History of Skål International Miami
Founded on June 13, 1950, Skål International Miami is one of the oldest and most distinguished chapters within Skål International, the global organization of travel and tourism professionals. Established during a period of rapid growth in South Florida’s hospitality sector, the club quickly became a gathering place for leaders shaping Miami’s emergence as an international gateway.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the club expanded alongside Miami’s rise as a major aviation hub and the world’s leading cruise port. Membership grew to include executives from airlines, hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies, travel agencies, and destination marketing organizations, reflecting the region’s increasingly diverse tourism landscape.
By the 1980s and 1990s, Skål Miami had become a recognized force within Skål USA, strengthening collaboration with other Florida chapters and supporting regional tourism development. The club’s membership continued to broaden, mirroring Miami’s evolution into a global destination for leisure, business travel, and conventions.
The 2000s marked a period of modernization, with the club adopting new communication tools and expanding its engagement with hospitality schools and emerging industry professionals. Miami’s tourism boom further elevated the club’s visibility and influence.
A defining milestone came in 2019, when Skål International Miami hosted the Skål World Congress aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. The event welcomed more than 550 delegates from 43 countries and showcased Miami’s leadership within the global Skål community.
In the 2020s, the club demonstrated resilience through industry challenges, supporting members during the global tourism slowdown and contributing to Miami’s strong recovery. Today, Skål International Miami remains committed to fostering friendship, professional development, and collaboration across all sectors of the travel and tourism industry.
Skal Miami is celebrating its 75th anniversary and it continues to honor its legacy while embracing new opportunities to support the growth and vitality of Miami’s hospitality community.
Below is the list of all the presidents of SKÅL Miami from its founding to today
|
Years |
President |
Affiliation / Notes |
|
1950 |
Bill Farr |
Farr Tours & Travel Services (†20‑09‑76) |
|
1951–53 |
Richard T. Jeffries |
Florida East Coast Railway |
|
1957–58 |
Desmond Kelly |
City of Miami Convention Bureau |
|
1958–59 |
Gordon B. Bingham |
Southern Railway System |
|
1959–60 |
Porter D. Norris |
PAWA |
|
1960–61 |
John Dishong |
Trailways Bus System |
|
1961–63 |
Joseph M. “Joe” Boggs |
Braniff Airways Inc. |
|
1963–64 |
Jim Bearce |
— |
|
1965–66 |
R. Panunzio |
Thomas Cook & Son |
|
1966–67 |
Lewis L. Sheets |
British West Indian Airways (†06‑03‑94) |
|
1967–68 |
Timothy F. Kane |
Eastern Steamship Lines |
|
1968–69 |
Melville S. Smith |
National Airlines |
|
1969–70 |
James E. Williams |
Seaboard Coast Line |
|
1971–72 |
Richard Kendall |
P & O Lines |
|
1972–73 |
L.A. “Doc” Baker |
Miami Chamber of Commerce |
|
1973–74 |
Willy Prestegaard |
Travel Agent |
|
1974–75 |
James E. Williams |
(†24‑02‑76). Gala Dinner 09‑03‑74 with AISC President E. Samson |
|
1975–76 |
Charles C. Rudd |
Mackey International Airlines. 25th Anniversary at Four Ambassadors Hotel |
|
1977–78 |
Pete Ginter |
— |
|
1978–79 |
William A. “Bill” Perry |
American Land Cruises |
|
1982–83 |
— |
Visit of AISC President M. O’Flynn |
|
1984–85 |
Ernie Lara |
Tribute dinner for Past Presidents in Fort Lauderdale |
|
1985–86 |
Warren McLaughlin |
35th Anniversary at Pavillon Hotel |
|
1986–87 |
Dick McDaniel |
Bahamas Hotel Reservations |
|
1987–88 |
K. Carey |
Air Canada |
|
1990–91 |
N. Congdon |
British Airways |
|
1991–92 |
F. Williams |
ALM |
|
1992–93 |
Robert “Bob” Garrity |
Commodore Cruise Line |
|
1993–94 |
Harold (Hal) Herman |
Recommend Magazine |
|
1994–95 |
Tamir Rankow |
Atlas Travel |
|
1995–96 |
Anthony Staikos |
— |
|
1996–97 |
Bernard Guet |
Hyatt Regency Hotel |
|
1997–98 |
Jan Hammond |
CTN / Travel Planners |
|
1998–99 |
Douglas Rodibaugh |
Miami International Airport Hotel |
|
1999–00 |
Robert Weir |
Sun Style International Hotel |
|
2000–01 |
Ronald “Ron” Kent |
New Strategies |
|
2001–02 |
Robert Burke |
Shannon Tours |
|
2002–03 |
Marta Guerra |
H.I. Development |
|
2003–04 |
Peter Freymuth |
PAF Travel Marketing |
|
2004–05 |
Gino Caliendo |
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables — “Club of the Year” AISC |
|
2005–06 |
Donald McGregor |
Johnson & Wales University |
|
2006–07 |
Rodrigo Trujillo |
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts |
|
2007–08 |
Doug Reinmuth |
Zdirect Biz Inc. |
|
2008–09 |
Ramón Antelo |
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables |
|
2009–10 |
Nina Meyer |
Express Travel |
|
2010–11 |
Christopher Perk |
Opus Group |
|
2011–12 |
Haley Sofge |
Island Queen Cruises |
|
2012–13 |
Guadalupe Castillo |
Pelican Hotel |
|
2013–14 |
David Ross |
eGroup Communications |
|
2014–15 |
Barry Alipour |
Dolphin Limousine Service |
|
2015–16 |
David Black |
Black Label Hospitality |
|
2016–17 |
Xavier Lividini |
Hospitality Advance |
|
2017–18 |
Jerry‑Max Theophile |
Airline Pros |
|
2018–19 |
Adriana Sol |
Wander PR |
|
2019–21 |
William Tullmann |
Unique Vacations Miami |
|
2022-23 |
Karin Andersen |
ICC Events Inc. |
|
2023-24 |
Alfredo Tejeda |
Expidia - Tour Operator |
|
2024-25 |
Fernando Harb |
Spotlight Hospitality Group |
|
2025-26 |
Xavier Lividini |
Hospitality Advance |
|
2026 |
Jorge Colona |
JMC Travel & Tours |