Hamilton's Princess Hotel.

The meeting is being held by the Affiliated Clubs -- a branch of the North American Area Skal Committee.

Aimed at boosting friendship and understanding among people in the travel and hospitality industry, the Affiliated Clubs includes representatives from Jamaica, Bahamas, Curacao, Aruba, El Salvador and Bermuda.

Skal VIPs at today's biannual meeting include the International World President, Canada's Mr. Leonard Graceffo.

Also taking part are International Past President Mr. Max Kingston, from Australia; Secretary General Mr. Jim Power; NAASC President Mr. David Ashcraft, from America; President of the Affiliated Clubs Mr. Graham Cooper, from the Bahamas; and representatives from the Skal Clubs of Miami and the US Virgin Islands.

President of the Skal Club of Bermuda is Miss Susan Wainwright, who took over the post in April last year.

She pointed out the Skal movement was made up of senior executives of the hospitality and travel industry in 518 clubs in 86 countries.

The most recent additions to it were clubs in Warsaw and Moscow.

Skal International was founded in 1932 in Paris, with the first clubs outside the city being formed two years later.

Miss Wainwright said Mr. Graceffo chose "Tourism is Education'' as his theme this year.