Jul 2014 – Sep 2014 MICA (P) 032/02/2014 EDITORIAL TEAM Chief Editor : Ms Margaret Heng Writers : Ms Clare Yeo, Ms Li Shaoting & Ms Shrestha Sook Yean Published by : Hotel Association Designed and printed by : Colorcom Graphics Pte Ltd SHA UPDATE SHA Update is the official publication of the Singapore Hotel Association and copies of SHA Update are not for sale. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions 17 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089740 Email : [email protected] Website : www.sha.org.sg expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Celebrating Employee Excellence and Hotel Productivity Ideas

The 32nd FDAWU / NTUC / SHA Productivity Seminar cum Nine hotels were also recognised at the ceremony for their “Employee of the Year” and “Productivity Idea” Award implementation of productivity ideas to boost productivity. Presentation was held on 11 July 2014 at Furama RiverFront Shangri-La Hotel Singapore emerged as the grand winner Singapore. of “Productivity Idea” Award 2014, while Hard Rock Hotel, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre and Shangri- This year, a record number of 57 deserving employees were La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore received special nominated by their respective organisations to receive the mention. “Employee of the Year” award.

SHA NEWS SHATEC INSTITUTES NEWS HOTEL CIRCUIT TOURIST TRACKS

• Celebrating Employee Excellence 1-2 • CityGas Singapore Young Chef 8 • Sands for Singapore Festival 11 • Singapore receives 14 and Hotel Productivity Ideas Challenge 2014 Raises Record Sum of Over more quality visitors $2.8 Million • Orchard Hotel Claims Victory at 3-4 • National Cocktail Competition 9 • Opening Doors 15 SHA Inter-Hotel Bowling 2014 • Hangout @ Mount Emily Gets 11 through SG Enable Tournament 2014 a Brand New Look • The Hotel Housekeeping 9 • HR Seminar “Employment Law 4 • Singapore Environmental Challenge 2014 101: Understanding the issues” Achievement Awards 2014 • MOU Signing Ceremony • Your Say On Evolving Customer 5-6 10 Ceremony with Meiho University Expectations • The 25th Annual TTG Travel 13 • SHA Welcomes New Ordinary 6 • Spotlight 10 Awards 2014 Member • SHA Welcomes New Associate 6 Member • SHA Welcomes New General 7 Managers • Opportunities Abound in the 8 Vibrant Hotel Industry 2 SHA NEWS Celebrating Employee Excellence and Hotel Productivity Ideas

The ceremony also saw – Equarius Hotel and Beach Villas receiving the Hotel Sector Innovation Award for Workplace Safety & Health. Following the award presentation, Mr Reto Klauser, Vice President & General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel was invited to share on their winning idea for the “Productivity Idea” Award 2014. The event was well attended by more than 180 representatives from the hotel industry. Congratulations to the following winners for receiving the “Employee of the Year” award! Opening address by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Assistant Secretary- Saju Varghese, Amara Sanctuary Yuvarajan A/L Yeogesvaran, Grand General, NTUC and Cluster Lead for Hospitality and Consumer Business Cluster, NTUC 1 Resort Sentosa 16 Mercure Roxy Singapore

Jose Jisson, Amara Singapore S. K. Vincent, Grand Park Orchard George Gu Xin Hao, Oasia Hotel 2 17 31 Singapore 45 Johari Bin Amat, Riverview Hotel Wendy Cai Mei Ying, Holiday Inn 3 Anita Ho Meng-Hsiu, AMOY 18 Md Ehsan Bin Baba, Orchard Jalilah Binte Jantan, Royal Plaza Singapore Atrium 32 Hotel Singapore 46 on Scotts Chong Yen Lin, Bayview Hotel Marliah Bte Yeason, Hotel Grand 4 19 Lam Jolly Mae Gutierrez, Mohammed Kassim Bin Abdullah, Singapore Pacific 33 Orchard Parade Hotel 47 Shangri-La Hotel Singapore Carole Tay Siew Cheng,Capri by Low Soo Hong, Hotel Michael, 5 20 Dalbag Singh S/O Jalour Singh, Foo See Liang, Richard, Shangri- Fraser, Changi City / Singapore Resorts World Sentosa 34 48 La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore Bao Jia (Adrian), Carlton Hotel Lee Sah Bah Ronnie, Hotel 6 21 Singapore Miramar (Singapore) Limited Chen Mei Ying, Pan Pacific Abidin Bin Samad, Sheraton 35 Singapore 49 Towers Singapore Hotel Sharanjeet Kaur A/P Gurmukh Ragunathan A/L Raman, Hotel 7 Singh, Concorde Hotel 22 Royal Limited M Tiayagaraj Muniandy, Park Nur Fadzliana Binte Ismail, Singapore 36 Hotel Clarke Quay 50 Singapore Marriott Hotel Nicholas Wong Pitt Thye, Saravanan A/L Letchmanan, Hotel Saiful Annuar Bin Rambl, 8 Crockfords Tower, Resorts World 23 Royal @ Queens (Singapore) Pte 37 PARKROYAL on Pickering 51 Ng Yi Jie, Swissotel the Stamford Sentosa Ltd Tit Ben Teck, Peninsula.Excelsior Mohd Redzuan Bin Roslee, Traders 38 52 Mccrann Melissa Karen Calayo, Nurashikin Binte Mohamed Hotel Singapore Hotel, Singapore 9 Crowne Plaza Changi Airport 24 Ridhuan, ibis Singapore on Bencoolen Zhang Jin Hua, Quality Hotel Ng Yin Kai, Village Hotel Albert 39 Marlow 53 Court Bernard Teo Yi Min, The Bluant Singh Atmar Singh, M Hotel 10 25 Elizabeth Hotel Singapore Juan Paulo R Salazar, The Muhammad Faiz Bin Kambali, 40 Quincy Hotel 54 Village Hotel Bugis Seah Thian Poh Richard, Ng Chuey Seng, Mandarin Oriental, 11 26 Singapore Ong Lay Hoon, Gao Yang Christine, Village Hotel 41 Singapore 55 Changi Yuen Ooi Lai Serene, Furama Teoh Kok Seong, Jeff, Marina 12 27 City Centre Singapore Mandarin Singapore Anthony Aung Myint Thaung, Brandon Lim Wen Jie, Village Hotel 42 Regent Singapore 56 Katong Kang Paik Imm, Furama Mohd Hairul Shah Bin Ishak, 13 28 RiverFront, Singapore Mandarin Orchard Singaporee Lo Lai Mei, Rendezvous Hotel 43 Singapore 57 Mohd Rafie Bin Ali, York Hotel Jamaliah Bte Jayus, Goodwood Subramanian Prabhakaran, Nestle 14 29 Park Hotel (S) Pte Ltd Ho Fook Chiew, The Ritz- 44 Carlton, Millenia Singapore Tan Yee Leong, Grand Lingam A/L M Maruthan, Novotel 15 Copthorne Waterfront Hotel 30 Singapore Clarke Quay SHA NEWS 3 Orchard Hotel Claims Victory at SHA Inter-Hotel Bowling Tournament 2014

