Hotel Security Awards Presentation Ceremony and Hotel Security Conference 2024 – Speech by Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development

Mr Kenneth Li, President, Singapore Hotel Association

Mr Tan Puay Kern, Vice-Chairman, National Crime Prevention Council

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Today’s event has been something I have been doing frequently over the years. The hotel industry has been an important partner for the Singapore Police Force as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs. I would like to thank the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for organising this year’s event.

2. Singapore’s status as a global hub for tourism, business, and culture is really only possible due to the very important contributions of all of you present here. Our hotels support these key drivers of Singapore’s economy, by taking good care of the many foreign guests who visit Singapore. You contribute to the Singapore brand, and have helped preserve Singapore’s reputation as a quality, safe, and secure world-class destination for travellers.

3. The hotel industry has worked closely with partners and Government agencies across the years to raise awareness on security issues, improve vigilance, and put in place relevant security measures.

4. This proactiveness remains critical. Just very recently – you may have read in the news that a 17-year-old had been put under ISD’s programme because he had been self-radicalised based on what he had read on the online sphere. I think the key points for that episode are, one, this is a young man – 17 year old Singaporean youth; two, he had been radicalised online; and three, he was going to conduct an attack close to his home, a place he was familiar with, and also, a place with high pedestrian footfall. He had rehearsed in his mind the routes he was going to take, he had armed himself with a pair of scissors as well as a knife; and it was going to only be a matter of weeks before he was going to carry out this terror attack. So it goes to show that we cannot rest on our laurels when it comes to safety and security. Hotels remain attractive targets for terror attacks due to the constant large flow of people, and the potential for significant media attention due to international tourists and prominent guests.

5. It is not just about a terror attack that we have to fend off, but also the aftermath of the terror attack. Imagine if such a thing were to happen to our hotel industry - we would not just be affected during the incident, but in the aftermath, because travellers would rethink their plans of travelling to Singapore, thinking that Singapore is no longer the safe and secure place that they have come to associate us with.

6. On top of the terror threat, cybercrime risks are also on the rise. Hotels hold valuable personal and financial data of their many guests. Individual or international guests may also be specifically targeted by hackers, due to their personal or professional profile.

7. In the face of such threats, it is very fitting that the theme of today’s event is “Countering Emerging Threats in Security”. The keyword is ‘emerging’ – because it is ever-changing, ever-evolving, and we constantly have to stay up to date with it. I hope that today’s Conference will not only explore what the new and emerging threats are, but will also share on the best practices that can be adopted.

New Code of Practice to Enhance Hotel Security Operations

8. I am happy to hear that work has already started on this front, thanks to the proactiveness of SHA and NCPC. Both have worked closely with SPF to review and enhance an existing set of standards to improve hotel security levels. So this is now titled as the “SS 545 Code of Practice for Hotel Security”, these enhanced standards take into consideration new developments, modus operandi, and security solutions, to specify key requirements and recommendations for hotel security to ensure a safe environment for guests and employees.

9. It includes a new section on security management planning, which stipulates the requirements for emergency response and crisis management teams. This section also provides a suggested business continuity plan, with important points such as activating key hotel employees, and setting up alternative command centres where needed. Meanwhile, to mitigate cybercrime risks, the enhanced standards also provide useful recommendations on measures to manage cybersecurity threats and prevent data losses.

10. The SS 545 Code of Practice for Hotel Security is available at the Singapore Standards website. I urge all participants and hotels to go through it and implement the recommended practices.

Award Recipients

11. While standards guide us, it is ultimately the hotel employees who are at the frontlines and who are instrumental in implementing the security measures. On this note, please join me to congratulate all the award recipients of the Individual Awards for Bravery, Vigilance and Honesty. All of you have gone above and beyond their scope of work to safeguard the premises you work at with. Allow me to share some of their stories today.

12. Mr Kenneth Luah, Assistant Front Manager from Village Hotel Sentosa, had rushed to the aid of a hotel guest who was choking at the hotel restaurant. He attempted to clear the airway of the hotel guest, instructed his colleague to call for paramedics, and performed CPR on the hotel guest until the paramedics arrived. Thanks to his quick actions, the guest was saved. Mr Luah is one of the award recipients in the Bravery category.

13. I would next like to highlight Mr Sebastian Tan, Senior Security Executive from JEN Singapore Tanglin. His sharp eyes had led to the prompt detection and removal of prohibited drugs within the hotel’s premises. We all know that Singapore takes a strong stance against drugs, and wants to keep our environment and people free from drugs. For his efforts, Mr Tan is a recipient in the Vigilance category.

14. Lastly, allow me to share about Ms Jiang Yi Lan, a housekeeping room attendant at the Hotel Grand Pacific, who is a recipient in the Honesty category. After a guest had checked out of the hotel, Ms Jiang found an envelope containing over $10,000 in cash in the guest’s room. She immediately alerted the hotel’s management, and the money was returned to the rightful owner. Thank you Ms Jiang, for exhibiting such honesty and for safeguarding Singapore’s reputation as a branded hotel industry that visitors worldwide can take solace in.

Conclusion

15. These are just three examples of the good work that our hotel employees put in, day in day out, and the strong values that they exemplify. Once again, well done to all the award recipients today. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and I hope that collectively, we are able to uplift and continue to maintain the strong safety and security standards of our hotel industry.