Mr. Pattaya begins his greatest adventure
Pattaya citizens and people
from all over the world turned out in their hundreds this week to bear
witness to Louis Fassbind’s memory. Fassbind, the Executive Vice President
of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, passed away last Monday, quietly with
dignity, in the hotel he had developed and loved so dearly.
Whilst Pattaya mourns its loss, the Fassbind legacy is such that his mission
and vision will continue to influence the everyday lives of all who live and
work in this city, Pattaya.
Many words will be written about Louis Fassbind, the man they called “Mr.
Pattaya”, but words are but hollow testament to a man who spent more than
half his life in Thailand, 28 years of which were devoted to promoting our
city.
A flamboyant philanthropist with the rare qualities of far sightedness and
determination, Louis Fassbind was a large man with largesse to match his
physical size. 25 years a Rotarian, and a founding member of the
Jomtien-Pattaya Club, he was a driving force behind many of the Rotary
projects to help the people of Thailand. Additionally, more than 10 years
ago he founded and funded the Fassbind Medical Centre in the Banglamung Home
for the Aged. For those who knew him personally “Charity” was his middle
name.
Originally from Switzerland, he was well versed in all aspects of hotel
management by the time he came to Thailand in 1966, to work in the Oriental
Hotel. By 1970 he had come to Pattaya to oversee the construction and
opening of the Pattaya Palace. Three years later he joined the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort as General Manager.
To say that Louis Fassbind “was” the Royal Cliff is no exaggeration. He
worked tirelessly, attracting international events of all types to Pattaya;
be they sporting, academic or the Arts, Louis Fassbind’s hand guided them
all. His enthusiasm was infectious. He had the ability to sway popular
thinking to his vision of the future.
It is said that successful people have a five year plan they work towards.
Louis Fassbind’s was more of a fifty year plan. Very early he could see that
Tourism was going to be good for all of Pattaya, not just his hotel.
Properly managed and promoted, the tourism industry income would benefit the
entire Pattaya economy, right the way from the smallest food vendors through
all retail sales outlets and finally the Service Industry itself. This was
the mission and successful plan which earned him the “Mr. Pattaya” title.
He was an avid environmentalist, even to the extent of “adopting” Koh Pai
(Bamboo Island). Guests would be taken there, feted and welcomed ashore with
ceremony and champagne to then be given sacks to assist in cleaning up the
beach. Louis Fassbind had style and flair, to a degree rarely seen even in
Amazing Thailand.
There was no challenge that he would consider insurmountable. He would sit
down to discuss and talk about it and finally say, “Just let me handle it.”
And he would deliver, such was his determination to follow any project
through to its logical conclusion.
His famous hospitality gave him such an international persona that he will
be missed by countless people all over the world. His work was recognized
with numerous Awards, including the Award of Merit at the PATA Congress in
Beijing and in 1998 being named as “Hotelier of the Year” at the ITB
Conference in Berlin.
But Louis Fassbind was more than just a brilliant visionary and planner. He
was an active adventurer right to the end. He travelled the world, gaining
excitement and experiences that most would only dream about. He loved
sailing his distinctive junk “Hanumarn”, taking over the helm when the
weather got rough and laughing as he sliced through the waves. He enjoyed
life to the full and his gregarious nature was such that he enriched the fun
times for his fellow adventurers.
But fate was not going to let Louis Fassbind complete his “master plan”. In
that, he was going to retire in the year 2000 and spend the final years
sailing in “Hanumarn” and just having fun. There were lots of festivities to
be arranged and when the final hour came this talented, charismatic man
would have made a joke about it, arranged a party, invited all his friends
and gone out with a Big Bang.
Louis Fassbind left us all so quietly and quickly that we have all been
caught unawares, but there is no doubt that his influence which helped shape
and develop Pattaya is still here. He will not be forgotten and must be
honoured as one does for all pioneers.
Louis Fassbind, “Mr. Pattaya” has been an integral part of the development
of this city. His guiding hand brought us from infancy to maturity, his
laughter echoes through the streets, his entrepreneurial flair shows in the
fun spirit of Pattaya.
Louis Fassbind is not dead, he just no longer resides with us. May you enjoy
your next party, Louis.
Alois X.
Fassbind (right) with best friend and business partner Bruno Forrer (left),
former Royal Cliff Beach Resort Pastry Chef KIm Caula (2nd left) and Royal
Cliff Beach Resort Sales and Marketing Manager David Holden.
