Skal Sydney Christmas raffle saga continues
Isn’t interesting that when something controversial appears in TravelMole one of two things happens.
One is that there is a deadly silence from the organisation involved and the other is that they respond vehemently objecting, etc, etc.
What’s interesting about the response to the Skal Christmas lunch article in TravelMole week before last – click here to read the article and comments……https://www.travelmole.com/stories/
1123955.php…….is that there has been a deafening official silence from the President or Committee of Skal Sydney i.e no official response.
I have heard from Skal members though and a national committee member!
Some Skal members have called The Mole to defend Skal Sydney’s actions in running a massive Christmas lunch prize draw, giving substantial prizes away and the cash ticket sales proceeds going to charity. The ones that called think that it is a very charitable thing to do and no doubt it is…..in principle.
Other Skalleagues have contacted The Mole to say that TravelMole is spot on as they believe that there is way too much giving away of trips and prizes in the travel industry and not enough philanthropy.
One also said that the only reason people go to the Skal Christmas lunch was to win a prize.
Everybody wants something in return said another contributor, so if they spend $10 on a raffle ticket they are disappointed they don’t win a holiday in Bali or some other great prize.
This person also said that the organisations giving the prizes are just as bad, as they only give the prizes to obtain publicity and they are unlikely to give the cash value instead.
Another added that is was a shameful indictment of the industry that it appears that the industry will only give when it is going to receive, when the principle should be, receive nothing in return except the pleasure of giving.
This is exactly the point that the Skalleagues that contacted TravelMole were trying to make, which sadly kind of missed its target with some of the Skal guys that responded and no doubt the Committee of Skal Sydney.
A very simple bit of math shows that the benefit to charity would be huge if the challenge TravelMole issued to Skal Sydney, to not only give the cash from the raffle ticket sales, but also the cash value of the prizes, so that the “prize winners” did not win anything and the cash value of those prizes also went to charity.
Unfortunately, the challenge issued by The Mole appears not to have been taken up yet by Skal Sydney.
Let’s looks at some examples: –
If they had for example the following prizes: –
|
Sample Prizes |
Net Value |
|
A cruise for two |
$5,000 |
|
A week in Bali for two |
$3,000 |
|
A week in Fiji for two |
$3,000 |
|
A weekend in Sydney for two |
$1,000 |
|
A case of wine |
$250 |
|
Ticket to Singapore for two |
$1,500 |
|
Total |
$13,750 |
This example illustrates that in addition to the claimed $10,000 raffle ticket sales Skal Sydney gives to charity, they would also be able to give a further or additional nearly $14,000 to charity – now that’s the sprit of giving at Christmas!
Will they do it, and will the industry do it – I doubt it!
How about giving the prizes to selected charities for them to give to some deserving participants or even for the charity to use the prizes as a big fundraiser prize, which would raise even more funds!
You never know though!
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements