The Association of Rooms Division Executives (ARDE) has actively been organising this competition since 1996 with the strong support from the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Shatec Institutes. All candidates had to pass and attain the Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ)certification for units in 'Interact with Guest’ and 'Handle Guest Arrival’.
The winner for National Best Hotel Receptionist of the Year 2008 will go on to represent Singapore at the International Best Hotel Receptionist of the Year 2009 competition to win the prestigious “David Campbell Trophy” to be held in Cannes in Cote d’Azur, France on 19th February 2009. The winner will also walk away with a fully paid scholarship to pursue a WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Hospitality) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas here in Singapore. If the winner decides not to use this scholarship, the winner’s hotel can use it to for their other Front Office staff. This prize is co-sponsored by WDA and ARDE.
The aim of this competition is to raise the profile of the Hotel Receptionist as a valid and rewarding career, ignite a healthy and competitive passion for customer service and motivate front line staff to excel in their current roles.
Compliments also go to the following individuals for contributing their expertise and invaluable time to make this a successful competition.
Finalists
• Ms Melissa Yap - Pan Pacific Singapore
• Ms Magdeleine Chew Jia Min - The St. Regis Singapore
• Ms Sariyah Bte Abdul Khalid - Changi Village Hotel
• Ms Ivy Teong Lee Min - Royal Plaza on Scotts
• Mr Tang Ying Ting - Swissotel The Stamford
• Ms Nora Lynn Gammell - Park Hotel Clarke Quay
• Ms Cristy Mejico - The Regent Singapore
• Ms Catherine Tang Pui Ee - The Ritz‐Carlton, Millenia Singapore
We would like to acknowledge and thank the following participants in the
preliminary rounds:
Mr Jerrick Tay WeiQiang - Marina Mandarin
• Mr Muhammad Fairuz Bin Othman - Shangri-La Singapore
• Ms Kathrina Rosario Paulino - Fairmont Singapore
• Mr Mohamed Manzoor Ali - Concorde Hotel
• Ms Griselda Tan Xiao Hui - Conrad Centennial
• Ms Siti Wirza - Novotel Clarke Quay
• Ms Nurhuda Binte Hidayatullah - Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
• Ms Siti Khatijah Bte Juraimi - Swissotel Merchant Court
• Ms Herianti Bte Mohammed Amin - Grand Copthorne Waterfront
Chief Judge
Mr Chow Keng Hai - Hotel Manager, Hotel Michael, Resorts World at Sentosa
Panel of Judges
Ms Anthea Tan - Vice Principal, Institute of Lodging and Chef Butler, Shatec Institutes
Mr Bernard Siew - Manager, Corporate Operations, Ascott International Management
Ms Carol Leow - Deputy Director, Tourism Division, Workforce Development Agency
Mr Varzeeq Madhar - Front Office Manager, Four Seasons Singapore
Mr Bharath Satyavolu - Host Mentor, Shatec Institutes
Special thanks and mention also goes out to Ms Raihan Abdullah, Vice President, Institute of Lodging, Shatec Institutes and her two colleagues, Andy and Ezan, for their invaluable assistance in facilitating the competition. Thanks also to Pan Pacific Singapore and Marina Mandarin Singapore for hosting the competition.
