Skål Canada

06/19/2026

🎉 WE HAVE A WINNER! 🎉

Skål Canada, Skål USA, and Skål Calgary are excited to announce that the winner of the NASC 2027 Early Bird Prize Draw has been selected!

Who is the lucky winner? 👀

Watch the video to find out and join us in congratulating the winner of a 5-day, $6,000 all-inclusive trip to the Canadian Rockies.

A special thank you to our generous sponsors whose support made this exciting giveaway possible.

Video - https://vimeo.com/1201652455?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

06/19/2026

Member Spotlight: Jayde Finbeiner

Meet Jayde Finbeiner, second-generation Owner and Manager of Heartland International Travel & Tours. With more than a decade in Manitoba’s tourism industry, Jayde is passionate about creating unforgettable experiences that showcase the province’s stunning landscapes, wildlife, Indigenous culture, and rich history.

A dedicated tourism advocate, Jayde also serves as President of Skål International Winnipeg, 2nd Vice Chair of the Tourism Association of Manitoba, and contributes to several industry advisory committees and event-hosting initiatives.

📍 Favourite Destination: Churchill, Manitoba
🧊 Bucket List Destination: Antarctica

🌎 Travel Trend She's Excited About:
Jayde loves seeing travelers seek deeper, more meaningful connections with destinations through local culture, authentic experiences, and genuine community interactions.

♻️ Fun Fact:
Jayde lives in Manitoba’s first Earthship home—an innovative, off-grid, self-sustaining house powered by renewable energy and built using natural and recycled materials.

🌿 In Her Free Time:
You'll find Jayde outdoors, enjoying nature and all the adventures it has to offer.

Thank you, Jayde, for your leadership, passion, and dedication to growing tourism in Manitoba and beyond!

06/18/2026

Meet Marjolaine, club Canada representative and Vice President of Communications for Skål Canada. International Québec

🚢 Current Role: Marjolaine serves as Executive Director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence (Croisières du Saint-Laurent), promoting one of Canada's most iconic cruise destinations and helping showcase the beauty and tourism opportunities of the St. Lawrence region.

🌏 Favorite Travel Destination: India holds a special place in her heart and remains one of her most cherished travel experiences. Australia and New Zealand are next on her bucket list.

✨ Travel Trend She's Excited About: Marjolaine loves seeing travelers embrace meaningful experiences and cultural exploration. While all-inclusive vacations will always have their place, she is inspired by the growing desire to travel farther, discover new cultures, and broaden perspectives through immersive experiences around the world.

⭐ Fun Fact: Although she's very much an open book, Marjolaine lives life with a simple philosophy: go all in, embrace every opportunity, and have no regrets.

🎨 Favorite Leisure Activity: Lately, Marjolaine has become passionate about diamond painting, creating artwork inspired by places she and her family have visited. These unique creations have become treasured travel souvenirs—though she jokes she may run out of wall space soon!

06/17/2026

Skål Canada is incredibly proud of Banff Lake Louise Tourism for submitting an application for the Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards in the category of Communications and Innovative Sustainable Solutions.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Skål Canada members Leslie and Paul for the tremendous work and dedication they put into preparing the submission.

We wish Banff Lake Louise Tourism the very best of luck and will be tuning in during the Opening Ceremony of the 85th Skål World Congress in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, on September 30 to hear the results.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, and thank you for showcasing Canada's commitment to sustainable tourism on the world stage. 🌎🍁♻️

06/16/2026

Look at that bling on the course!

06/16/2026

Travel Tip Tuesday: saving on hotel rooms is easier than you think!

06/16/2026

06/12/2026

Over the summer, we will be sharing updates every Friday!

invites you to join them in the iconic west from May 6-9, 2027!

Full congress information: nasc2027.com

06/11/2026

Meet Georgia Rasp, Executive Secretary of Skål International London and Past President (2019–2023). International London

🏨 Current Role: Georgia is the Managing Director of GR Hospitality Consultant, bringing extensive experience and leadership to the hospitality and tourism industry.

🌍Favorite Travel Destination: Italy remains a favorite destination, while South Africa is at the top of her travel bucket list.

🌍 Travel Trend She's Excited About: Georgia is inspired by the growing trend of "Sight-Doing"—immersive travel experiences that allow visitors to learn new skills and connect authentically with the destinations they explore.

⭐ Fun Fact: Georgia's family is rumored to be distantly related to the family of actor Telly Savalas through the Kapsalis family lineage originating in Sparta, Greece.

🏛️ Favorite Leisure Activity: Exploring both new and beloved museums, discovering the stories, culture, and history they preserve.

06/10/2026

Meet Judy Bunkall, Director at Large for Skål Edmonton.Skål Edmonton

Current Role: Judy serves as Business Development Manager for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories with Manulife Travel Insurance, supporting travel professionals and helping travelers explore with confidence.

Favorite Travel Destination: Having traveled extensively throughout her career, Judy counts Australia and New Zealand among her favorite destinations. Still at the top of her bucket list? Antarctica.

Travel Trend She's Excited About: Judy is encouraged by the growing focus on sustainable tourism and the increasing desire among travelers to seek out unique, less-traveled destinations while spending more time immersing themselves in local experiences. She’s also seeing strong interest in Antarctica expeditions, with travel partners reporting a surge in inquiries.

Fun Fact: Judy has worked in several areas of the travel and tourism industry over the past 38 years in the industry, including a sales and marketing role with Blachford Lake Lodge, a fly in backcountry lodge in the Northwest Territories. While there, she was fortunate to have the dog team experience firsthand with the musher!

Favorite Leisure Activity: Judy loves spending time outdoors, whether it's enjoying a walk close to home or escaping to Alberta's mountains to relax and recharge. She also enjoys gardening—even if her enthusiasm occasionally outpaces her green thumb!