HYDERABAD: Dr Valmiki Hari Kishan, a veteran travel professional elected as President of Skal International Hyderabad 606 Chapter of Skål International, the worldwide professional organisation of travel and tourism professionals. He is elected for a two year term, 2026-28
Along with him Board members were elected. The newly elected Board comprises Pankaj Sampath, Vice President–1; Rubin Cherian, Vice President–2; Earnest Immanuel, Secretary; Ravi Agarwal, Treasurer; Ramakrishna, Director–Membership Development; Srinivas, Director–PR & Communication; and Mohan Krishna, Director–Young Skal.
Dr Valmiki Hari Kishan was elected with the highest majority and thanked the members for reposing their confidence in his leadership. Speaking on the occasion he said, tt is a great privilege and honour to lead Skal International Hyderabad. The trust placed in me by our members brings with it a greater responsibility to carry forward the remarkable legacy of this club.
Skal International Hyderabad also has the distinction of hosting the Skal International World Congress in 2017.
The Hyderabad club holds another significant distinction of having produced the first Indian World President of Skal International, who is set to take over the global leadership baton at the 85th Skal World Congress in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa later this year. He will be its global president and first Hyderabadi to head the body.
“Our club has created history and achieved several milestones. Therefore, the responsibility on the new Board is even greater. We will work collectively to strengthen member engagement, networking and professional relationships, while creating new milestones for Skal International Hyderabad,” Dr Valmiki said.
The newly elected Board will assume responsibility for the 2026–28 term, with a focus on strengthening membership, communication, professional networking, Young Skal initiatives and greater participation in international Skal programmes.
Skål International is the world’s leading professional organisation connecting all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Its core objective is to promote global tourism, friendship and professional cooperation among industry leaders.
Founded in Paris in 1932 by travel managers following an educational tour of Scandinavia, Skål International was formally established as an international association in 1934. Today, it brings together around 12,500 tourism professionals and industry leaders through more than 290 clubs across over 75 countries. Its General Secretariat is located in Málaga (Torremolinos), Spain.
With its motto “Doing Business Among Friends,” Skål provides a platform for tourism professionals to build relationships and business networks at local, national and international levels. It is also an Affiliated Member of UN Tourism, supporting the principles of sustainable, accessible and responsible tourism.
In India, Skål International India has a network of more than 20 regional clubs and over 1,400 members, representing diverse segments of the tourism ecosystem, including hospitality, aviation, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism boards and government bodies.