The 33rd SHA Inter-Hotel Bowling Tournament 2014 kicked off on 5 August 2014 with a record number of 64 participating teams from 36 hotels at Superbowl SAFRA Mount Faber. The team finals on 12 August 2014 saw the top 32 teams competing for the SHA Challenge Trophy, while the rest of the teams vied for the SHA Challenge Shield. Amidst the strong competition, Orchard Hotel Singapore (Team 1) eventually emerged Champion Team for the SHA Challenge Trophy. The tournament ended on a high note on 26 August 2014 with the Masters’ Event which saw 60 male and 17 female bowlers taking to the lanes to pit their skills in the Men’s and Ladies’ Masters respectively. The prize presentation ceremony took place after the conclusion of the Masters’ event. The results of the SHA Inter-Hotel Bowling Tournament 2014 were as follows:

SHA Challenge Trophy SHA Challenge Shield Champion: Orchard Hotel Singapore (Team 1) Champion: (Team 4) 1st Runner-Up Team: st Mandarin Orchard Singapore 1 Runner-Up Team: Orchard (Team 1) Hotel Singapore (Team 2)

nd 2nd Runner-Up Team: 2 Runner-Up Team: Marina The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Bay Sands (Team 2) Singapore

Men’s Open Masters Team High Game Champion: Lawrence Lim, Champion: Resorts World Marina Bay Sands Sentosa (Team 1) 1st Runner-Up Team: Marina Men’s Graded Masters Bay Sands (Team 1) Champion: Calvin Tan, Resorts World Sentosa 2nd Runner-Up Team: Resorts World Sentosa (Team 2) Ladies’ Masters Champion: Rain Cai, Marina Bay Sands 4 SHA NEWS Orchard Hotel Claims Victory at SHA Inter-Hotel Bowling Tournament 2014

Winners also took home cash prizes sponsored by SHA, prizes from the Superbowl SAFRA Mount Faber, as well as dining/ accommodation vouchers generously sponsored by the following member hotels:

1 Amoy Hotel 23 Orchard Hotel Singapore 2 Capella Singapore 24 Orchard Parade Hotel 3 Carlton Hotel Singapore 25 Pan Pacific Orchard 4 Concorde Hotel Singapore 26 Pan Pacific Singapore 5 Conrad Centennial Singapore 27 Park Hotel Clarke Quay 6 Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore 28 PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road 7 The Elizabeth Hotel 29 PARKROYAL on Pickering Singapore 8 The Fullerton Hotel 30 Peninsula.Excelsior Hotel 9 Furama City Centre 31 Ramada and Days Hotels Singapore at Zhongshan Park 10 32 RC Hotels (Pte) Ltd 11 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel 33 Hotel Re! @ Pearl’s Hill! 12 Grand Hyatt Singapore 34 Resorts World Sentosa Singapore 13 Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy 35 The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore 14 Grand Park Orchard 36 Royal Plaza on Scotts 15 37 Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore 16 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium 38 Sheraton Towers Singapore 17 ibis Singapore on Bencoolen 39 Singapore Marriott Hotel 18 Hotel Jen Singapore 40 The St. Regis Singapore 19 Mandarin Orchard Singapore 41 Swissôtel Merchant Court Singapore 20 Marina Bay Sands 42 Village Hotel Changi 21 Hotel Miramar (Singapore) Ltd 43 W Singapore - Sentosa Cove 22 Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay 44 The Westin Singapore HR Seminar “Employment Law 101: Understanding the issues”

Organised by Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow and supported Held at Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow, the informative by the Singapore Hotel Association, the half-day HR Seminar session saw legal experts in employment covering the “Employment Law 101: Understanding the Issues” held on 17 following topics: July 2014 received the strong participation from 59 participants from 47 SHA member hotels. Recap of recent employment law updates and the potential implications

Overview of the employment life cycle

Relationship between employment and the use of social media SHA NEWS 5 Your Say on Evolving Customer Expectations

Customer expectations of hotel guests have evolved over the years. SHA Update finds out what are some of the new initiatives members have implemented to ensure that they continue to deliver the “right” level of service to suit evolving guest expectations.

