HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Farewell Louis

---

Farewell Alois Xavier “Louis” Fassbind

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.

News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.