative presentation about the valuable role of Young Skål in shaping the future of our organisation. Watch Rue’s Presentation Here.
In very exciting news, we proudly hosted our first-ever Skål International Cape Town Golf Day. The event brought together our members, committee, and the wider tourism and hospitality industry for a full day of golf, camaraderie, and celebration.
With 16 four-ball teams teeing off at the Milnerton Golf Club, the day was rounded off with a prizegiving dinner and auction. A huge thank you to everyone who made it a success. We’re already looking forward to planning the 2026 edition! See The Highlights Of The Skål Cape Town Golf Day
On a Cape Town club front, we are proud to have concluded our call for applications for the 2025/26 Tourism Student Subsidy. This is an incredible youth investment initiated by our club and now established as an annual initiative.
The 2025 subsidy programme is presented in proud partnership with Cape Town Tourism and Women in Tourism (Western Cape), brought together through our annual Tourism Connex World Tourism Day celebration event.
It’s a fantastic showcase of the power of collaboration within our industry to support future tourism leaders – building a youth audience that will help shape a strong and resilient tourism and hospitality sector. The 2025/26 fund recipients will join our 2026 WTM Africa Gala Event.
Left to Right Photo: Hlumisa Nobesuthu Magida (Tourism and Event Management), Dawn Smith (Skål International Cape Town Past President and Senior National Vice President), Carol Collins (Skål International Cape Winelands President), Michaela Crowe (Skål International Cape Town member), and Aimee Lentz (Skål International Cape Town Vice President).
In the spirit of working together, our club teamed up with Skål International Cape Winelands to support the CPUT Student Food Drive. CPUT has assembled care packages for under-resourced students to assist with their basic needs – giving them the opportunity to focus on their studies, particularly during exam periods when they are unable to work due to academic demands. Together with Rhodes Food Group, our two clubs made valuable contributions to this important initiative to support students in need.
Left to Right Photo: Charalize Craill Hendrie (Aquila Collection), Zulfa Ismail (Dream Hotels and Resorts), Skål International Cape Town President Johan van Schalkwyk (Aquila Collection), Lindsey Killops Gibaud (Big Tree Marketing), Jessica Holiday (White Shark Projects), and Kevin Barry (The Diamond Works).
We also proudly flew the Cape Town Skål flag across borders this past month. While attending the Essence of Africa trade show in Malindi, Kenya, I was delighted to connect with fellow Cape Town members as we put our destination on show for global buyers. The camaraderie was incredible – a true testament to what “Doing Business Among Friends” is all about.
Back home, it was an honour to host Lena Lütke Deckenbrock, Vice President of Skål International Deutschland, and her partner during their visit to Cape Town.
Above: Skål International Cape Town Committee members with Skål International Deutschland Vice President Lena Lütke Deckenbrock
And further afield, I had the chance to be at the IGLTA Global Convention in Palm Springs, where I unexpectedly met up with Skål International USA Director and Boston Past President Efren Aponte – a lovely global Skål moment shared with fellow Cape Town members Charalize Craill, Preston Pietersen, and Wins Botha.
Upcoming Events
As we look towards the end of the year, we’re excited for our sold-out and fully subscribed B2B Travel Trade Marketplace, taking place at Lagoon Beach Hotel. This event brings together member businesses and the wider travel trade to connect, collaborate, and turn our valuable friendships and industry networks into tangible business opportunities.
We’ll also be hosting our Annual General Assembly on 26 November in Sea Point. Please do factor in traffic when planning your journey as we hope to see as many members there as possible.
A heartfelt thank you to all our members for your continued efforts to connect regionally, nationally, across Africa, and beyond. Our membership, network, and spirit of friendship are only as strong as our willingness to engage and turn relationships into meaningful business.
Wishing you all an incredible summer season!
And lastly: don’t forget to visit the Skål International quizzes to learn more about our global organisation and discover the real value your membership brings, not just to you, but to the tourism sector as a whole.
Skål!
Johan van Schalkwyk
President – Skål International Cape Town