Mr. Tom Meyer Training Courses Managing Director, Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford Regional Vice President, In addition to the renovations, Fairmont Singapore and Asia Pacific, FRHI Hotels and Resorts Swissôtel The Stamford also place a huge emphasis on Within the dynamic hospitality training for our colleagues through various internal and external industry which has received an training programmes to ensure that our level of service remain increasingly well-travelled pool of at its optimum. Mandatory programmes include Fairmont guests, customer expectations have Service Promise and Swissôtel Core Training, essential full- no doubt evolved and increased day training sessions that are attended by all colleagues of the exponentially over the years amidst respective hotels. The Fairmont Service Promise guides and the new competition that has been trains our service colleagues to deliver what we promise our introduced into the market. guests - to turn moments into memories by: Hence, it is imperative for us to continue bringing forth a most • Providing warm, sincere and engaging service that ensures memorable and unique stay experience for our guests, and guests feel valued this comprises an attractive product coupled with high levels • Treating each and every guest as a unique individual of service extended by our colleagues. • Anticipating guests’ needs with thoughtful and personal In order to ensure that our hotels remain relevant amidst touches competition, Fairmont Singapore engaged award-winning design companies to embark on a revitalization project which • Being an ambassador for my Brand, my Hotel, my encompasses the transformation of various spaces within the Community and my Colleagues hotel. Set to heighten the overall level of guest comfort and experience, the vibrant new lobby and guestrooms not only Feedback Channels breathe new life into the landmark hotel, but also embrace Fairmont Singapore’s rich heritage and connection to the To further ensure that our team remains on track with their locally celebrated culture. levels of service towards our guests, both Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford also identify areas of concern and Complementing the immense improvement works to the lobby improvement via two key channels of feedback – JD Power and of Fairmont Singapore is the hotel’s new iPad check-in/out Leading Quality Assurance (LQA). JD Power is an electronic system. Introduced to provide a more seamless check-in/out channel where guests are able to share their feedback on their experience, the new iPad system allows more efficient delivery stay experience with the hotel’s management team. LQA on of service, where front-line colleagues may assist with mobile the other hand is a mystery shopping initiative that takes place check-in/out. twice a year. Both hotels have since successfully increased their overall guest satisfaction index by effectively identifying At Fairmont Singapore, a hospitality room was most recently issues of concern through these two initiatives. set-up to ensure that our guests have an additional resting space to freshen up at after check-out, before catching their Internal Audits are also conducted periodically by external flight. It also serves as a resting room for guests who have parties engaged by the hotel, or via the Executive-On-Duty arrived at the hotel earlier. This hospitality room not only offers weekend audit. shower facilities, but also provides refreshments including coffee and tea.

Mr. Chow Keng Hai We match guests’ expectations with what we are capable Vice President, Rooms of delivering, and determine and work on the gaps, if any. Resorts World Sentosa In this industry, we have to constantly look for and create In my opinion, delivering the “Right” opportunities to wow and add value to our guests. Level of Service is a balance For example, in Resorts World Sentosa, we identified that one between anticipating guests’ needs key aspect in creating a good guest experience is a fast and to provide an experience that meets hassle-free check in/out process. To speed up the arrival and or exceeds expectations, and departure experience, we waived the requirement for credit keeping the execution simple so that guarantees or deposits for regulars and certain guests. In it can be sustained and consistent. addition, guests can check in/out at any of the six hotels within More importantly, it has to serve a the Resort, and not just at the hotel that they are staying at, purpose and is relevant. making the process faster especially during peak hours and To achieve that, we constantly review and determine the have more time to spend in the resort. various touch points of different guest segments at various stages of the guest experience/journey. 6 SHA NEWS Your Say on Evolving Customer Expectations Customer expectations of hotel guests have evolved over the years. SHA Update finds out what are some of the new initiatives members have implemented to ensure that they continue to deliver the “right” level of service to suit evolving guest expectations.

Mr. Reto K. Klauser The appetite for information has become insatiable. To address Vice President & General Manager this need, the Press Reader mobile application was implemented Shangri-La Hotel Singapore to provide unlimited access to online dailies and magazines. With this new service, our guests can access more than 2,500 As our clientele becomes publications from over 100 countries in 60 different languages increasingly tech-savvy, our recent using their personal smart devices, e.g. laptop, tablet and smart emphasis is focused on providing phones. high speed Internet connectivity anywhere, anytime. It has become Breakfast continues to be the main driver for guest satisfaction. a pure necessity for guests of all Although we still have a number of guests who enjoy American ages and demographics to enjoy coffee for breakfast, there is an increasing demand for high seamless Internet connection with quality, freshly brewed Café Latte, Capuccino and flavoured full signal bars across all areas within hot beverages. To enhance The Line’s 16 theatrical kitchens, the hotel. Much effort has been a Barista station has been created to pull specialty coffees made to ensure that a system, with complete with Latte Art! In fact, the Barista station has proven zero downtime and lightning speed, is capable of meeting to be huge hit so we may soon have to expand it. our guests’ expectations. Of course, this service must be provided for free!

