Singapore celebrated 50 years of tourism development and co-operation with a special edition of the city state’s annual awards for those in travel and hospitality.
Special recognition went to 25 outstanding individuals and organisations at a Tourism50 Gala Dinner at Gardens By the Bay held in conjunction with the Singapore Experience Awards.
The event at Gardens by the Bay was attended by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, tourism industry leaders and frontline travel and tourism staff.
The evening’s highest accolade, the Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism went to veteran tourist guide and mentor, Geraldene Lowe-Ismail.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder and editor of Web In Travel, was named Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year and Professor Lee Yuan Kun, president of the Singapore Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology and the International Union of Microbiological Societies, was honoured as Business Event Ambassador for championing Singapore’s business events industry. Lee was instrumental in attracting the World Congresses of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) 2017, a large-scale three-congresses-in-one event, to the city.
Among the other award recipients and special mentions were:
Best Dining Experience – Joël Robuchon Restaurant, Resorts World Sentosa;
Best Hotel Experience – The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore;
Association Conference Organiser of the Year – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and National Library Board for International Federation of Library Associations World Library and Information Congress 2013;
Business Event Service Provider of the Year – Kingsmen Exhibits for Tax Free World Association Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference 2013;
Meeting/Incentive Organiser of the Year (Special Mention) – MCI Group Asia Pacific for Ernst & Young Asia-Pacific Tax Symposium 2013
Trade Conference Organiser of the Year – All That Matters (Branded) for Digital and Music Matters 2013;
Customer Service (Hotel) – Shaik Shidek B Shaik Osman, The Westin Singapore.
