SINGAPORE - The National Gallery Singapore won big at the annual Singapore Tourism Awards on Wednesday night(Oct 5).
The museum, which opened in November 2015, took home one of the top awards, the breakthrough contribution to tourism award. It also won the best attraction experience award, beating Marina Bay Sands' ArtScience Museum, Gardens by the Bay and Resorts World Sentosa's Universal Studios Singapore.
The breakthrough award was "for its role in helping to cement Singapore's position as one of Asia's leading art hubs, adding to the vibrancy of Singapore's tourism landscape and increasing awareness of Singapore as a must-visit destination", said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), which organised the awards, the most prestigious awards for the tourism sector here.
Four special awards were also given to outstanding individuals for their contribution to the industry. They were Mr Rajakumar Chandra, chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association; Ms Carolyn Kan, founder and designer of Carrie K Jewellery; Ms Lynette Lee, chief executive officer of the Textile and Fashion Federation; and Mr Arthur Kiong, chief executive officer of Far East Hospitality.
A total of 29 winners were honoured at the ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
STB chief executive Lionel Yeo noted that the awards were repositioned this year "to recognise the many different elements that need to come together for Singapore to remain competitive and compelling as a top destination".
He added: "While (the) Singapore Tourism Awards will continue to raise the bar in tourism experience creation, we also aim to inspire the tourism industry in pursuing enterprise excellence, which is key to achieving quality tourism growth in the long run."
Some of the winners at a glance:
* Best attraction experience: National Gallery Singapore
* Best dining experience: Odette, The Lo & Behold Group
* Best hotel experience: The St Regis Singapore
* Best nightspot experience: Ce La Vi Singapore
* Best shopping experience: DFS Wine & Spirits Duplex, DFS Group
* Best tour experience: The Intan Signature Tea Experience, The Intan
* Best leisure event: Halloween Horror Nights 5, Resorts World Sentosa
