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Sål International Chiang Mai and North Thailand dinner

Triumph over Santa

Skål International Chiang Mai and North Thailand dinner

Reinhard Hohler

70 Skål members and guests were present at the first Christmas Function of Skๅl Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand in the ballroom of the Sheraton Chiang Mai

Master of Ceremony (MC) Michael Vogt, Managing Director of Chiangmai Mail, welcomed some 70 guests for the Skål International Chiang Mai and North Thailand Christmas Dinner at the Sheraton Chiangmai Hotel on Sunday, December 18.

Guy Pace, (left) one of the lucky winners with one of the many bottles of Monsoon Valley wine, kindly donated by Horeca.

In line with global tourism and the friendship of Skål International, it was announced that the first Skål Club was founded in 1932 in Paris, and today Skål International has approximately 23,000 members in 500 places throughout 87 nations. In Thailand alone, there are five Skål Clubs, Bangkok, Pattaya and East Thailand, Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai and North Thailand. On hand and distributed was the complete 2005-2006 Edition of the Skål International Thailand Directory with some more valuable information.

The evening commenced at 7 p.m. with pre-dinner drinks and time to greet old friends and get to know new ones. Then followed a very special five course Christmas Dinner, where the main course was to choose either a citrus glazed escalope of sea bass or a pan-fried New Zealand beef fillet.

Scott Jones sang, played piano, gave a funny slide show and ended the evening with a very touching self composed song performed in English and Thai called ‘Home away from Home’.

During the evening, there was a brilliant performance from the Chiangmai Ballet Academy, including a lively Latino Dance. An additional show performance by Comedian Scott Jones called “Life in the Laugh Lane” kept the entertainment alive. Another most awaited highlight of the evening were the two rounds of the Grand Raffle Draw, for which the prizes included 2 return air tickets from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, accommodation, restaurant and Spa vouchers from local hotels and resorts in Thailand, and a 29" flat screen TV, sponsored by Skål president Sun Subsaeng who was ‘stuck on a delayed plane’ and never made it to the party. At the end of the night, only a few people left without a prize.

Who congratulates who? MC Michael Vogt and D2 Guru Somock Inthavong.

The major goal of the evening was to promote awareness of Skๅl and its activities among travel trade professionals in the North of Thailand and to attract new members to the growth of the Skål movement. Another important task was to encourage Skๅlleagues throughout the world to conduct business among each other, as the travel industry really is a passport to peace. And peace, we need, especially at Christmas.

The Executive Committee of Skๅl Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand with VIP guests. (From left) Marc Dumur, Director; Michael Vogt, treasurer; Eleanor Hardy, secretary; Bob Lee, Vice President Skๅl International Thailand; Ken Hill, lifetime Skๅl member and David Thomas, PR Director.

Wanida Jameson (left) Manager Diethelm Travel Thailand receiving a Voucher for a relaxing Spa treatment from destination Spa, Ban Sabai from Director Chitra Klanprayoon.

Mohamed Jesr, Executive Manager Lotus Hotel and Nicki Gamble, CMIS

Anne Schoch and David Thomas

Sabine Zimpfer (middle) from Bluechips Microhouse was the luckiest winner that night. She won the a flight ticket CNX-BKK-CNX, donated by THAI, and the main prize, a 29 inch flat screen TV, donated by Skål president Sun Subsaeng!

MC Michael Vogt pointing out the ‘Christmas colors’ of this elephant painting which was sponsored by Anchalee Kalmapijit and won in the raffle by Margaret Bhadungzong, Welcome Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Magazine

Anchalee Kalmapijit, Operation Director Maesa Elephant Camp; Wanassanan Krainara, Operations Director Wind and Fire and Marc Dumur, GM The Legend Chiang Rai Resort and Spa.

From left: Lars Magnusson, Publishing Director Asia Pacific Eturbo News; Shane and Sriphan Beary, Track of the Tiger Tours;, Nicki and Terry Gamble, Chiang Mai International School.

Pinkaew and Wim Fagel, Amari Rincome Hotel with Wanassanan Krainara

Thomas and Sabine Zimpfer, Bluechips Microhouse and Lilli Saxer, General Manager Impulse Tourism.

Suchart Chancharoenkul, Sureetip Guntawong, GM of Chiangmai Number 1 Tours, and Lilli Saxer

Energetic, professional and lively were the dancers from the Latin American section of Chiangmai Ballet Academy.

Triumph over Santa

Linda Santitharangkul

Reindeers, elves and willpower brought Santa to the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai

Gingerbread houses and sweets galore for the children

The U.S. Consulate Christmas party was filled with (gingerbread) sweetness and light(s), and the only single thing more exciting than the gingerbread houses to decorate was the arrival of Santa Claus. This year, like last year, he arrived in a green Triumph sleigh driven by a special elf. This year that same elf (David Summers) was supported by such a powerful team he didn’t even have to turn on his engine. The reindeer energy of Consul General Bea Camp and Management Officer Ray Murphy, and the elf muscle of Kritaya, Supranee and Wan, provided all the pushing and pulling. Santa’s Helper Jami led the charge and alerted the children that the sleigh had arrived.