Skål International Bangkok marked 70 years of connecting travel and hospitality professionals in the Thai capital with a monthly lunch and Annual General Meeting at Chatrium Residence Sathon Bangkok. The event, held on 14 June 2026, combined networking with community giving, as the club donated to three local charities and re-elected its executive leadership.
The gathering drew hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents, educators, and media representatives, reflecting the club's ethos of “Doing Business Among Friends.” The venue itself underscored that spirit: Chatrium Residence Sathon Bangkok is managed by John Neutze, the hotel's general manager and long-serving treasurer of Skål International Bangkok. His dual role made the lunch both a professional milestone and a homecoming for members.
Charity Focus and Community Impact
During the lunch, Skål Bangkok presented donations to three organisations addressing distinct needs in Thailand. Bangkok Community Help Foundation, founded by Friso Poldervaart and Greg Lange, provides food assistance, education support, home repairs, and emergency relief across vulnerable communities in the capital. The Good Shepherd Sisters, represented by Sister Louise Horgan, offer care and protection to women, children, and marginalised individuals. Helmet Heroes Thailand, founded by Rick Brown, distributes TIS-certified helmets and delivers road-safety education to children, aiming to reduce preventable injuries and deaths on Thai roads.
“After 20 years as a Skål Bangkok member, most of them on the Executive Committee, I have seen how this club turns friendship into action,” said Dr. Scott Smith, PR director of Skål International Bangkok and senior lecturer at Assumption University. “As Skål Bangkok celebrates 70 years in the city, this lunch felt like exactly what the club should be: hospitality people standing beside the communities that make Bangkok stronger.”
Executive Committee Re-Elected
The Annual General Meeting saw the re-election of several officers to the Skål International Bangkok Executive Committee. James Thurlby continues as club president, with Marvin Bemand and Andrew Wood remaining as vice presidents. John Neutze was re-elected treasurer, Pichai Visutriratana stays on as events director, Scott Smith was elected PR director, and Max Ma continues as membership director. They join Jennifer Ferris, who was elected secretary in 2025.
The stability of the leadership team signals continuity for a club that has adapted to Bangkok's evolving travel landscape. As Bangkok hotels expand MICE capacity and bleisure travel drives corporate demand, Skål Bangkok remains a key networking platform for industry professionals navigating these trends.
Looking Ahead
Skål International Bangkok's next event is scheduled for 14 July 2026 at Crowne Plaza Bangkok, an evening cocktail gathering from 18:30 to 21:00. Registration is available by email at [email protected].
The club's 70-year milestone underscores the enduring value of face-to-face networking in an industry increasingly shaped by digital tools. As travel-tech vendors and hospitality leaders explore innovations such as smart access technology, Skål Bangkok continues to provide a forum where relationships are strengthened and ideas exchanged over lunch.
