Skal International Galway will honour Galway Business Woman and the first ever Female World President of Skal International, Mary Bennett at a special celebratory event this month.
Skal International is a professional association of tourism and hospitality leaders, and business operators in 86 countries around the world.
The association boasts more than 12,228 members spread across 308 clubs in different countries.
Mary Bennett has been an enthusiastic and inspiring leader of Skal International locally in Galway and across the world for over five decades.
Mary has motivated business women and been a visionary and champion for tourism, travel and retail in Galway, the West and across Ireland and internationally since she first worked in the former Great Southern Hotel on Eyre Square, Galway in the 60s.
Along with her late husband Eddie Bennett, she went on to open the beautiful fashion and gift retail outlet, the Treasure Chest at the heart of Galway City in 1966.
An iconic shop with its stunning wedge wood styled exterior Mary Bennet and her team at the Treasure Chest has welcomed and attracted an extraordinary number of domestic and international visitors to Galway City.
Along with her business and tourism achievements, Mary and her late husband Eddie, have three children and seven grandchildren, and of course a wealth of friends.
Serving as Galway and National President of Skal International, Mary Bennett’s infectious drive, energy and vision led her to the core of the organisation and to her election as the first Female World President of Skal, in October 2002 at Skal World Congress Australia.
Other accolades have included being elected the first female President of Galway Chamber of Commerce and later the President of Chambers Ireland.
She has also served on the Board of Aer Lingus, Bord Fáilte, the former Ireland West Tourism, Galway City and County Enterprise Board now the Galway Local Enterprise Office.
Mary’s heart has always been close to Galway and it’s development and along with Galway Chamber, she spent 21 years as Secretary of Salthill Tourism Development Association and has been at the heart of the Galway City Business Association since its foundation.
Also renowned for her charity fundraising Mary Bennett has been central to the organising of the annual Galway City Council’s Mayor’s Ball and many other events throughout her illustrious business career.
Skal International Galway will be honouring her with a celebratory Black Tie Dinner at the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway City on March 30.
