Skål International Hyderabad member Valmiki Hari Kishan shares a story about the Power of the Skål International Network. 

One late night, in the quiet hours around 1:00 a.m., I received a distress call from a fellow Skålleague in Tanzania. His three children, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Muscat via Hyderabad, had missed their onward flight due to a delay on the KL sector. With a very tight connection and international phones not working, they were suddenly stranded in a foreign country—confused, frightened, and alone.

My sincere thanks to both Air Asia (Kishore & Rizwan) & Indigo (BVB Chary & Surya) who were attending my calls in mid night to help us but it was beyond their scope due to less time.

Three young travelers. A foreign land. The middle of the night.

This is where Skål proves it is more than a network—it is a family.

Without hesitation, arrangements were made to ensure their safety. A hotel was secured, fresh tickets on Oman Air were issued from Hyderabad to Muscat, and I personally went to the airport to see them off. Watching those teenage girls and their youngest brother finally smile again was a reminder of what Skål truly stands for—connection, compassion, and commitment.

Skål International is the largest global network of travel and tourism professionals, spanning 75+ countries and uniting experts from aviation, hospitality, travel, tourism, and allied industries under one powerful umbrella. We do business among friends—but more importantly, we stand by each other when it matters most. Beyond business, our strength lies in service, solidarity, and giving back to society through strong CSR initiatives.

I feel immense pride in being a Skålleague—always ready to extend help to a fellow member, day or night, weekday or weekend, without question.

I would like to acknowledge Skålleague Arif Mazrui from Zanzibar, a distinguished member of Skål International Kenya Coast, and one of the finest tourism professionals I have had the pleasure of meeting during the recent Skål Asia Congress in Colombo.

Today, as the world celebrates Happy Skål Foundation Day, I feel especially fortunate to share this story, because it perfectly reflects the spirit of our organization.

Long live Skål International.

Founded in Paris on 20 December 1932, Skål continues to connect hearts, nations, and professionals across the globe—proving that together, we are stronger.