11/12/2025
Hello HKS friends,
We've had a request from Carl Welsby via messenger to post the following message including some quirky memories:
"Hi all, and especially Robyn who hired me as a Houseman in 1989. So lovely to see pictures of people whose names I forgot but must have worked with. A bit of background and some help needed please. Bear with me...
I am British and travelled to Australia on a working visa with my girlfriend in 1989. I worked at the Hyatt for 3 or 4 months in that year working with many hardworking Filipinos and a couple of Fijian ladies. I went on to travel back overland to the UK and this was our second long trip. It lead me into tour leading small group adventures then a career in that area of travel designing and operating such tours. Now aged 62 I'm in rural Pembrokeshire with my wife of 24 years having left that industry some time ago and I'm writing a bit of an autobiography as I've had many many adventures.
Whilst at the Hyatt 3 stand out memories persist over others. 1. An entire room flooded by Japanese guests badly (flooding of bathrooms was a regular issue as I remember) necessitating the closing of the room. 2. Walking to work to see a car that had somehow crashed out of the car park and was perched vertically on another in the street below the driver dead possibly a drug deal gone wrong. 3. In the service room one day I was grabbed by two cops (were they cops...?) who pulled me in, guns drawn, explained they were on a drugs bust and that they wanted me to knock on a door opposite, Say "Housekeeping" open the door with my keycard and stand aside whilst they rushed in. I declined.
I wondered if anyone out there remembers these incidents. It was a long time ago but I'd like to get confirmation my memory doesn't deceive me.
Finally, I'd like again to thank Robyn, a consummate professional, and all those who I worked with. I enjoyed my simple role enormously and send my heartfelt best regards to you all. :)"
Thanks for the memories Carl ;) ! All the best for your book too.
