The excesses of the 1980s, along with the international recession of the early 1990s, saw Conrad International Hotel Corporation (a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels) roll out the “PEP” Profit Enhancement Program. It was brutal as we farewelled hundreds of colleagues, but all were convinced that my job was safe; we made money after all, but I was to become what colleagues referred to as “the best thing to ever come of PEP”…
Two days before a UK holiday, having spent a somewhat random day working in the Executive Office with the VP Grant Bowie, I was summoned to the Director of HR’s office; my job had been ‘pepped’. “The Executive Team would like you to stay. You can choose any available role in the company, and we will train you.”
I knew Marketing Services needed to introduce digital design, so here was my chance. The role of Junior Graphic Designer was created for me. I was tasked with investigating and implementing the Apple Mac system, and I spent the four weeks of my UK trip speed-reading manuals and design books. Upon my return, they sent me to Sydney for training with Adobe and Apple along with Senior Designer Nicole Philpot (now Williams).
When it came to learning the technical discipline of Graphic Design, Nicole was an extraordinarily generous mentor, as was her successor Carla Adezio. I learned fast and was soon promoted. I relished four years in the role. We created everything from in-room compendiums to casino promotions, menus, special event materials, signage, gaming machine graphics, stationery and thousands of brochures and flyers. We directed photography for elaborate Casino rewards loyalty campaigns, built and painted sets, had fun prop-shopping, conducted talent casting, and worked alongside the stage show cast to produce the theatre programs. It was incredibly diverse and immensely rewarding. We enjoyed premium access to high-roller events and hosted the Indy Corporate Box on pit lane Thursday each year. We received tickets to show premiers, ate masterfully created food, watched celebrities rehearse and attended their performances, the most memorable being Dame Shirley Bassey.