SHA Welcomes New Ordinary Member

Lloyd’s Inn After 23 years of operations, Lloyd’s Inn recently underwent its first revamp, reopening its doors on 1 June 2014 with a brand new concept. Lloyd’s Inn is a 34 room boutique hotel located a stone’s throw away from . The hotel combines raw architecture and nature to offer travellers a tranquil setting in the heart of Singapore’s urban cityscape. There are 8 room types, each offering a different nature experience for travellers - A touch of nature in the city

SHA Welcomes New Associate Member

Wine Trade Asia Pte Ltd Wine Connection is the leading chain of wine shops and Close partnerships with winemakers allow for a vineyard-to- wine-themed restaurants in South-East Asia. consumer system, cutting intermediaries, and passing the great savings to you! Established in Bangkok in 1998, Wine Connection has been developing expertise in importing exclusive wines from An exclusive retailer with its own chain of wine shops (50 around the world, crafted Europeans beers, glassware and to date), Wine Connection is also operating 20 F&B outlets wine accessories for over 15 years. integrated to its retail stores, offering a classic western food menu in lifestyle locations, to its urban clientele. A dedicated team of experts tastes more than two thousand wines yearly to select the best value gems, award-winning classics as well as exciting new tastes from all over the world. SHA NEWS 7 SHA Welcomes New General Managers

Mr. Benedict Ng Ms. Jessica Uekermann General Manager General Manager Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel ibis Singapore Novena

Millennium and Copthorne International Ms. Jessica Uekermann has been appointed (MCIL) warmly welcomes Mr. Benedict Ng General Manager of ibis Singapore Novena. as General Manager of Grand Copthorne Ms. Uekermann has been with Accor since Waterfront Hotel. 2000. She was residing in Germany before relocating to Asia in 2006, joining Novotel Mr. Ng’s last appointment was at M Hotel Singapore as the Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. property’s General Manager. A veteran with about three decades in the hospitality industry, Mr. Ng is well versed in Subsequently, Ms. Uekermann was appointed General all aspects of hotel management, particularly in Sales and Manager at ibis Arcadia, Jakarta, Indonesia, and thereafter Marketing. to the former Mercure Hue Gerbera in Vietnam and Novotel Yogyakarta. Prior to joining M Hotel Singapore, he was with the Copthorne King’s Hotel where he led the Operations and Management Team to achieve their budgets. Ms. Sharmini Moganasundram General Manager In his new role, Mr. Ng will be working closely with the PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road respective Heads-of-Departments to ensure high levels of guest satisfaction and financial performance. Ms. Sharmini Moganasundram moves from her General Manger role at PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur to become Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s first female hotel Mr. Kelvin Soh Hotel Manager General Manager, in charge of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Lloyd's Inn Road in Singapore. Mr Kelvin Soh is the Hotel Manager of Lloyd’s A long-serving associate who has been with the Group for over Inn since December 2013 and is responsible 20 years, Ms. Sharmini was notably Hotel Manager of “Pan for the pre-opening and management of the Pacific” and PARKROYAL hotels in Kuala Lumpur before she newly reopened Lloyd’s Inn Singapore. was promoted to General Manager of PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur last year. Armed with nine years of experience, Mr. Soh started off his hospitality career with Shangri-La Hotel Having also undertaken management responsibilities at Singapore in 2005, rising through the ranks from Guest established business hotels in Malaysia, Singapore and Service Agent to Duty Manager. Subsequently, Mr Soh joined Switzerland, Ms. Sharmini will harness her extensive klapsons, The Boutique Hotel as its Assistant Front Office operational expertise of both hotels and serviced suites to Manager and most recently, he was the Acting Front Office further drive the performance of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Manager at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa. Road.

Mr. Vincent Lelay Mr. Simon Bell Cluster General Manager General Manager The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa and Sofitel So Singapore Singapore Marriott Hotel Mr. Vincent Lelay has been appointed as the The iconic Singapore Marriott Hotel recently Cluster General Manager for The Singapore welcomed Mr. Simon Bell as its newly- Resort & Spa Sentosa, Managed by Accor, appointed General Manager. Mr. Bell brings and Sofitel So Singapore. With a career at with him a wealth of experience in the Accor that spans over 23 years, Mr. Lelay hospitality industry, where he began his brings to both properties a wealth of international hotel career in 1992 at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. management experiences. Working up through the leadership ranks in operations, Before this appointment, Mr. Lelay was the Project Liaison finance, revenue management, and Sales & Marketing, Mr. Manager at The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa, where Bell was promoted to his first general manager role at the he managed the upcoming refurbishment of the hotel, in Courtyard Seoul in 2009, where he successfully opened the preparation for the rebranding exercise into a Sofitel hotel first Courtyard in South Korea. in 2015. He has also held several senior management roles Prior to joining the Singapore Marriott Hotel, he was the including Vice President of Hotel Operations for Greater General Manager at the Renaissance Hotel Seoul, where he China. As General Manager, Mr. Lelay was instrumental in the led the Seoul Business Council through challenging economic successful rebranding of the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel and conditions, and improved the hotel’s business in every aspect. Novotel Clarke Quay in Singapore. Prior to Singapore, Mr. Lelay spent eight years in Indonesia as the Regional General Manager of Operations for Accor in Yogyakarta and Central Java and managed numerous hotels in Asia and Europe for the group. 8 SHA NEWS Opportunities Abound In the Vibrant Hotel Industry

