Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Susan Webb
22DEC08

Tim Booth, Susan Lawson and Jackie Lutz

Richard Eve and Jill Wykes

Mark Linton and Jackie Lutz

Toronto SKAL 2008 Board (missing board members Thom Vincent and Mike Hannah)

Toronto SKAL Celebrates The Season In Style

The Toronto SKAL Club recently celebrated the holiday season at their Annual Gala event held at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville in Toronto. It was a true travel industry event…an open bar, good food, great door prizes, wild dancing, disco music, single women looking for a free fam trip, old sales reps looking for a free lunch…but a disappointing moment: there was no shrimp!!!

The room looked beautiful with holiday décor and most interesting, a centrepiece that was ‘hot’ – unfortunately, Leslie (yes she needs a job Lorette) had her purse burst into flames during dinner…Good thing she borrowed the purse…

In order to maximize budgets in the current economy, SKAL used “home grown” entertainers instead of costly professionals. Cocktails were accompanied by the tantalizing piano playing of Pierre LePage (CATO/Thomas Cook North America) but the highlight of the evening was Susan Lawson (formerly of Club Med) singing the new travel industry theme song, “I Will Survive” with her cute back up dancers.

Another star-studded event was the SKAL Dancing With The Stars Show…which took place following the yummy dinner which included a choice of steak, halibut or the number one choice – TOFU…(only 2 ordered tofu and they must have been guests as they couldn’t be travel people)?

The amazing performers of our own Dancing with the Travel Stars included Vanessa Lee and her dance partner David Snutch (wow - what do you call those moves?), the “girls” table doing “dangerous Cone ” dances with Richard Eve, Neil and Doreen Winter cutting a rug like in the old days, debonair President Tim Booth and his lovely wife Carolyn showing us new jive moves - and the possible winner for creativity, dance moves and costumes (did you see Brian’s earrings and nose ring?), Brian Robertson and his lovely “sparkly” partner Stephanie…non-stop energy…loved it…10 out of 10! The Dancing with the SKAL Travel Stars will be performing at various Trade events in 2009 (for a nominal fee of course). Book early…

Door prizes are always a hit at a party and this event didn’t disappoint. For a mere $ 5 a ticket, guests had a chance to win incredible prizes – Pierre LePage may be invited by Jill Wykes for a dirty weekend at the Jumeriah Essex Hotel in New York with airfare compliments of Porter Airlines (where was the Porter rep??)…and very exciting that Jackie Lutz and Mark Linton are going to Half Moon in Jamaica for a little golf and industry research. A Club Med vacation will be enjoyed by Ron Lonsdale (we hope he invites Susan Lawson as this could be her last Club Med holiday); a yacht cruise in Toronto Harbour with Ed Radonic was won by Kari Payne-Vincent (Thom only bought $500 worth of tickets year as he had to pay for the top hat and spats), and the two Transat air seats to London, England were won by drum roll please…Caron Czomy, the lovely Mrs. Michael TICO Pepper… and they weren’t even Club Class Seats. Congrats to all the winners and thanks to all the sponsors…Santa was watching so you should be on the good list.

All in all a great night – everyone looked gorgeous (the SKAL members clean up nice for Gala)…not too much cleavage (the boys seemed disappointed).

Too bad if you weren’t there – you missed a great evening. Join now - special rates for 2009 membership if booked before Jan 15th! Visit www.torontoskal.org for more photos and information on SKAL.