FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Once Hyatt, Always Family: Former Hyatt Regency Dearborn Employees to Reunite for a Celebration of Memories, Friendship and a Lifetime of Stories
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN — Some workplaces are simply places where people go to earn a living. Others become part of who you are.
For generations of employees who worked at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, the hotel was much more than a workplace. It was where lifelong friendships began, careers were built, marriages were celebrated, children were born, and countless memories were created. It was a place where people worked long hours together, celebrated successes together, supported one another through difficult times—and, somewhere along the way, became family.
Now, that family is coming home.
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, former Hyatt Regency Dearborn employees from throughout the hotel’s history will gather with family and friends for the Hyatt Regency Dearborn Reunion, a special celebration of the people and memories that made the hotel such an important part of their lives.
The reunion will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Dearborn Ford Field, 22051 Cherry Hill Street, Dearborn, Michigan.
The Hyatt Regency Dearborn opened its doors in 1976. Over the decades, thousands of people walked through those doors as employees. They came from different backgrounds and worked in different departments—from Food and Beverage and Housekeeping to Engineering, Front Office, Sales, Catering, Convention Services and countless other roles. But they shared something in common: they were part of the Hyatt family.
For many, the friendships formed at Hyatt lasted long after their employment ended.
“This reunion is really about the people,” said reunion organizer Lori Emma, who worked at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn from 1985 through 2012 as Director of Catering and Convention Services. Emma and is partnering with Michael Camilleri, a former Banquet Manager who worked at the hotel from 1977 through 2001 on and off for various years, to bring former colleagues together for the celebration.
“When you work alongside people for years, through weddings, conventions, holidays, busy weekends and all the unexpected moments that happen in hospitality, you build relationships that go far beyond the workplace,” Emma said. “You become part of each
other’s lives. Some of these people haven’t seen one another in years, but when they reconnect, it can feel like no time has passed at all.”
The reunion will be an afternoon and evening filled with laughter, competition, music and memories. Activities will include a Baking Contest, Cornhole Tournament, Bocce Ball Tournament, Motown Bingo, a 50/50 raffle, music from a DJ, prizes and giveaways.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of the day will be the Memory and Memorial Display, where photographs and memorabilia will help tell the story of the people who made the Hyatt Regency Dearborn special. The display will also honor former colleagues who are no longer here but whose friendships, laughter and contributions remain part of the Hyatt family story.
“One of the most important things about this reunion is remembering the people who helped shape our lives,” Emma said. “There are people we wish could be here with us. We want to honor their memories and make sure they remain a part of this celebration.”
Former employees are encouraged to bring photographs and memorabilia from their years at Hyatt. Attendees are also encouraged to wear name tags listing their name, last department and years worked at the hotel, creating opportunities for old friends to find one another and for stories to begin flowing again.
Families and friends are warmly invited to attend. After all, the Hyatt family has grown over the years, and many of the people who worked at the hotel have spouses, children and grandchildren who heard the stories of “the old Hyatt” around the dinner table.
For some, this reunion will be a chance to see a best friend for the first time in decades. For others, it will be an opportunity to remember a mentor, a favorite boss, a colleague who became a lifelong friend—or simply a time in their lives when they were younger, working hard and building a future together.
And for everyone, it will be a chance to remember what it meant to be part of something special.
“We have put a lot of time and heart into creating this reunion,” Camilleri said. “Of course, we want everyone to have fun. We want to play games, listen to music, win some prizes and enjoy each other’s company. But when the day is over, I hope people leave with something more—a reminder of the friendships they made and the incredible memories they created together.”
The reunion committee is encouraging former Hyatt Regency Dearborn employees to spread the word and reach out to former coworkers who may not yet know about the event.
Because while the hotel may have changed, and the years may have passed, one thing remains:
Once Hyatt, always family.
Event Details
What: Hyatt Regency Dearborn Reunion When: Saturday, August 22, 2026 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Where: Dearborn Ford Field, 22051 Cherry Hill Street, Dearborn, MI Who: Former Hyatt Regency Dearborn employees, family and friends
Come reconnect. Come reminisce. Come celebrate the people who made the Hyatt Regency Dearborn more than a hotel.
The memories may be from decades ago, but the friendships are forever.
For more information about the Hyatt Regency Dearborn Reunion, or to connect with reunion organizers Lori Emma or Michael Camilleri, please visit the reunion’s Facebook page.
