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(Forimmediaterelease.net) The 11th Annual Skålite “Quality in Tourism" Awards were presented by the President of Skål International Istanbul, Kemal Ozyigit in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Istanbul, Director of Promotions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with several other prominent guests and Skål members from all over Turkey on October 26, 2008 at the Gala Dinner held at the Hilton Convention Centre.

Skål International Istanbul, founded in 1956, is the largest Skål Club in the world with nearly 300 members. The first Quality Awards, known locally as the SKALITE “Quality in Tourism” Awards, were presented in Istanbul in 1998 and served as a model for the Quality Awards manual now applicable worldwide by other clubs. The purpose is to set examples for leaders of the tourism sector, highlighting quality as a management philosophy. At the same time, they serve to reward outstanding people, associations, and organizations that endeavor to raise quality standards in the industry.

Skål, founded as an international association in 1934, is the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world, embracing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, in five continents, 90 countries, and at over 500 locations, with 20,000 members from hoteliers to travel agents, airlines, tourism media, tourism academies, etc.

In the 11th year of the awards, Skål members in Turkey voted electronically for the various nominees in 15 categories, which were also determined electronically by a public “online tourism” news channel.

Mrs. Hulya Aslantas, member of Skål International Istanbul, was awarded with the special award for her continued commitment to the Skål movement and the honor brought to the club by her election as world president.

Along with several other prominent companies, Johnson Diversey and Evian continued to sponsor the event.

The winners were announced as follows:

CITY HOTEL: ÇIRAĞAN PALACE HOTEL KEMPINSKI

RESORT HOTEL: HILLSIDE BEACH CLUB

TRAVEL AGENT: SETUR

CONGRESS TOURISM: LÜTFİ KIRDAR CONGRESS CENTRE

TRANSPORT: TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI

AIRPORT MANAGEMENT: TAV ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT

MARINA: D MARIN-BODRUM TURGUTREİS

PROTECTION OF CULTURAL VALUES: SUNA&İNAN KIRAÇ FOUNDATION

TOURISM TRAINING: BILKENT UNİVERSİTY, TOURISM AND HOTEL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PRESS: HÜRRİYET DAILY – TRAVEL SECTION

BEST SERVICE FOR FOOD/BEVERAGE/CATERING FOR TOURISM: FERİYE RESTAURANT

SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION: TURKISH FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM (EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP)

ENTERTAINMENT&EVENTS: ANTALYA ALTIN PORTAKAL FILM FESTIVAL

PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT: TEMA VAKFI

SPECIAL AWARDS:

JOHNSON DIVERSEY HYGIENE AWARD: TURKEY ACCOR HOTELS

SKAL 2008 SPECIAL AWARD: SKAL WORLD PRESIDENT HULYA ASLANTAS

Skål International Istanbul General Secretariat Edificio España Avenida Palma de Mallorca 15-1º 29620 Torremolinos - SPAIN Tel: +34 952 38 9111 Email: skal@skal.org www.skal.org