By V. Sivaji
For the fifth consecutive year, a group of former Shangri-La Penang ( now JEN) staff members reunited at the Hompton Beach Hotel to relive the fond memories and lasting friendships forged during their time at the iconic city hotel.
This annual gathering brought together a total of 60 ex-employees, each with their own stories and shared experiences that spanned decades of service.
The atmosphere was warm and nostalgic, as laughter, photos and heartfelt conversations filled the room.
The luncheon was a joyful affair, complete with delicious food, cheerful toasts and a spirit of camaraderie that hasn’t faded with time.
It served not only as a chance to catch up but also as a celebration of the enduring bond that connects those who once worked side by side.
Among those present at the gathering was Dato Tony Goh who is now the general manager of the St Giles Wembley Hotel here.
Back then, he was the F&B manager at Shangri-La Penang.
“We had the most popular outlet in town called “Street One” where travel agents, guests from the Free Trade Zone factories, hoteliers, businessmen gather to network and meet like minded guests. Some of the regulars still talk about this outlet till today.
“Our guests could buy pre-paid vouchers which could be used to redeem their favourite drinks. Another popular outlet was Shang Palace which was famous for their Tim Sum and other delicacies,” he added.
Goh, now is also the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter chairman.
Meanwhile, Steven Suffian, who is now the general manager at the Hompton Hotel started his career at the Shangri-La Penang in the banquet department in 1986 as the pre-opening team.
“We learnt a lot of valuable things at the premier hotel and we were excited to pick up new knowledge along the way,” he added.
Another ex-employee of Shangri-La Penang was Elizabeth Chin who used to work at the hotel from 1989 to 1995. She later moved on to the Front Office during career there.
The afternoon gathering also included an impromptu karaoke session and a lucky draw session.
Due credit goes to the organising chairman of the gathering, Mahmuda Sadek for his hard work to get everybody together.