Leading tourism businesses honoured

AS tourism plays an important role in Singapore's economic growth, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has developed a platform to recognise leading individuals and organisations in the industry for their significant contributions in making the country an attractive destination.

The recognition platform which puts extraordinary tourism experiences in the spotlight is the Singapore Experience Awards. The annual awards, launched by the STB in 2009, are the pinnacle awards for Singapore's tourism and travel sector.

This year's award winners were announced at a gala event yesterday (Oct 21) at which among others seven leading tourism businesses in six MICE categories and a Best Business Event Champion were honoured.

The Singapore Experience Awards aim to continuously inspire and raise the bar in experience creation by celebrating and acknowledging exceptional organisations and individuals who have delivered distinctive and compelling Singapore experiences.

The awards are given for outstanding experiences offered by individuals and organisations in the country's tourism sector encompassing attractions, business travel and meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions (BTMICE), dining, experiential learning, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality and retail.

The winners of the Singapore Experience Awards are recognised for having demonstrated that they are the best in delivering a holistic customer experience - one that provides quality product and service delivery to create a distinctive and compelling experience.

Up to 30 awards are given out every year in the categories of experience, marketing and media, customer service, outstanding contribution and special recognition. Acknowledging these individuals' and organisations' efforts motivates and encourages healthy competition within the sector to constantly innovate and create distinctive and compelling Singapore experiences.

"A great customer experience is integral to the success of a destination. The Singapore Experience Awards is, at its heart, a recognition and celebration of great experiences," says STB chief executive Lionel Yeo.

"By sharing their success, we not only celebrate their achievements but also get to inspire a whole country to greater heights in the critical area of service. The goal to create and deliver compelling and distinctive experiences is interwoven into our journey towards quality tourism. To succeed, we need the collective passion and commitment of the industry to move in cohesion and inspire each other."

The Awards is an official event of TravelRave, Asia's premier travel and tourism week.

Says Choo Huei Miin, director of visitor experience and capability development, STB: "Since the inception of the Awards, many businesses are not just raising and focusing on their experience delivery standards; which remain important, but also emphasising differentiating and customising their products and services to enhance experiences and entrench loyalty for their customers."

She adds: "The Awards aims to recognise tourism stakeholders and celebrates their exemplary efforts in the delivery of exceptional experiences. It is also intended to encourage and motivate organisations and individuals in the Singapore tourism sector to constantly innovate, differentiate and introduce compelling experiences for their customers."

Two of this year's Singapore Experience Award winners in the BTMICE categories are featured in the articles below. The remaining award winners will be profiled on Oct 29.