The Hyatt Regency Hotel in East Perth has closed its doors earlier this month, after more than 36 years of operations. The closure was publicly announced on July 31, with staff informed in June leaving them less than two months to find other work. Staff were told about the closure in June and despite being offered counselling, they claim to have been given little to no support during the transition.

“A bit more communication earlier on would have been good,” said Paul Skinner, an employee who had worked in the hotel for over a year. “Everybody is losing their jobs.”

Other employees had less kind words to share about the management about closure. Sabrina Nezam, who worked in the hotel for over three years, said: “They gave us references, but that didn’t do nothing. A lot of people unfortunately have lost their jobs, especially people who have worked here for thirty plus years.”

The Hyatt Regency Hotel building is owned by Tuan Sing Holdings, an international investment company based in Singapore. On the July 1, the company formally announced that it intended to break ties with Hyatt and remove the current management. More recently, it also announced that it would be rebranding the building into “Residence at Langley Park”, positioning as a premium luxury stay in the city.

In the statements to the press, the company said that: “This is part of Tuan Sing’s long-term strategy to expand its hospitality business which currently includes the Grand Hyatt Melbourne and its recently announced acquisition of Fraser Residence River Promenade, a newly completed mixed-use property in a prime location in Singapore featuring serviced apartment units and F&B (food and beverage) offerings.”

As of September 1, Residence at Langley Park has officially opened on the site of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Lim Guan Kiang, Vice President of Hospitality said in a press release that: “Residence on Langley Park is set to become a foundational business and community precinct for Perth, delivering a unique, modern and impactful experience to all visitors. Our ambition is to deliver a level of unparalleled service to our guests and visitors, with the property delivering a service that perfectly fits the demands of a modern city like Perth.”

Despite stating that the Hyatt management agreement would be terminated, none of the press releases mentioned the termination of all workers currently working under the Hyatt brand. When asked about the possibility of being rehired, Paul Skinner said: “I’m not sure, I think so. That’s where the communication from the management would have been useful.”

All staff were offered references and counselling, if they felt distressed.