Their service is pure gold

STELLAR SERVICE BEYOND WORDS

When his manager is not around, hotel steward Yazid Amran steps in and takes the lead to ensure his colleagues are completing their tasks. He even pitches in whenever he can.

Mr Yazid, 46, of Parkroyal on Pickering never fails to have a smile on his face as he carries out his duties, which ranges from ensuring that the dishes are properly washed in the kitchen, to checking that the hotel workers' uniforms are laundered.

But Mr Yazid, who started working in the hotel when it opened last year, has one big challenge - he cannot speak. That did not stop him from bagging the Service Gold Award in the National Kindness Award held Wednesday at the Parkroyal on Beach Road.

In 1994, the Singapore Kindness Movement teamed up with the Singapore Hotel Association to recognise exceptional service role models in the hospitality industry with this annual award.

This year, 94 service staff from 53 hotels won awards after being nominated by their guests, peers and supervisors. Mr Yazid's positive attitude was the key trait which earned him the award.

His boss, director of rooms Faizal Hashim, said: "Mr Yazid is a fantastic worker and never fails to impress us at how hard-working he is. He is deserving of the award."

SOLE BREADWINNER

With assistance from Mr Faizal, Mr Yazid, who communicates through sign language and writing, told The New Paper that he is the sole breadwinner in his family and has to work hard to put food on the table.

He lives with his wife and two sons, aged 12 and 20, in a three-room flat on Holland Road.

Mr Yazid proves that excellent service is beyond words.

AGE NO LIMIT FOR OLDEST WINNER

While other people her age are relaxing at home, Madam Hong Foong Ming , 64, prefers to work.

She said that being a room attendant in Mandarin Orchard Singapore has helped her stay active and fit.

Without her job, she said she would just be wasting time at home, watching TV.

Madam Hong was the oldest winner of the Service Gold Award at the annual National Kindness Award Wednesday.

She lives with her retiree husband in a flat in Bukit Panjang. Both her children, aged 36 and 38, are married.

"You must understand the customer's personality to be able to win their hearts," Madam Hong told The New Paper in Mandarin Wednesday.

DIFFICULT GUESTS

Madam Hong, who has been with the Mandarin for 23 years, said that she has had to deal with difficult guests.

Once a guest complained of a room that was not clean enough and even though she was not the one responsible, she willingly cleaned the room just to satisfy the guest.

Guest-of-honour Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister For Culture, Community and Youth, mentioned in his speech that Madam Hong's diligent service has earned her the award for the first time.

He said: "She proves to us that age is not a limiting factor in the delivery of exceptional service."

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