The Excellent Service Awards (EXSA) is an annual national award organised by the Association of Singapore Attractions and Enterprise Singapore launched in 1994 that seeks to recognise and develop inspiring service models for others to emulate and create service champions.
We would like to commend and congratulate 18 NUSS service staff who were acknowledged for their exceptional service for the year 2021 at the awards held on 3 and 4 January 2022.
One of the recipients of the EXSA Star award category, PS Nathan, Café Manager from Café on the Ridge shared a memorable episode during the past 17 years with NUSS. Nathan recounted back in 2018 when NUSS Past President, the late Mr Ernest Wong tried to book a venue at Kent Ridge Guild House to celebrate his 80th birthday. However, most private rooms, including the Della & Seng Gee Guild Hall were fully booked as it was during the Chinese New Year period.
Wanting to try his best to accommodate the request, PS Nathan approached his colleagues from the banquet team and managed to secure a venue together and together, they made arrangements for the function room and menu. “Mr Ernest Wong was so happy and impressed with this arrangement and he thanked us for it. Going the extra mile for this birthday celebration was the most rewarding and satisfying experience,” he highlighted.
Valarmathi Chandrasaekheran, who has been with NUSS for three years and currently a waitress at Mandalay Guild House’s The Restaurant@Mandalay, was bestowed a Gold award for her exemplary service towards diners. She mentioned that “making an extra effort to help members and colleagues” is what makes the job more meaningful and satisfying for her. However, she also noted that being in the F&B industry, there were challenges involved, for instance during peak periods, there might be a mix up in orders or a customer might have picked up the wrong order. “When that happens, I’ll first apologise to the member and then bring the dish back to the kitchen to clarify” she said.
It is no doubt that the service industry has its challenges, and even more so during the pandemic. Congratulations to all who were conferred this award earlier this year, your cheerful spirit, teamwork and perseverance despite the challenges faced in the new normal is truly inspiring!
 is an annual national award organised by the Association of Singapore Attractions and Enterprise Singapore launched in 1994 that seeks to recognise and develop inspiring service models for others to emulate and create service champions.){kind=link}