Marina Mandarin Singapore received the honour of being the first hotel in the Marina Bay and Suntec area to be Halal-certified for its food stations and kitchen at the Asian and International buffet dining restaurant, AquaMarine. With this certification, the hotel has been also been upgraded to a Crescentrating of 5.
Halal Certification at AquaMarine
Marina Mandarin, a 5-star luxury hotel located in the heart of the Marina Bay area, received Halal certification for all the food stations, including the central kitchen, for AquaMarine from the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), Singapore’s Islamic council, in August 2011.
Considering the increase in Middle Eastern and Muslim travellers staying at the hotel, as well as the increase in local Muslim diners at AquaMarine, Marina Mandarin spent five months working for the Halal certification, so as to meet the needs of its Muslim and Halal-conscious guests.
In celebration of receiving the Halal certification, AquaMarine introduced an Indonesian Buffet promotion from July to August 2011, featuring Guest Chefs, as well as the signature dish – Sop Buntut, from Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, Indonesia. This promotion period coincided with Ramadhan - the Islamic month of fasting, and during this period, AquaMarine was able to cater to its Muslim guests, especially when they break fast in the evening of the month, better known as Ifthar.
Moving on, AquaMarine will continue to provide quality and delectable International and Asian Halal spread to its diners, such as the upcoming buffet promotion, Tantalizing South-east Asia, which features a gastronomic spread of scrumptious cuisines from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand from 24 October to 30 November 2011.
Crescentrating 5
It was a double celebration for Marina Mandarin that soon after AquaMarine received the Halal certification, the hotel was upgraded from a Crescentrating of 3 to 5.
The Singapore-based Crescentrating is a rating system that focuses on the Halal-friendly travel market segment worldwide. Establishments are “crescentrated” on a scale of one to seven based on the services and facilities they provide to Muslim travellers.
Marina Mandarin was awarded a Crescentrating of 3 in 2009, indicating that the hotel was helpful toward Halal-conscious guests, such as being able to provide information on Salat (prayer) times, Qiblah (direction to face during prayers) and nearby Halal food facilities. The hotel was upgraded to a Crescentrating of 5 soon after AquaMarine was conferred a Halal-certified restaurant.
The hotel’s General Manger, Mr. Kurt O. Wehinger, was happy and excited with the conferment. He said, “Being presented with the Halal certification, along with the Crescentrating of 5, these have reaffirmed our commitment to continue meeting the needs of our guests.”