Jubilee event celebrated 50 years of tourism development and partnerships
Singapore, 31 Oct, 2014 – 25 outstanding individuals and organisations were recognised and honoured at the Singapore Experience Awards 2014 for their contributions and dedication towards delivering extraordinary experiences. This year's edition of the Singapore tourism sector's most prestigious award platform was held in conjunction with the Tourism50 gala dinner organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to celebrate 50 years of tourism development and industry partnerships. The event was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and attended by industry leaders, stakeholders and front-liners of the travel and tourism community.
Since the establishment of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964, Singapore's tourism sector has grown by leaps and bounds. The strong collaboration between industry players and STB has helped to transform Singapore into a cosmopolitan destination with world-class tourism offerings and strong local character.
STB Chief Executive Mr Lionel Yeo says, "Tonight we celebrate the remarkable journey that Singapore's tourism sector has taken in the last 50 years. The transformation in our tourism landscape would not have been possible without the people in our tourism industry; their passion, dedication and hard work have been key to the success of Singapore tourism. Hence, by combining the Tourism50 celebrations with this year's Singapore Experience Awards, we honour and recognise the best, but we also show our appreciation for the support and efforts from all in the tourism sector. "
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran, and 11 current and past STB Chairmen and Chief Executives commemorating Tourism50 with a cake-cutting and light-up ceremony
Five recipients for top awards
Three individuals and two organisations were conferred top honours under the Outstanding Contributions and Special Recognition award categories.
The evening's highest accolade, the Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism went to veteran tourist guide and mentor, Mrs Geraldene Lowe-Ismail. In her career of close to 60 years in the tourism sector, she has pioneered walking tours in Singapore and has helped to train countless tourist guides. Till this day, Mrs Lowe-Ismail remains a mentor and a source of inspiration for many tourist guides.
Ms Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder and Editor of Web In Travel (WIT), was named Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year. Under her leadership, WIT has become an important content and community platform for travel professionals keen to harness technology for their businesses. Besides expanding WIT to various countries in the Asia Pacific region, Ms Yeoh has also been nurturing young talents and helping charitable causes through her business platforms.
Professor Lee Yuan Kun, President of the Singapore Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology and the International Union of Microbiological Societies, was honoured as Best Business Event Champion for championing Singapore's Business Events industry. He 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 Singapore. As STB's conference ambassador, Professor Lee contributed to the MICE 2020 Roadmap; a medium-term plan jointly developed by the industry and STB to entrench Singapore's leadership position as a MICE destination.
People's Association (for its Chingay Parade Singapore event) and Night Safari, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, were recipients for Leisure Event of the Year and Best Visitor Attraction Experience respectively for the third year running since 2012. In recognition of their consistently outstanding efforts, both organisations were also accorded the Exceptional Achievement award under the Special Recognition category.
From left: STB Chairman Mr Chew Choon Seng; Best Business Event Champion Prof Lee Yuan Kun, Chief Executive Director, People's Association, Mr Ang Hak Seng; Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism recipient Mrs Geraldene Lowe-Ismail; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Ms Yeoh Siew Hoon; Minister, Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran; Chief Executive Officer, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Mr Lee Meng Tat; and STB Chief Executive Mr Lionel Yeo
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and 2014 Customer Service Awards Finalists
A full list of the award recipients and finalists of the Singapore Experience Awards 2014 is enclosed in Annex A.
Citations for the Outstanding Contribution and Special Recognition award categories can also be found in Annex B.
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About the Singapore Experience Awards
As the most prestigious awards platform in Singapore's tourism industry, Singapore Experience Awards recipients - individuals and organisations from sectors encompassing Attractions, Business Travel and MICE, Dining, Education, Entertainment, Healthcare, Hospitality and Retail - are judged to have shown they are the best in delivering a holistic customer experience – one that packages quality product and service delivery to create a distinctive and compelling experience. For more information, visit For more information please visit https://www.singaporetourismawards.gov.sg/.
About TravelRave
TravelRave, Asia's most influential travel trade festival, will take place from 27 to 31 October 2014 with an exciting line up of quality events featuring thought-provoking content, influential speakers and the chance to network with some of the leading names in the travel and tourism industry. Leveraging Asia's growing potential, TravelRave 2014 will provide a dynamic platform for business leaders and industry professionals to convene, share knowledge and insights, network and discover new business opportunities and celebrate Asian tourism at its best.
About Tourism50
Tourism has been a major player in the storied transformation of Singapore over the past 50 years, making the country a compelling visitor destination and a home to be enjoyed and cherished by local residents. This journey of metamorphosis would not have been possible without the contribution and support of local enterprises and residents. Tourism50 is an initiative spearheaded by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to commemorate 50 years of tourism development and promotion and thank tourism enterprises and local residents for their support through a series of events and activities.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism, one of Singapore's key service sectors. Known for partnership, innovation and excellence, STB champions tourism, making it a key economic driver for Singapore. We aim to differentiate and market Singapore as a must-visit destination offering a concentration of user-centric and enriching experiences through the "YourSingapore" brand. For more information, please visit http://www.stb.gov.sg.