President's Message

Dear HTM Alumni, On behalf of the Executive Committee, let me extend a very warm welcome to all of you. Thank you so much for taking precious time from your busy schedules to be part of the Alumni Committee. I am much honoured to join you as a member of this wonderful team. Indeed, the hospitality and tourism industry is not all about bricks-and-mortar. It is the people in the destination like you and me that makes it unique and appealing. The best attractions and infrastructure must be complemented by people that are willing to go the extra mile in service. This is especially crucial in Singapore where space and resources are limited. A well-trained and committed tourism community provides us with the competitive advantage against other emerging destinations.

2007 had been an exciting year for the hospitality and tourism industry. Emerging destinations in Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East have been the main growth drivers in this sector. For Singapore, 2007 holds special significance as we crossed the 10th million visitor mark in December. Singapore was ranked as Asia’s top country and city for meetings, and among the world’s top three cities for meetings. Singapore was also ranked among the top five countries for nightlife and fine dining, shopping, as well as the city people would want to live in other than their own. This is once again a testament to our growing appeal as a vibrant, must-visit destination.

Looking forward, 2008 and beyond is going to be an even more challenging year as we charge full steam ahead to achieve our Tourism 2015 targets. The H&T Alumni play an integral role in building a dynamic and robust tourism landscape in Singapore. The Alumni comprises of industry members crossing various sectors in hotels, clubs and resorts, airlines, tourist and leisure attractions, travel retail, tourism promotion, MICE, food and beverage services and many more. This unique clustering brings about a diversity of expertise and resources that can be leveraged upon by its members.

The aim of the H&T Alumni is to provide a common platform facilitating the exchange of ideas and networking opportunities for the members. It is also our key responsibility to take on the role as mentors for the new entrants to the hospitality and tourism industry.

Sam Lay
President
HTM Alumni Committee

HTM Alumni Committee

President		Mr Sam Lay
Vice President		Mr George Lau
Treasurer		Ms Priyanka Menon
Secretary		Ms Shirley Khng