More than 50 friends from Thailand and Europe wished the owner of the Thai Garden Resort a happy 83rd birthday.
Former German ambassador to Thailand Rolf Schulz and his wife Petronella, vacationing at the North Pattaya hotel, were among those at Gerrit Niehaus’s Feb. 5 party and gave the guest of honor a rousing toast.
He said it was an honour for him to have met such an good person who treats his employees like a family, who helps develop youth and has an open hand all the time for everyone who needs it.
During this year’s lockdown, Niehaus helped many people. Even though his hotel was closed, he still paid all his employees a big portion of their salaries. He helped bring food to the people on Kho Larn after they closed themselves off from the world, and sponsored food handouts in the city several times.
At 83, Niehaus still walks a few kilometers every day and oversees management of the hotel despite having a fresh, young management team.
He also had a hand in the buffet for his party, with a suckling pig that drew raves, and the selection of wines. A big cake was brought in after dinner with everyone joining in singing “Happy Birthday”. More music was provided by Kelly Ford and her band.