Lap up the smiles

This season, enjoy being pampered

With the festive spirit in the air, it is time to kick back and enjoy yourself after a year of hard work. But there's no need to get on a plane for that well-deserved break, as there are plenty of options here in Singapore to laze, dine and just have fun.

These seven Customer Service award winners at the Singapore Experience Awards 2014 know how to make your day more memorable.

Eat and be happy

Dig into some awesome local food with impeccable service at The Clifford Pier, located at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore - one of the few hotels here to get the coveted fivestar rating in the 2013 and 2014 edition of the Forbes Travel Guide.

The Clifford Pier serves a tantalising mix of local delicacies and prides itself on going the extra mile to keep guests comfortable
and happy.

As Mr Bonaventure Newman D'silva, supervisor at the restaurant says: "Every customer is important and I see them as guests to my home. My philosophy is to treat my guests with respect just like how I would like to be treated."

Soak in the attention

Step into the lobby of The Westin Singapore and be transported into an oasis of calm and indulgence.

Lobby concierge Shaik Shidek Shaik Osman is on hand to ensure that your experience will be seamless and stress-free. Embracing the hotel's core values of providing personal and instinctive service, the veteran in the hospitality sector lavishes guests with customised care and attention, and no request is too small for him.

A staycation here would be the perfect way to spoil yourself and experience world-class service at the same time.

Enjoy a tipple

Head to Bar Canary at Grand Park Orchard for its array of cocktails, champagnes and wines. Situated on the fourth floor by the pool, the views of dazzling Orchard Road are a definite bonus.

Indulge in a Singapore Sling at the bar and let supervisor Rashidi Jamia'an impress you with his knowledge of Singapore. He even offers great insider tips on where to go for the best food here.

Nothing beats the tactful and thoughtful service you can experience while enjoying a tipple with good company.

Relax with retail

The 26-ha award-winning Singapore Zoo is a must visit for both locals and tourists.

Home to more than 2,800 specimens from over 300 species, a visit is always fun and educational.

While there, why not marry nature with some retail therapy?

Be greeted by warm smiles from service leader Divine Santos at the zoo's souvenir shop as she recommends the best mementos to take back home.

"In my line of work I meet a lot of tourists, and I think providing good service ensures that these tourists have an enjoyable time here and this really adds to the Singapore Experience," she says.

Explore with a guide

Not going on an overseas vacation? You can play tourist in your own backyard instead, and let Mr Patrick Sng regale you with the history and little known facts about the republic.

Mr Sng, a freelance tour guide who works mainly with A + B Edu Tours and Travel and Tour East Singapore, stands out as a versatile and knowledgeable local guide who is passionate about environmental issues.

He says: "In tour guiding, the tour guide plays a very critical role because he is the 'touch point' delivering the Singapore Experience. What he says and how he behaves reflects his knowledge and skills."

Zip around town

Looking to have a comfortable ride or need to ferry visitors around? If you are lucky, you may hop on to taxi partner Soh Beng Huat's SMRT cab.

Dispensing warmth and local information in copious amounts, this cabbie even offers tourist brochures, water and snacks to customers on board, making every cab ride an extraordinary one.

SMRT Taxis partners are trained to deliver service excellence and provide safe and reliable journey to its customers. Its Chrysler
limo partners even attend a relationship management course to equip them with the service skills to serve premier clientele.

Visit an attraction

For that garden in the city experience, the 101-ha Gardens by the Bay will delight visitors with its showcase of horticulture and green artistry.

And to make your day brighter, senior manager for visitor services Clarence Chua and his team of garden cruiser captains will make getting around the grounds a breeze. They consider themselves the ambassadors of the gardens, and will always strive to meet requests and queries with reassuring professionalism.

Mr Chua is guided by the belief that "a ready smile disarms even the grouchiest customer".

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