The annual Service Gold Award 2024 recognised 129 exemplary Rank and File as well as Managerial level hospitality service staff at an award ceremony officiated by Guest-of-Honour Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The Service Gold Award, now in its 30th year, is co-hosted by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA). Refer to Appendix A for the full list of award winners.
Michelle Tay, Executive Director, Singapore Kindness Movement, said: “We are so proud to be able to celebrate these amazing hospitality staff who have gone above and beyond their duties to serve with extraordinary kindness and compassion. Each of the awardees has showcased this through their selfless acts of service and by choosing to rise to the occasion beyond expectations. We hope their stories motivate and remind everyone that kindness and graciousness cuts across both ways in the giver and receiver. A kinder you makes a stronger us and there is collective strength that comes from each individual and individual act of kindness.”
Minister Alvin Tan presented the awards to the winners, and addressed the award ceremony that was held at voco Orchard Singapore. Mr Kenneth Li, President, Singapore Hotel Association, and Mr Darrell Chan, 1st Vice-Chairman, Singapore Kindness Movement also addressed over 270 industry attendees.
Mr Kenneth Li, President, Singapore Hotel Association, said: “Service staff, especially in hotels, play a critical role. Yet their exemplary service and gracious behaviour at work to help others might be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the hospitality industry. We hope these awards encourage more hoteliers to recognise their employees who have gone the extra mile in their work to help others. We are proud of these awardees and thank them for their dedication to performing their duties to the best of their abilities. The hospitality industry is a high-pressured one with equally high expectations of service quality and customer experience. Despite this, these awardees choose to serve and act selflessly.”
Serving with Kindness
The Service Gold Award celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The awards were established in 1994 by the former Singapore Courtesy Council and Singapore Hotel Association. The award acknowledges and commends hotel service staff who have demonstrated exceptional dedication in their roles and serves as a tribute to the prevalence of kindness within the hospitality sector. It is open to both Rank and File and Managerial level employees who have exhibited acts of kindness and courtesy in their workplace.
Out of the 129 Service Gold Award winners, the following three (3) hotel staff were awarded the Outstanding Award which recognises exemplary commitment to service.
- Lim Chao Xian: An outstanding example is when he went above and beyond to assist a house guest by offering to accompany her and her baby daughter to the hospital when they were both unwell during their stay.
- Suntharam A/L Karunanithi: An outstanding example is his continuous attention to detail to guests visiting for medical treatment.
- Ramesh Thieyalan SO Govindaraju: An outstanding example of his commitment to service involved a guest facing a medical crisis due to lost medication. He swiftly arranged emergency medical care and coordinated with airport authorities to recover the luggage.
Separate to the Service Gold Award, a Gracious Guest award was conferred on Jeremy Boanson-James for being a wonderful guest at the Pullman Singapore Hill Street. He is known for his consistent acts of kindness, respect, and generosity. All staff members across the Front Office, housekeeping, and F&B teams who interacted with him hold him in high regard due to his warmth and thoughtfulness.
The hotel industry plays a critical role in Singapore’s tourism sector, and hotel staff shoulder big responsibilities in ensuring a wonderful experience for all guests and customers. The hotel industry contributes to about 20% of total tourism spending. There are over 430 properties in Singapore with more than 70,000 rooms[1]. The hotel landscape in Singapore is characterised by a myriad of diverse hospitality offerings and is supported by about 30,000 individuals within the industry. The Service Gold Award highlights the importance of kindness and graciousness in the hospitality and tourism industry. Recipients are selected based on their exemplary service, such as going the extra mile to assist guests, displaying empathy, and fostering positive interactions.
[1] https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/industries/hotels.html
About Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM)
Kindness is in everyone. The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) wants to encourage everyone to start, show and share kindness. We aspire to inspire graciousness one kind act at a time. By sparing a thought for the people around us, we hope to create a gracious society, and make life better for you and me. SKM is a non-government, non-profit organisation, as well as a registered charity and Institution of Public Character.
For more information on Singapore Kindness Movement, visit www.kindness.sg
