Lavender Lanna’s Jay Gregson Dies at 45
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Thailand-based, American entrepreneur Mr. Jan Lewis Gregson, age 45, has died at his home in Chiang Mai. Known as “Jay”, he and his Thai partner Khun Daen converted an old, run down hotel in Chiang Mai into the largest gay-oriented hotel resort in Thailand. Jay’s dream was to have the premier gay tourist destination in Asia at affordable prices so all could enjoy. It did not start that way.
He initially was looking for a location to build a show bar to attract tourists and entertain locals and there was nothing available except the basement of an old hotel. The owner was tired of operating the hotel so Jay said he would take it all for a good price.
So began the Lavender Lanna Hotel with the most impact and promotion of any gay venue in Thailand. The name “Lanna” drew controversy with one Thai gay activist who opposed the use of the former Thai culture in the name of a gay venue. But, Jay persevered and continued his quest to make Lavender Lanna a “must visit” destination in Chiang Mai.
Jay was a rotund, jovial man with a fondness for taking care of his staff. His philosophy was if he took good care of his staff they would be loyal and also take good care of his customers. “I want to bring tourist to Chiang Mai from everywhere. Of course, we want them to stay at our hotel, but we offer a van service to other gay venues both to make the Chiang Mai experience more pleasurable for the guests and to build good will with our fellow businessmen,” Jay told Thailand SPICE! magazine at his Grand Opening party last year.
A spokesman for the hotel said they would continue to operate. Jay was born in Pasadena, Texas on November 19, 1964. In his life Jay had lived in the United States in Houston, Texas, Anchorage, Alaska, Seattle, Washington and New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to Thailand in 2008.
He and his Thai boyfriend and business partner lived in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 2008 and then moved into Chiang Mai in February, 2009, to oversee construction, the opening and management of Lavender Lanna Hotel.
“He had mentioned that he had two brothers, but we and the US Embassy are unable to find a trace of them. At this point, he left no next-of-kin since both his parents died before they were 50,” said his legal representative appointed by the US Embassy, Mr. Drew Noyes of PAPPA Legal Services.
A Lavender Lanna Hotel guest posted his thoughts on gaythailand.com: ozioziozi
Feb. 1 - I have spent 4 weeks in this hotel in the last six weeks. I am very familiar with the staff and Jay.. I live in australia and can only say that the hotel was “heaven” for me. The staff was fabulous. I feel so sorry for them, I was the last person Jay bought a drink for, I told him the day before his death that he was a walking dead man, He replied that he did not want to lose weight. I have spoken to his boyfriend about the death, and he told me that Jay always took about 20 pills at once.. Jay had a dream .His establishment fulfilled my dream. It does not matter how he died, it now just matters what will happen to all those wonderful people who worked there.
On gaytingtong.com pattayamale posted the following: Jay was very well liked by his staff. I enjoyed my stays at the hotel and my talks with Jay. I found him to be very friendly. Rumors, even “facts” are many times not the real truth. I hope people will give the staff support as they all seemed to put the hearts into their job.