Most of the overseas delegates who attended the Singapore 2006 (S2006) meetings and events here last September were generally impressed with the service standards during their stay.

A survey commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) found that 85.5 per cent of some 1,000 delegates interviewed were, on the whole, "very satisfied" with their experience.

S2006 was held from Sept 13 to 20 and included the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Some 16,000 delegates, including those from the 184 Fund and Bank member countries attended the summit.

The survey showed that over 75 per cent of respondents were "very satisfied" with hotel standards, venue facilities in Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the organisation of the five official social functions and the service levels at other key touch-points.

Additionally, about 77 per cent were "very satisfied" with the services rendered while they were engaged in leisure activities. This included services at F&B outlets, retail stores, entertainment venues, nightspots, and attractions.

The positive results are testament to Singapore's successful leverage on the large-scale summit to rally the service industry and to inculcate a world-class service culture.

To prepare service staff, the STB, Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and SPRING Singapore conducted a two-day S2006 Customer Service Training Programme and GEMS ("Go the extra mile for service") training for more than 30,000 frontline service personnel.

These service staff were spread over the Marina Bay and Orchard Road areas, Changi Airport and other key tourist touch-points.

Among the group were 10,000 public transport workers, mainly taxi drivers, who were equipped with detailed knowledge of S2006, and information on key landmarks and places of interest in Singapore.

Said Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board: "The credit goes to the exemplary volunteers, service staff, organisations and educational institutions that contributed their time and resources and who rallied together behind the nation-wide efforts to provide S2006 delegates with indelible impressions of Singapore and its unique blend of leisure offerings and multi-cultural experiences.

"These volunteers and service providers went beyond the call of duty to commit themselves to the upgrading of their skills and rigorous training in order to provide noteworthy service that has put Singapore in the international spotlight. Raising the bar of service standards also augments Singapore's appeal as a premium leisure, entertainment and MICE destination."