ALCATEL CHALLENGE TROPHY – HOTEL RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2006
Congratulations to the following candidates who have made it to the Finals!
| Four Seasons Hotel Singapore |
Ms Karene Lim Kai Lin |
| Raffles the Plaza |
Ms Ismawarti Binte Alias |
| Singapore Marriot Hotel |
Ms Ivah Ee |
| The Ritz-Carlton Millenia |
Ms. Kasturi d/o Thangayah |
| Pan Pacific Singapore |
Ms Jane Leong Hwai Leng |
| Swissotel The Stamford |
Mr. Mohamed Yaseen Bin Issam Muddeen |
| The Oriental Singapore |
Mr. Ramanaidu A/L Soorianarayanan (James) |
| The Regent Singapore |
Mr Mavin Ho Keen Hoh |
Finals will be held on:
| Date : |
23rd October 2006 |
| Venue : |
Marina Mandarin Hotel |
| Time : |
0830 hrs to 1800 hrs |
Audiences are welcome to observe and support our Finalist.
ALCATEL CHALLENGE TROPHY – HOTEL RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2005
Singapore’s Hotel Receptionist of the Year 2005 has been chosen! Mr Ian Soh from Grand Copthorne Waterfront has proudly obtained the much coveted Alcatel Challenge Trophy during the Association of Rooms Division Executives (ARDE), Singapore annual dinner and dance, held at the Pan Pacific hotel on 23rd November 2005.
The ARDE has actively been organizing the Hotel Receptionist of the Year competition since 1997. This year, Alcatel, First Currency Choice, Omni-Comm Pte Ltd and Singapore Press Holdings have graciously sponsored the entertaining and exciting event amongst many other sponsors.
With strong support from Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC), the ARDE called on all hotels in Singapore to send their best receptionist forward to participate in this competition with the winner representing Singapore at the International “David Campbell Trophy” competition. This trophy for the “International Receptionist of the Year” was created in 1992 and named after the Front Office Manager of the Hotel Ritz in Paris (President of the AICR. from 1985 to 1990). AICR stands for “Amicale Internationale des Sous-Directeurs et Chefs de Reception des Grands Hotels”. The Amicale was founded on the Cote d’Azur in France in 1964 and over 40 years, has grown with 12 different countries now being part of the International AICR Structure. Singapore’s Chapter is the ARDE.
Ian was chosen from amongst 18 candidates who were tested in all areas related to Front Office with 9 having to go through their ‘worst day at work’ as in the final round, a major segment included every hotel receptionist’s nightmare: A role play handling two difficult and impatient guests making demands at the same time whilst your reactions are closely monitored and scrutinized by a team of experienced judges and management executives from the service industry.
Come January 2006, Singapore (the only Asian country) will once again send its representative, as it has always done since 1996, to vie for the prestigious international “David Campbell Trophy” in London, United Kingdom. Ian will unfortunately be unable to make this trip due to his National Service commitments. In his place, the 1st Runner-up for the competition Ms Chen Yi Jun of Raffles The Plaza will represent Singapore instead.
Singapore and Switzerland currently tie on the claim of “having laid hands the most” on the trophy at thrice each. Will we be able to beat the country where some top hotel management schools are located? The answer lies with ‘YJ’ as we wish her all the best to do us proud and bring glory back to Singapore!
In summary, the following is a list of our proud Singapore representatives since 1997.
| Year |
Venue |
Representative |
International Achievements |
| 1997 |
Prague,
Czech Republic |
Janet Wong
Four Seasons Hotel |
First Runner-Up |
| 1998 |
Lausanne,
Switzerland |
Loganathan
Four Seasons Hotel |
Winner |
| 1999 |
Singapore,
Singapore |
Sukhbir Kaur
Sheraton Towers |
First Runner-Up |
| 2000 |
Bologna,
Italy |
Michelle Norfolk
Ritz-Carlton Millenia |
- |
| 2001 |
Rome,
Italy |
Shanny Goh
Westin Plaza |
- |
| 2002 |
Brussels,
Belgium |
Aisha Ahmad
Four Seasons Hotel |
Winner |
| 2003 |
Berlin,
Germany |
Edmund Lim Chong
The Oriental |
Winner |
| 2004 |
Paris,
France |
Jennifer Lai May Leng
Raffles the Plaza |
Second Runner-up |
| 2005 |
London,
United Kingdom |
Chen Yi Jun
Raffles the Plaza |
- |
|
In order to be eligible for the preliminary round of the national competition, the receptionist must be a confirmed employee of the hotel holding an entry level job in the Front Office Department and is nominated by the General Manager and seconded by an ARDE member of the hotel.
During the preliminary round, apart from the submission of a personal portfolio, all qualified candidates would be tested on their operational knowledge in areas like Reservation, Guest Arrival, Front Office Cashiering, Guest Services and Information, Telephone Service, Guest Departure, etc. during an interview session by a panel of judges.
The excitement intensified as 9 candidates progressed to the final round of the competition. These finalists would go through a panel interview amidst the tension and hope of their supporters in the audience. To incorporate realism,
they would also be placed in the limelight as they display their professionalism in the handling of demanding situations and guests during a role-play session.
This year, 18 hotels participated in this annual event. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Mr Mohamed Zaine - Conrad Hotel
- Ms Zuraidah Bte Yob Ahmad - Four SeasonsHotel
- Mr Mohammed Azim - Fullerton Hotel
- Mr Ian Soh Liang Wah - Grand Copthorne Waterfront
- Ms Suhana Hadad - Grand Hyatt
- Ms Junaidah Ramli - Grand Plaza Parkroyal
- Ms Nooriyati Bte Baharun - Holiday Inn Parkview
- Mr Sean Kelly Koh – Intercontinental Singapore
- Mr Andrew Leo - Meritus Mandarin
- Ms Abejar Arlene Malinao - Peninsula Excelsior Hotel
- Mr Jonathan Chua Boon Teck - Quality Hotel Singapore
- Ms Chen Yi Jun - Raffles the Plaza
- Ms Sim Kwee Yan - Ritz Carlton Hotel
- Ms Ifa Ann Wirna Bte Mohd Isa - Royal Plaza on Scotts
- Mr Masri Bin Mohd Saiman - Singapore Marriott Hotel
- Mr Sulaiman Bin Said - Swisshotel Merchant Court
- Ms Jolene Lee - Swissotel The Stamford
- Ms Ng Ai Leng - The Regent Hotel