There is no better time to join the hotel industry than now. In small feat, as you will need to draw on tandem with Singapore’s drive to raise its stake as a not-to- your interpersonal skills as well as tap be missed destination on the global stage, the hotel industry on your resourcefulness to make it has expanded rapidly to include an interesting mix of hotels happen. As you meet diverse people with diverse offerings to cater to the needs of all visitors to every day, work is never mundane Singapore. With an estimated 6,500 more rooms coming on- at the hotel. In fact, every day is a line by 2016, the industry will need some 4,500 new entrants to different experience. Furthermore, service and run these new hotels. there is also the possibility of being transferred to a sister property in With the growth of the industry, there are indeed plenty of another country, thereby providing job opportunities for service-minded candidates who enjoy the opportunity to broaden one’s meeting people and creating exceptional experiences for horizons. them. The dynamism of the industry makes working in hotels both exciting and challenging. Seeing the sparkle in the eyes In addition, there is a wide spectrum of hotel jobs spanning of the guests is a much cherished moment that can bring you different departments, such as Sales & Marketing, Front Office, to a new high. It makes up for all the long hours that you may Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Finance, Engineering have to put in. and Human Resource. In any profession, to be successful, you will need to have a passion for what you do. Being a In the hotel industry, if you carry the right attitude and have renowned hotelier is no exception- the drive must be there, the discipline to stay the course, you will be rewarded with and a yearning to learn is crucial, no matter how small the task an enriching career. Many of those who have entered the may be. Being a hands-on and customer-centric industry, industry can certainly attest to this fact, as they currently hold the majority of hoteliers have found rising through the ranks, leadership positions such as Chief Executive Officer, General gathering knowledge, and honing their skills as they move Manger, Executive Chef, Director of Sales and Marketing, and along to be critical to their growth and development. Departmental Head at Hotels, both in Singapore and abroad. There are comprehensive hospitality and training programmes The hotel industry is fun and vibrant, as you get to meet people available for those keen on pursuing a career in this industry. from different walks of life, from dignitaries to celebrities to So, if you love meeting people and enjoy making their day, the ordinary folks coming from all over the world. Their needs and hotel industry is calling out to you. requirements may be different, but the adrenaline rush for you will always be the same- creating a memorable experience for your guest, whatever the situation may be. To do so is no

This article was contributed by Ms. Margaret Heng, Executive Director of SHA and first published in The Straits Times, Recruit, on 23 August 2014.

SHATEC INSTITUTES NEWS CityGas Singapore Young Chefs Challenge 2014

CityGas Singapore organised the Young Chefs Challenge 2014 in line with the World Association of Chefs Societies’ (WACS) objective of grooming young talents. The event was held on 2 August 2014 at the SHATEC Bukit Batok campus. Presenting a set of tapas within a limited time frame, team SHATEC did their best to impress the judges by sharing their reasons behind the chosen tapas with the used of various sponsored products. Despite intense competition, SHATEC did well by being placed 2nd Runner-Up for the challenge. SHATEC INSTITUTES NEWS 9 National Cocktail Competition 2014

Presented by Singapore Hotel Association and organized by Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers Singapore (ABSS), the annual Singapore National Cocktail Competition took place at Club DREAM (Clarke Quay) on the 7, 8 and 15 July 2014. Incepted in 1988, the 26th edition of the competition saw a total of 74 participants vying for top honours in the 4 categories of Classic Cocktail, Flair Bartending Skills, Classic Mocktail and Speed Bottle Cap Opening; a testament to how much the bartending industry has flourished in recent years. In the student cocktail category, SHATEC was represented by the following students: Ravin s/o Tirumal from DHM 513A, Nasmeen from AFS 214A and Qun Jie from AFS 09- 13A. The months of preparation and hard work really came through as they enthralled the audience with their sizzling display of showmanship and cocktail-making flair. Our sincere congratulations to all these students for their great job, especially to Nasmeen who did SHATEC proud with a silver medal, after impressing the judges with her performance and the consistency of the taste. “For me, the silver medal was completely unexpected as I felt the other competitors’ drinks and garnishes were better than mine. I would like to thank my trainers for the guidance and more importantly, my father who has been supporting me since day one of the competition and helping me build up my confidence. I’m glad I am able to live up to his expectations,” beamed Nasmeen. The Hotel Housekeeping Challenge 2014

The Hotel Housekeeping Challenge 2014 jointly organised by Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), Association of Singapore Housekeepers and ITE College West on 23rd July 2014, received the participation of 30 properties (hotels/ service apartments) and 5 institutions. Since its inauguration in 2011, it is the first competition of its kind in the housekeeping industry. This year, two new components, namely, glass cleaning and towel origami, were introduced into the competition, in addition to bed-making. “The competition proved to be a real eye-opener for us where I personally got to see for myself first hand of the speed and skills of the industry professionals. One thing that I’ve picked during the course of preparing for the competition is the need to improvise and try to be flexible in different circumstances,” noted Sherwin of DHM 09-13A. Congratulations to the SHATEC team for emerging 2nd Runner-Up in the competition!

“Considering of how we only had a mere three weeks to prepare for the competition, I think the students have done very well. They have always been highly committed during training. In addition, the team also exhibited strong creative flair when they suggested going with the finishing touches of sprinkling flower petals at the end of their routine. I am very proud of them,” beams chief trainer Ms Eve Lee. 10 SHATEC INSTITUTES NEWS MOU Signing Ceremony with Meiho University

In an effort to establish inter-institutional educational immersion and develop areas of mutual interest, international hotel & tourism school SHATEC officiated a memorandum of understanding with Meiho University (MU) on 14 August 2014. The MOU was inked by SHATEC Chief Executive, Ms Margaret Heng and President of Meiho University, Mr Shean-Heui Lin at SHATEC Institutes. The MOU outlines several aspects of collaboration in education, student-trainer-faculty exchanges and potential areas of partnership between the two private institutions, with the highlight being the collaboration of a study trip where students, accompanied by either faculty members or staff, participate in lessons with local students from different areas of specialisation. Both parties will seek opportunities to share feedback and ideas on curriculum development through the interaction and exposure gained during the study trips.

SPOTLIGHT

In this issue, Mr. Edmund Toh, 1. What is your most memorable experience whilst as a Director of Culinary Studies student at SHATEC? & Operations, SHATEC was I joined SHATEC in 1983, the same year SHATEC was founded. Being in the pioneer invited to share with us his batch, it was important for me and my classmates to set high professional standards. journey to success. As such, every single day, we thrived for something innovative and creative. This culture became a habit in me. Having soaked with such a great culture, I did not even realize that I had fostered enough culinary skills until I got selected as the first batch of culinary students from SHATEC to work at the famous French Restaurant Latour at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. This is indeed the most memorable experience for me as a student at SHATEC. 2. Share with us your success story and how SHATEC has played a part in your career development through the years. SHATEC, to me is the best culinary platform for young aspiring chefs. In fact, SHATEC played a tremendous role in shaping my career. Most Executive Chefs here in Singapore, were once my batch-mates or classmates. Today, as the President of Singapore Chefs Association and in collaboration with Singapore Junior Chefs Club, I get to know many young chefs from SHATEC and it is easy to start networking with them. SHATEC is the networking centre for me. All the great people I worked with, whom I knew were from SHATEC. 3. What is your advice to current SHATEC students on how to be successful in the hospitality industry? I always believe in staying abreast of constant changes around us. Stay focused and always envision what you want to achieve. Have passion in what you do and keep reminding yourself why you are working so hard. Always bear in my mind that hard work will eventually pay off. My philosophy is “If you want others to do a good job, give others a good job to do.” HOTEL CIRCUIT 11 Sands for Singapore Festival Raises Record Sum of Over $2.8 million From 1 to 3 August 2014, the spirit of giving was celebrated auctions of The Art of Shopping and Celebrities Give Back at Sands for Singapore Festival when generous corporates to Singapore. Hotel guests and visitors also did their part for and individuals rallied with Marina Bay Sands to raise over charity while visiting the Marina Bay Sands’ attractions where S$3.8 million to benefit more than 80 charities and 300,000 the weekend’s takings from the Sands SkyPark Observation Singaporeans. Deck, ArtScience Museum, sampan rides and Skating Rink were donated to charity too. Funds raised benefitted charity partners including Art Outreach Singapore, Association for Persons with Special Needs “We are heartened with the success of our second Sands (APSN), Community Chest, Straits Times School Pocket for Singapore Festival – we’ve rallied more staff-volunteers, Money Fund, The Business Times (BT) Budding Artists Fund partners and the public to join us in contributing back to and the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf). Singapore in creative ways. It’s not every day that charity work gets such visibility and attention in such a concerted way – With the theme “Inspire the Future”, the charity weekend Sands for Singapore Festival is an opportunity to spread the featured an exciting lineup of events and activities spanning infectious spirit of giving beyond our property. I would like to the entire property, encouraging others to do good with thank everyone for their efforts, big and small, into making this Marina Bay Sands. Big-hearted corporates dined for a good such a remarkable and inspirational journey,” said Mr George cause at several charity dinners – the APSN Gala Dinner, the Tanasijevich, Chief Executive Officer and President of Marina BT Dream Ball and the first-ever Celebrity Chef Dine Around Bay Sands. – while benevolent individuals bidded generously in the

Hangout @ Mount Emily Gets a Brand New Look!

After a decade in the business, [email protected], the flagship of Hangout Hotels, the hospitality arm of Cathay Organisation, reopened on 1 July 2014 with a makeover to rejuvenate its design and amenities. Over the past decade, [email protected] has cemented its position as a safe, affordable and service-oriented hotel among travellers from all over the world. With a steady increase of bookings from corporate travellers as companies tighten their travel budgets, [email protected] aims to meet the demand of business travellers who want fuss-free accommodation on cost-saving business trips. 12 HOTEL CIRCUIT Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards 2014 Ceremony

21 August 2014 saw the presentation of the 17th Singapore plant to recycle waste heat for the hotel’s back-end support. Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA) at the After facing challenges in logistics within the high-density InterContinental Singapore to recognise organisations for belt of Orchard Road, this hotel will now see an elimination their commitment to environmental excellence. The event was of 60,000 litres of diesel and reduction of 720 metric tons of graced by Guest-of-Honour, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister carbon dioxide emissions, while producing 30% of its very for the Environment and Water Resources. own electricity. A premier award that addresses overall environmental Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay emerged as the winner of the initiatives and awareness within an organisation, the Singapore SEC-Kimberly-Clark Singapore Environmental Achievement Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA) was first launched Award (Services). Notwithstanding technological innovations, by the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Yeo Cheow Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay (Novotel) recognises the Tong, in 1997. importance of the human factor in the green pursuit. The hotel’s simple ‘towel reuse initiative’ has the mechanics to The criteria for the SEAA focuses on assessing the accumulate savings of close to S$17,000, while allowing for leadership displayed by the company, the real environmental more than 2,000 trees to be planted. “In today’s ever-changing improvements made as well as the ability of an organisation business environment, the need to conserve energy and to establish procedures, train staff and innovate in order to natural resources is paramount in the way we practise and achieve breakthroughs in environmental performance. operate our business. We feel that the reduction of carbon emissions does not only begin with the hotel property, we The event saw the recognition of 8 organisations including two will also need to undertake guest-oriented initiatives,” said Mr hotels for their notable environmental achievements, namely, Kevin Bossino, General Manager of Novotel Singapore Clarke Grand Hyatt Singapore and Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay. Quay. In addition, the hotel also sends their collected soap Grand Hyatt Singapore won the SEC-Senoko Energy Green for recycling to Cambodia under their Planet 21 Sustainable Innovation Award after developing a retrofitted trigeneration Development Program.

