Interview with our Skalleague Mike Caplin
SKAL International San Francisco, Executive Director – SKAL International President San Francisco in 1997.
Former Senior Manager at AAA (Nevada, Utah and Northern California), Former CEO at Coast Travel Group, Former Vice President of the IT Group
When did you join SKAL?
I joined SKAL in the early 90's. At that time, it was very difficult to become a member and I recall waiting for more than a year to receive approval on my application.
What are your best memories at SKAL?
My best SKAL memories have to be the World and Regional Congresses that I have attended over the years and the genuine and long lasting friendships made with other Skalleagues from all over.
Other wonderful memories were the 60th and 70th Anniversary parties that the San Francisco Club held.
We've also had some super memorable outings to places like Hearst Castle, Fort Bragg (via the 'Skunk Train') and San Luis Obispo. Many years ago, our annual Christmas galas were black-tie dinner dances at the St. Francis Hotel and WOW - those sure were special!
What has SKAL brought you in your career/business?
SKAL has been a great help to me over the years when I was still actively working in the industry. During my AAA time, we would have an annual Congress for over 200 of our frontline Travel Counselors and SKAL hoteliers would help me out with excellent rates.
Later, in my Consortium years, Skalleagues in the Ensenada, Mexico and Victoria, B.C. Canada clubs assisted me in arranging perks for our Travel Agency members at those annual events. This never would have happened without the cooperation and collaboration of Skalleagues!
“SKAL membership is the best
investment you'll ever make
during your career!”
Have you ever attended a world congress? When? How was it?
I have attended three World Congresses -- Montreal in 1998, Turku, Finland in 2011 and just last year on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas cruise out of Miami. There, my wife and I made wonderful new friends that are members of the Nairobi, Kenya SKAL Club. I have also attended one NASC Congress, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia about 5 years ago.
All of the Congresses were great experiences and being there gives you a real "feel" for the camaraderie and worldwide "reach" of the SKAL organization. You instantly know that you have friends from all over the globe!
Why would you recommend someone to join SKAL?
I wholeheartedly recommend membership in SKAL International for anyone associated with the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality industry because you are immediately connected with high-level contacts from all over the world.
People are in a position to help you and your business. I have seen it first hand and can testify that the friends you make in the SKAL 'family' are unlike any others and can most sincerely say that SKAL membership is the best investment you'll ever make during your career!
Mike's Bio:
He is retired after having a 45-year career in the retail travel industry. Thirty plus years were spent with AAA (American Automobile Association) and he left them in 1998 as a Senior Manager responsible for 50 Travel Agency locations in Northern California, Nevada and Utah. The book of business at that time was around $150 million annually.
After that, he worked at the Coast Travel Group in Napa (a travel agency consortium) and became the CEO there in the year 2000. Around 275 Travel Agencies belonged to the organization. Coast was then merged with a larger consortium on the east coast and he served as Vice President of that company. He eventually retired in 2010 as Vice President of the IT Group, a 1,200 Travel Agency member consortium based in Ponta Vedra Beach, FL.
He is originally from Massachusetts, living in Haverhill, Worcester and Boston. He was in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1961-1965, stationed first at a SAC base in Florida and then spent 18 months in the Azores. He moved to California (San Francisco) in 1968. He has lived in the delightful Bay Area town of Benicia for over 35 years and am very active here, volunteering on several city boards and commissions (including Tourism). He has also promoted Benicia to the SKAL 'family' worldwide. A couple of years ago, he hosted a Skalleague from the Winnipeg, Canada club and his wife and really rolled out the Benicia 'red carpet; for them. Last year at the SKAL World Congress cruise; the City of Benicia sponsored a B2B table where we promoted our town to Skalleagues from all over the world!
He had also hosted a B2B table for Benicia in Halifax, Nova Scotia some years back at a NASC Congress.