Straits Times reader Wu Wan Ting got lucky when she took part in her first ST giveaway contest.
This Christmas, she can celebrate the festive season in style after winning a dinner for four at Mandarin Orchard hotel's Triple Three buffet restaurant, as well as a Christmas log cake to take home, worth $780 in total.
"I've dined at the restaurant before and am looking forward to trying its Christmas specials," said Ms Wu, 34, who works in information technology security and grew up reading ST.
Her prize was given out as part of ST170 Treats, the newspaper's year- long giveaway initiative to celebrate its 170th anniversary. She was chosen out of 6,045 contestants.
Another winner was assistant restaurant manager Eber Tan, 45, who was picked out from another 4,116 contestants for the prize of a Christmas semi-buffet lunch for six at European brasserie Ash & Elm at the InterContinental Singapore. The prize is worth over $300.
"It will be great to be able to have a festive get-together with my wife and friends over a meal," he said.
A total of 182,459 entries have been submitted for the ST170 Treats initiative.
Readers have walked away with prizes such as holidays to the Maldives, tickets to watch Taylor Swift live in concert in London, and a Land Rover. Other prizes for this month include hotel stays and festive treats.
ST editor Warren Fernandez said: "What a year it has been for all of us in Singapore, and for us in The Straits Times. We want to share the joy with our readers, especially during this festive season, and hence these special treats for them."
The top prize for this month is a five-night villa stay for two at The Residence Zanzibar, a coastal resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The $13,000 package includes two economy-class return tickets on Qatar Airways and a sunset cruise.
ST Life travel writer Lee Siew Hua, who curated the trip specially for the contest, described Zanzibar as "an unexplored gem for Singapore travellers who love luxury and local experiences on a far frontier".
Ms Lee, who was in Zanzibar last month, said: "It's like a fusion island with deep Arabic and African influences. The ocean is many shades of sublime blue."
The online contest is still running and closes at noon next Tuesday.
Readers just need to visit 1845.straitstimes.com and answer a simple question about the prize for a chance to win.
