The Club Suisse de Monaco, in collaboration with the Honorary Consulate of Austria in Monaco, hosted a special evening gathering last Thursday to officially introduce Laila Schlereth as the Principality’s new Vice Honorary Consul of the Republic of Austria.
Held on the panoramic terrace of club member Urs Fähndrich, the event welcomed around 120 guests, including Holocaust survivor Herbert Traube and French Ambassador to Monaco Jean d’Haussonville, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and his wife Magdalena de Tornos.
Representing a life between cultures
Born to a German father and Egyptian mother, Laila Schlereth studied economics and law in Austria and has spent over three decades contributing to life in Monaco. A seasoned investor and entrepreneur in the hospitality and real estate sectors, she is also well known for her active involvement with the Yacht Club de Monaco, the International School of Monaco, and for co-founding the Monaco Oktoberfest.
“It is a great honour for me to serve in this role here in Monaco,” Schlereth said. “With roots in Germany, Egypt, Switzerland, and Austria, I want to build bridges — between people, cultures, and ideas. Monaco is a place of diversity, and I look forward to representing Austrians here with full commitment — while being part of this wonderful international family.”
A living witness to history
One of the most moving moments of the evening came with the appearance of Herbert Traube, a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor originally from Vienna. Traube fled to France with his father before joining the French Foreign Legion and fighting in the Allied landing in Provence, later serving in Indochina. After his return to civilian life, he became deputy mayor of Sainte-Agnès above Menton.
“I am both French and Austrian, but above all, I am European,” he told the crowd — words met with long and heartfelt applause.
New faces and growing ties
The occasion also served to welcome eight new members to the Club Suisse de Monaco, including Schlereth herself, now a member in both personal and diplomatic capacities.
President of the Club, Dr Arik Röschke, praised the evening as a celebration of international unity: “We are not only celebrating a new role for Laila Schlereth, but also the diversity and vibrancy of our international community here in Monaco.”
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Photos provided