The prestigious Singapore Tourism Awards 2024, held on the evening of 28 June, recognised seven winners in the Top Awards category, as well as 20 top performers in the Experience Excellence (Leisure/MICE), Enterprise Excellence and Customer Service Excellence categories.
Organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the awards aim to boost competitiveness in the tourism industry by inspiring individuals and organisations to create compelling experiences and adopt best practices to deliver exceptional experiences and services to visitors.
The Singapore Tourism Awards 2024 will recognise individuals and organisations who have contributed to the development of the country’s tourism industry. (Photo: Karen Yu)
Ms Melissa Ou, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Tourism Board, congratulated all the awardees, saying, “Their contributions and dedication to tourism serve as an inspiration to others. 2024 marks the Singapore Tourism Board’s 60th anniversary, and their achievements symbolize the extraordinary passion and dedication of our staff who have shaped Singapore’s dynamic tourism sector over the past 60 years. Their success inspires new standards of excellence.”
The top award winners are Pamelia Lee, a pioneer in Singapore’s tourism industry since 1978, who received the Awards’ highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism; Long Tan, Chairman and Group CEO of Neon Group, who won the Outstanding Tourism Entrepreneur award for his leadership in pioneering immersive experiences through successful partnerships with renowned international studios such as Disney, Marvel and Warner Bros; and Lynette Tan, CEO and Chairperson of Space Faculty Asia, who won the Best Business Event Champion award for championing Asia’s deep tech sector and actively promoting Singapore’s strengths internationally through her extensive network.
Additionally, four winners were given special recognition for their outstanding creativity, innovative best practices and significant contributions to the tourism sector: Khun Teong Wah, General Manager of Park Royal Collection Pickering Singapore, a passionate advocate of digital transformation in the hospitality industry; Damian de Silva, Chef and Owner of Lenpapa, a passionate supporter of Singapore’s culinary traditions and culture; Changi Airport Group, which has played a pivotal role in driving a strong recovery in tourist numbers; and Singapore Airlines Group (which includes SIA, Scoot, Pelago and KrisPlus), which has played a key role in Singapore’s strong tourism recovery.
The evening also saw the spotlight on The Sundowner Nature Experience Centre’s flagship tour, Rooftop Farm Experience, which was named Outstanding Tour Experience for its farm-to-table concept. Meanwhile, Xiu Nature Connections won the Outstanding Wellness Experience award for the second year running for its morning forest bathing experience in Bird Paradise. Constellar Exhibitions won the Outstanding Event Organiser (MICE) award for its planning of the Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia and Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) in 2023. Mandai Wildlife Group’s Take Off to Paradise campaign showcased excellence from concept to execution and was recognised as a great marketing idea. Many other tours also made an impact.
STB’s Ow called on Singapore’s travel and tourism industry players to tackle “increasing competition” by “working together to enhance Singapore’s attractiveness and give visitors compelling reasons to visit Singapore”.
“As travellers become more sophisticated, providing a quality experience will be a competitive advantage for our business and position Singapore as a leading travel destination. To achieve this, every effort is important, whether you are interacting directly with customers, working behind the scenes, or managing or owning a business serving visitors,” she said.
