The time has come and gone... when 18 candidates in the preliminary round were put through a nerve-wrecking 10 minute interview and 20 minute written test segment to select our finalists.

The time has come and gone... when 8 finalist were put through an ever notorious “seemingly impossible” 15 minute Role Play Simulation with two of the “toughest” guests known to any Hotelier. That followed by another gruelling 20 minute interview.

The time has come now... when Singapore (as represented by an experienced judging panel of service industry experts) selects her champion...

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.

The contribution and support of the following individuals must be highlighted and thanked.

Mr Darren Ware, Hotel Manager of Park Orchard Hotel as our Chief Judge.

Panel of Judges

Ms Denis Tan, Director of Rooms from St. Regis Hotel
Mr Marvin Ho, Host Mentor, Centre of Business Studies from Shatec Institutes
Ms Pauline How, Vice Principal, Institute of Travel &Tourism from Shatec Institutes
Mr Louis Chui, Principal Manager from Singapore Workforce Development Agency, Tourism Division
Mr Douglas Ariza, Director of Rooms, The Regent Singapore
Ms Celine Quek, Group Revenue Manager, Parkroyal Hotels and Resorts

Role Players

Ms Aisha Ahmad, Winner of the International Best Hotel Receptionist 2002 in Belgium.
(Formerly from Four Seasons Hotel)
Mr Johnson Tng, Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms, Novotel Clarke Quay

Special thanks and mention also goes out to Ms Raihan Abdullah, Vice Principle, Institute of Lodging and Ms Norima, Executive, Institute of Tourism & Leisure Management from Shatec Institutes for they invaluable assistance in facilitating the competition. Thanks also to the Royal Plaza on Scotts and The Shangri-La Hotel for hosting the competition.