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Outside, the foyer was packed with people as they chatted and mingled. Some had champagne glasses in their hands. "Do you know something I don't?" asked one hotelier of another.
"No. But I was asked to come early for rehearsal so there must be a reason, right?" he said as he sipped from his glass of sparkling juice.
"Hmm, I wasn't. I wonder what that means," the other hotelier frowned as he drank his orange juice.
The air was filled with anticipation. Everyone knew who the nominees were but who would be the winners tonight? Who would walk home with the coveted trophies?
Yet even amid the rivalry, one sensed an air of camaraderie.
Singapore Tourism Board's Tourism Awards has come a long way since its launch in 1985. From seven categories, it's grown to 28 and it has become The Oscars the trade comes to, not only to celebrate the winners, but also to celebrate each other.
And why not? On the back of a record-breaking year for Singapore, with every sector enjoying good business, there was good reason for cheer all round.
Beyond the spotlight which was firmly on the winners, the other stars of the evening were the industry talent which performed mid-way through the ceremony.
Doing their own style of rap, they paid tribute to Singapore's travel industry. As they danced and juggled through the act, it was hard to believe they were staff from various hotels. Most importantly, they looked like they were having fun on stage.
The MC for the night, The Flying Dutchman (a popular local radio DJ), also added to the night with his own brand of humour.
He was, however, outwitted by Jennie Chua, last year's recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, when she got up to present a set of awards. When asked whether she was a busy woman with all the positions she was holding, Ms Chua, who recently stepped down from the helm of Raffles Holdings, replied, "I've mastered the art of letting people do the work and I take the credit. Just like you – other people dress you up, write your script and all you have to do tonight is look good."
Three of the winners for the night meanwhile shared their pearls of wisdom with the audience. New Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year, Alexander Hascher (VENUE Asia), said he did his business studies in Singapore in the 80s. "Then we learnt what we cannot do in Singapore. Now I am back here and I am amazed how the mindset has changed from cannot do to can do."
When the Flying Dutchman asked Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year, Michael Ma (IndoChine Group), how he managed to create such cool parties, Michael said, "cool, friendly guests, good music and alcohol".
He thanked STB for "being such a champion" and "paving the way to make things easier".
Philip Ng, Chairman of Sentosa Development Corporation, who was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, quoted Samuel Johnson, ""When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford?" and likened Singapore to the British capital.
Singapore, he said, had "all that life can afford".
What was most important for the industry to remember, he added, is "we are people in the business of making other people happy".
As the evening wound to a close, child singing sensation Julia Abueva held the audience enthralled with her sweet rendition of "When You Wish Upon A Star", after which the dancers did a contemporary version of the can-can.
In the audience, you could see feet tapping and heads bobbing.
A sweet night, indeed, for winners and all.
