13 Singapore recipients honoured at top travel industry awards

BANGKOK/SINGAPORE - Eighty-two companies from Asia Pacific were honoured at the 25th TTG Travel Awards, with 13 accolades awarded to companies in Singapore.

The annual TTG Travel Awards began in 1989 and seeks to honour the best members in the travel industry across four main categories.

Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airport Group, SilkAir, Raffles Hotel Singapore and Star Cruises managed to remain leaders in their respective categories, and were inducted into its Hall of Fame.

The recipients were conferred this title after winning the same award 10 consecutive times.

Out of the 12 debuting winners at the awards, three were from Singapore, including the newly-opened Ramada Hotel at ZhongShan Park and Dynasty Travel.

Hotelier Kwek Leng Beng, CEO of Hong Leong Group, Singapore took home top honours for the first time as the only recipient for the Best Travel Entrepreneur of the Year.

This title was a non-voting category and was decided by the TTG editorial team. It honours an individual who sets new standards for his organisation's brand and contributes to critical areas in the travel industry such as training and education, and sustainability.

The ceremony and gala dinner mark the award's silver julibee and was held on Oct 3 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, the official venue sponsor for the event, in Bangkok, Thailand.

First-time winners Virgin Australia and Starwood Hotels and Resorts toppled long-time champions to claim the honour of Best Pacific Airline and Best Global Hotel Chain respectively.

Centara Hotels and Resorts also became the recipient for inaugural award, Sustainable Travel Company of the Year.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg

List of Singapore winners:

Best Mid-range Hotel: Ramada Singapore at ZhongShan Park

Best Independent Hotel: Royal Plaza on Scotts

Best Boutique Hotel: The Quincy by Far East Hospitality

Best City Hotel - Singapore: Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Best Integrated Resort: Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd

Best BT-MCE City: Singapore

Best Travel Agency - Singapore: Dynasty Travel International Pte Ltd

Travel Entrepreneur of the Year: Mr Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Group Chairman Hong Leong Group Singapore

Hall of Fame: Singapore Airlines, Singapore Changi Airport, Star Cruises, SilkAir and Raffles Hotel Singapore