More than 1,400 guests from the travel and tourism industry, including many industry leaders, attended the event.Sentosa Development Corporation chairman Philip Ng scooped the Outstanding Contribution Award; the founder of the IndoChine Group of restaurants and bars, Michael Ma, was awarded the Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year award; and VENUE (
Asia) managing director Alexander Hascher won the New Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year award.Three Special Recognition Awards were presented to Parkway Hospitals Singapore; Ranjit Malkani, founder of SOTC Travel now under Kuoni Travel Group India; and Singapore Exhibition Services chief executive Stephen Tan.Simon Israel, chairman of STB, congratulated the finalists. He said: “The annual Tourism Awards recognises service role models and leaders who have been outstanding in embracing and championing service excellence.” Now in its 21st year, the Tourism Awards have evolvedfrom being a tourist- and travelcentric recognition programme into one that encompasses all service industries, ranging from hospitality to entertainment and nightlife, new business concepts and entrepreneurship to tourismrelated products and attractions.”The awards have also grown in size from the initial seven categories to the current 28.Over 138,000 nominations were received this year, reflecting the increasing local and overseas patronage of the Awards.