SEC-Kimberly-Clark Singapore Environmental Achievement Award (Services) Winner, SEC-Senoko Energy Green Innovation Award Winner, Grand Hyatt Singapore Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay HOTEL CIRCUIT 13 The 25th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2014

The Asia-Pacific travel trade’s most anticipated awards; TTG Travel Awards 2014 culminates on 2 October 2014 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, in celebration of the 82 winners who represent the best and brightest in the Asia-Pacific industry. Once again, heartiest congratulations to all the award winners! Hotels. Resorts. Serviced Apartments. Spa Awards Hotel Chains Best Global Hotel Chain Starwood Hotels & Resorts Best Regional Hotel Chain Park Hotel Group Best Luxury Hotel Brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand Best Western International Best Budget Hotel Brand Ibis Hotels Hotels - Individual Property

Best Mid-Range Hotel Ramada Singapore At Zhongshan Park Best Independent Hotel Royal Plaza on Scotts Best Boutique Hotel The Quincy Hotel by Far East Hospitality Best City Hotel- Singapore Mandarin Orchard Singapore Resorts - Individual Property

Best Integrated Resort Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd On receiving the hotel’s eighth Best Independent Hotel Award, Serviced Residences and Spas

Best Serviced Residence Frasers Hospitality Operator "The eighth award is a great Hall of Fame encouragement for the team and we look forward to creating more milestones Hall of Fame Raffles Hotel Singapore with our valued hotel associates, guests and business partners.” - Mr Patrick Fiat, General Manager of Royal Plaza on Scotts

On receiving the Best Mid-Range Hotel Award, “We are honoured by the recognition as Ramada Singapore At Zhongshan Park is located in a new development and only into its 17th month of operation” - Mr Tony Cousens, General Manager of the Ramada and Days Hotels Singapore at Zhongshan Park 14 TOURIST TRACKS Singapore Receives More Quality Visitors

Source: STB 26 August 2014 – International visitor arrivals to Singapore for the first half of 2014 hit 7.5 million, with 1.2 million of them coming in the month of June. This is a dip of 2.8 per cent year-on- year, due mainly to a decline in Chinese visitor arrivals that stay for one day or less. Excluding China, visitor arrivals from the other markets grew 2.3 per cent over the same six-month period. The number of Chinese visitors that stayed for at least two days jumped by 21 per cent year-on-year to hit 406,000 visitors in the first half of 2014. This resulted in the average length of stay by Chinese visitors increasing Expenditure is estimated from Overseas Visitor Survey Other TR components include expenditure on airfares, port taxes, local transportation, business, medical , education and transit visitors by 56 per cent year-on-year, from an *Sightseeing, Entertainment & Gaming has been excluded in the country analysis due to commercial sensitivity of information average of 2.7 days in the first half of last year to 4.2 days this year. This puts Another bright note is in tourism receipts, a more accurate barometer of tourism it above the overall average length of economic health. Based on STB’s tourism performance report for the first quarter stay across all markets that came in at of this year, tourism receipts continued to grow at 5 per cent year-on-year to hit S$6 3.7 days for the first half of the year. billion, while visitor arrivals held steady over the same period. For Chinese visitors in particular, their spending dipped only marginally (-1%) in Q1 2014 though visitor “We are heartened to see an increase arrivals dropped by 14 per cent. This effect is similarly observed for other countries in Chinese visitors who visit Singapore such as Australia, Malaysia, Japan and the United Kingdom. as a single destination and stay for at least two days. This shows that we have “These positive movements are in-line with STB’s yield-driven strategy and pursuit of been reaching out to the right target quality tourism,” Mr Yap adds. audience and providing them with an experience that they value and enjoy,” From January to June 2014, gazetted hotel room revenue rose 8.8 per cent to S$1.6 says Mr Yap Chin Siang, Assistant Chief billion. Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) held steady at S$218, as the 1.2 per Executive, Policy & Planning Group of cent decline in Average Occupancy Rate was offset by a 1.2 per cent increase in the Singapore Tourism Board. Average Room Rate. TOURIST TRACKS 15 Opening Doors through SG Enable

Article was contributed by SG Enable. Are you facing a manpower crunch like many businesses Foray into the F&B and Hospitality Industry do? More employers are now opening up job opportunities to hire persons with disabilities as a viable pool of manpower. Funded under the ODP, SG Enable recently organized an In the hotel industry, persons with disabilities have proven to inaugural Food & Beverage (F&B) and Hospitality Taster be productive, contributing and valuable employees when Programme, in collaboration with SHATEC. The nine-day placed in the right jobs and well-integrated. Many hotels like programme attracted ten participants with disabilities who Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium were keen to explore employment opportunities in the and Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, Shangri-La’s industry. The programme provided participants with an Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa Singapore, Concorde Hotel, overview of the actual work environment, job tasks and Pan Pacific Singapore etc have been hiring these workers requirements of the hotel industry, as well as the necessary and are very happy with their performance. skill sets for various job areas.

Now, you can also leverage the Open Door Programme The taster programme also incorporated a strong segment (ODP) to build an inclusive workforce where persons with on hands-on practical sessions which the participants disabilities can contribute to the productivity and diversity found very useful and enjoyable as they were able to in organizations. Administered by SG Enable, the ODP put into use what they have learnt from the classroom provides and supports employers beyond financial grants in teaching. Many of the participants were excited to join hiring and integrating persons with disabilities. It also fosters the hotel industry and two of them also decided to pursue disability awareness and helps companies build up disability the WSQ Higher Certificate in Pastry & Bakery/Culinary confidence via a suite of training courses specially designed Arts programme. Other persons with disabilities have also for employers. signed up for the upcoming runs of the Taster Programme.

