RBA's Appreciation Night
By M K Anwar & Lyna Mohammad

The Guest of Honour presents the top award to the best travel agent. Photos: MK Anwar

Veteran singer Rahimah Rahim serenades the crowd.

Dato Paduka Hj Hazair and Mr Peter Foster, the CEO of RBA.

Brunei Darussalam needs to be more aggressive in marketing itself as a tourist destination. Maintaining its professionalism, being honest and reliable in our dealings with the public are key in overcoming challenges.

This was observed by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, the Permanent Secretary At The Prime Minister's Office at RBA's Appreciation Night yesterday at the Orchid Garden Hotel in Berakas.

"We need to be more aggressive in marketing Brunei Darussalam as a tourist destination," Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, who is also the Chairman of RBA, said during the dinner.

"Maintaining our professionalism, being honest and reliable in our dealings with the public are key in overcoming any challenges," he added.

Dato Hazair in his welcoming speech stressed that recent challenges such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the global security threats have indeed shaken passengers' confidence in travelling.

"It is ultimately the human factor that will make the difference," said Dato Paduka Haji Hazair on various initiatives and preventive measures that have been undertaken to face such challenges.

He also said that Brunei Darussalam has a lot to offer and at the same time is relatively 'untouched' compared to some destinations around the region.

The dinner, jointly hosted by RBA and Abacus Distribution Systems (B) Sdn Bhd, also saw presentation of awards to top travel and cargo agents.

With live performances by Rahimah Rahim, a veteran singer, the colourful event was attended by more than 300 invited guests, including management and staff of the travel and cargo agents in Brunei Darussalam, partner airlines, RBA Board members and management and staff from both RBA and Abacus Distribution Systems.

The Guest of Honour also announced that the airline premium class passengers will get a new world-class lounge facility equipped with enhanced facilities. A new RBA destination will also be launched on October 27 to Auckland, which will be the airline's 24th destination. This, apart from the two new Airbus A319 aircraft, is in line with the ten-year Strategic Plan initiated by RBA, he said.

RBA this year categorised its top awards into two main categories namely Platinum and Gold Awards. Recipients of the Platinum Award, apart from the appreciation plaque, were also presented with two business class tickets to any of RBA's destination. A total of twenty one awards were presented by RBA while Abacus awarded its top ten agents.

Among the Gold Award winners were Pan Bright Travel Service (Kuala Belait), Wing On Travel & Trading Sdn Bhd, JJ Tour Service Sdn Bhd, Straits Central Agencies Sdn Bhd, Darussalam Holding Sdn Bhd, Continental Yachting Sdn Bhd, Ken Travel & Trading Sdn Bhd, Mas Sugara Travel Services Sdn Bhd, Jasra Harrison Sdn Bhd (BSB), Angkasa Travel Services and Southern Cross Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin