I really thought about making a career out of being a beach boy. Alas, everyone said that there was much more for me in hospitality than handing out beach towels.
Hoteliers have so many stories to share, each one more fascinating than the previous one.
Those memories live on forever and are related repeatedly with others throughout one’s career and life. Some are happy, some are not, but all are meaningful. Many of these stories revolve around the wonderful people one meets along the way. For me, they were all wonderful, and each one was an inspiration.
In 1982, I was recruited by the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore as Director of Sales, a role which I accepted without hesitation or second thoughts and with great enthusiasm. The Shangri-La Singapore is a deluxe, 5-star hotel that is revered by guests from around the world. It is known for its world class Garden Wing, and Valley Wing, accommodations that were envied by many of its competitors. The hotel is known for hosting dignitaries, heads of state, corporate leaders, and celebrities from around the world. It is also known to host special events that brought world class entertainment to Singapore. One such event was a series of dinner theaters that came right from London’s west end.
It was at one of these dinner theaters in 1986 that I met her, a goddess on a pedestal.
The show featured Leslie Phillips, who at the time had his name in lights and on numerous billboards throughout London’s west end. In his cast, along with several other well-known performers, was a spectacularly beautiful, up-and-coming young actress whose career would blossom dramatically in years to come. On and off stage, her beauty and charm were captivating, her personality electrifying, and her genuine smile mesmerizing. She was stunning.
A photo session was organized one afternoon by the swimming pool to capture the lighter side of all the cast members off stage. That afternoon, together with our photographer, I joined the cast by the pool for what would be perhaps the most memorable picture from my hotel career. With a bit of shyness, I asked how they wanted to pose for the photo wanting to ensure that the result would be to their liking. She immediately took on the director’s role to direct the shot. I thought that the photo was of the cast and would not include me. However, to my surprise, she grabbed a chair and instructed me to sit (I am the one in the blue suit). Following her direction, Leslie Phillips and the others lined up behind the chair. That was her cue to jump onto my lap and signal the photographer to start snapping. I told the photographer to take his time.
I was surprised and somewhat embarrassed at first, but she quickly calmed my nerves and the rest, as they say, was the show must go on. She is the very beautiful and enchanting, Elizabeth Hurley. I vowed never to dry clean that blue suit.
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