The following testimonies from converted employers speak To find out more about the Taster Programme or if you for themselves. are interested to consider these and other candidates with disabilities for job positions in your hotel, please email us at [email protected] “Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has been tapping persons with disabilities to address their labour shortage. Currently 10 percent of the hotel’s 260 staff are persons with disabilities. Mr Sam Davies, former General Manager of Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Administered by now General Manager, Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park said that the hotel will cross train them in different functions and ensure they have career progression across departments” Be part of the Open Door Employers

Today, over 400 companies have already come on board programmes like the Open Door Programme to hire persons with disabilities and tap their diverse strengths “Mandarin Orchard Singapore is another and abilities. Employers can join the Enabling Employers key employer of choice for persons with Network to benefit from special events and access disabilities since July 2011. An employer to resources on hiring persons with disabilities. We welcome over 30 persons with disabilities, the hotel your company to join the ranks of these companies by applying for the ODP. has earned itself mentions on Trip Advisor by guests who were impressed by an employee To learn more about the Open Door Programme, speak with intellectual disability.” to our consultants at 65059748 or email us at opendoor@ sgenable.sg THE SHA HOTEL MEMBERS Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa Hotel 81 (DICKSON) Park Hotel Clarke Quay Amara Singapore Hotel 81 (GEYLANG) Park Regis Singapore Amoy Hotel Hotel 81 (STAR) PARKROYAL on Beach Road Aqueen Hotel - Balestier Singapore PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road Ascott Raffles Place Singapore Hotel Grand Central PARKROYAL on Pickering Bay Hotel Singapore Hotel Grand Chancellor Peninsula. Excelsior Hotel Bayview Hotel Singapore Hotel Grand Pacific Perak Hotel Beach Hotel Hotel Kai Quality Hotel Marlow Bencoolen Hotel Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore The Quincy Hotel Broadway Hotel Hotel Jen Jen Tanglin Singapore Raffles Hotel Capella Hotel, Singapore Hotel Miramar (S) Ltd Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park Capri By Fraser Changi City, Singapore Hotel Re! @ Pearl’s Hill The Regent Singapore Carlton City Hotel Hotel Royal RELC International Hotel Carlton Hotel Hotel Royal @ Queens Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Concorde Hotel Singapore Hotel Supreme Resorts World at Sentosa (Beach Villas, Conrad Centennial Singapore ibis Singapore on Bencoolen Crockfords Tower, Equarius Hotel, Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Hotel Michael) Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore ibis Singapore Novena The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Innotel Hotel Riverview Hotel Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park Jayleen 1918 Hotel Robertson Quay Hotel Dorsett Singapore Klapsons, The Boutique Hotel Royal Plaza on Scotts The Duxton Hotel InterContinental Singapore Santa Grand Hotel East Coast The Elizabeth Hotel Link Hotel The Scarlet Hotel Fairmont Singapore Lloyd’s Inn The Seacare Hotel Fortuna Hotel M Hotel Singapore Shangri-La Hotel Four Seasons Hotel Mandarin Orchard Singapore Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Fragrance Hotel - Ruby Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Singapore Fragrance Hotel - Sapphire Marina Bay Sands Sheraton Towers Singapore The Fullerton Hotel Marina Mandarin Singapore Singapore Marriott Hotel The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore Marrison Hotel The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa Furama City Centre Singapore Moon Hotel Sloane Court Hotel Furama RiverFront Singapore Movenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa South-East Asia Hotel The Naumi Hotel The St Regis Singapore Goodwood Park Hotel Naumi Liora Studio M Hotel Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore Singapore Nostalgia Hotel Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore Grand Hyatt Singapore Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay V Hotel Lavender Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Oasia Hotel Value Hotel - Thomson Grand Park City Hall ONE°15 Marina Club Village Hotel Albert Court Grand Park Orchard One Farrer Hotel & Spa Village Hotel Bugis Hangout @ Mount Emily Orchard Hotel Village Hotel Changi Hilton Singapore Orchard Parade Hotel Village Hotel Katong Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay Pan Pacific Orchard W Singapore Sentosa Cove Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Pan Pacific Singapore Road Wanderlust Hotel Parc Sovereign Hotel - Albert St Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Wangz Hotel Park Avenue Changi Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre The Westin Singapore Park Avenue Rochester Hotel 1929 York Hotel THE SHA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS The American Club Singapore Orchid Country Club Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd Auric Pacific Marketing Pte Ltd Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore Pte Ltd Singapore Island Country Club Batam View Beach Resort Pinedale Trading Pte Ltd Singapore Meritus International Hotels Pte Ltd CareerStar International Pte Ltd The Quayside Group Pte Ltd Singapore Recreation Club Cofely Southeast Asia Pte Ltd Rentonkil Initial Singapore Pte Ltd Singapore Swimming Club Docomo Intertouch Pte Ltd Republic of Singapore Yacht Club Singapore Telecommunications Limited Himawari Pte Ltd Republic Plaza City Club (S) Pte Ltd Somerville (Singapore) Pte Ltd HPL Hotels & Resorts S A Hotel Management Pte Ltd Starhub Ltd Institute of Technical Education (ITE) The SAF Warrant Officers and Specialists The Tanglin Club Kaplan Higher Education Club Trane Singapore Keppel Land Hospitality Management Select Group Ltd Unilever Singapore Pte Ltd Pte Ltd Sia Huat Pte Ltd Wine Trade Asia Pte Ltd Nanyang Polytechnic Simmons (Southeast Asia) Pte Ltd YHS (Singapore) Pte Ltd (as at 30 Sep 2013) NTUC Club (as at 30 Sep 2014)