Joyful reunion of ex-hotel staff

The guests posing for the camera during their reunion.

OLD memories surfaced as 70 former Parkroyal Penang Resort staff got together for a reunion after 28 years.

Those at the reunion were the pioneer staff of the resort when it opened in 1990.

They came from as far as Bali and Bangkok to attend the function at G Hotel on Saturday.

Among those present were the resort’s first general manager Jan Smits, former public relations manager Joanne Lim and former food and beverage manager Peter Padman who was also the reunion’s chief organiser.

When asked why he decided to organise the reunion, Padman, who is now the general manager of Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan, said he had worked in many hotels over the years but Parkroyal held the most memories for him.

Former Parkroyal Penang Resort colleagues greeting one another.  

“The staff were all very close and we were like a family so I thought it would be great to organise a reunion to see all of them again.”

Smits, who shared the same sentiments, said he was the resort’s general manager until 1996, adding that his time there was the longest he had ever worked in a single hotel.

“I remember being involved in the state’s tourism projects during my time there. Those were fun times.”

Dutchman Smits has since retired and is living in Bali with his wife. He was previously InterContinental Hotels Group AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa) chief executive officer based in Singapore.

Penangite Lim said it was good to see her former colleagues, adding that they talked long into the night to find out what each of them had been up to over the last 28 years.

“It was fun catching up and I hope that such a reunion can be held every few years.”

There were drinks, good food and a lucky draw. Almost half of the guests walked home with prizes which included hotel stays.