After serving at all levels for the last 32 years, immediate past Councilor for Turkey and a senior tourism professional Salih Cene has been elected as the Director of Skal International (SI).
The election took place today at Skal International (SI) Annual Congress which is taking place in Turku/Finland between 18 and 23 September.
Salih Cene said, “I believe that Skal International should play an important role in developments and changes in tourism. I agree that Skal should be a trusted voice in the tourism industry and should emphasise responsible tourism. In order to take our place as a trusted advisory body, Skal’s status should be well explained to the world of tourism.”
“The most important asset that differentiates Skal International from other organizations is its membership mosaic. Not only its presence in five continents and over 90 countries, but also its wide range of membership categories that no other tourism organization has under one roof (tour operators, hoteliers, airline representatives, guides, tourism press and many more).
This wide representation should make Skal a trusted voice within World Tourism, especially in two areas. Skal could use this position to set:
– the “Code of Ethics” in the Travel & Tourism Industry.
– the principles of business between various sectors of the Travel & Tourism Industry (eg. standards for contracts and operational rules between Travel Trade, Hotels, Airlines, etc.)
By achieving these two missions, Skal may also become the arbitrator in national and international disputes in the Travel & Tourism Industry.
About Salih Cene
Salih Cene was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1950. He started his professional career in 1969 as a receptionist, working in the Tusan and Hilton Hotels Groups in Turkey. Sponsored by Tusan, he moved to the UK to study at Westminster Technical College, working part-time in various London hotels and restaurants.
In 1978, returning to Turkey as General Manager of the Tusan/Manavgat Hotel, he started a career as General Manager, General Co-ordinator and General Director of various internationally-known hotels and hotel chains in Turkey, mainly in Antalya. From 1990, he built on years of experience to found Elite Hotels and Consultancy, brokering hotel rentals. From 1996, he became General Director of the Sun Zeynep hotel and then Otium hotel chain, again returning to private practice as a consultant in 2006.
His present work enables him to actively employ his experience in aspects of the hospitality industry and, beside Skal International, he is a founder member and member of other national and international associations and institutes (such as the Professional Hotel Managers Association, Institute of Hospitality).
Salih is a family man with young children. He enjoys playing tennis, basketball, volleyball, horse-riding, travelling, and has visited 55 countries in a professional and private capacity. He writes and reads poetry and contributes articles to various tourism magazines and newspapers. He lectures in various Universities and takes part in many symposiums as speaker and moderator.
During his 32 years serving Skal at all levels, he attended 20 World Congresses and 10 ISC mid-year meetings, beside other International Skal activities.
Source: www.ftnnews.com
