Dusit International announces dynamic expansion projects

An artist’s impression shows the facade of the Dusit Devarana Hotel in Dubai.

Keeping expansion plans under wraps since mid-2006, Dusit International - Dusit’s operating arm of hotel service business - has recently announced new development projects within Thailand and in other parts of the Asian region in 2007.
Dusit’s mid scale brand, Royal Princess Hotels & Resorts, will manage its first resort property, Princess Resort, Koh Chang, opening in August this year. The resort is located on Ao Bai Lan and will have a total of 96 accommodation units. Koh Chang, second only to Phuket as the largest island in the country, is fast becoming a major tourist destination due to its teeming wildlife and marine life, as well as a national marine park that occupies 80% of the island. It is easily accessible by a 45 minutes flight from Bangkok, with a further 45 minutes ferry and transfer.
Further afield in the Asian region, Dusit has recently entered into a joint venture agreement with Bird Hospitality Services (BHS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bird Group - one of India’s largest diversified groups in the aviation, travel and information technology arena. Under this agreement, Bird is committed to develop six 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts in New Delhi, Goa, Rishikesh, Pune, Amritsar and Jaipur, providing Dusit the possibility to manage or franchise several hotels in India.
Moving towards the Middle East, Dusit is poised to also firm its presence there. According to Dusit International CEO and Managing Director, Mr. Chanin Donavanik, these upcoming developments will provide Dusit with a stronger foothold in the Middle East market, which is part of the Thai hotel chain’s expansion plans since it set up its Middle East Regional Office in Dubai in mid-2005. Coupled with the existing over 300-room Dusit Dubai hotel, Dusit’s latest various project agreements will make Dusit’s presence in the Middle East much stronger.
The Dusit Palm Island project comprises two hotels, the luxurious 6-star Dusit Devarana and the Dusit Thani, plus the exclusive Dusit Residence [to be announced separately].
The Dusit Devarana is a luxury hotel with Indian-inspired architecture, offering a quiet but distinctive, elegant and graceful service in a relaxed but slightly formal atmosphere. The property contains 114 large rooms/suites. Dining facilities include a restaurant that’s open 24 hours, Dusit Gourmet, lobby bar, and a pool snack and juice bar. Other facilities are Dusit’s signature Devarana Spa, conference and meeting rooms and two swimming pools.
The Dusit Thani is a family resort with 272 rooms and suites. The Moroccan-inspired style property offers lively activities that are fun for all the families in relaxed, informal and private surroundings. There is an all-day dining food court, Dusit Gourmet serving baked items, and tea/coffee, DFiT fitness center, Kids Center, three swimming pools, retail outlets, and rooms for small meetings. There are also 10 free standing chalets (self-contained family units), surrounded by water at the ends of the palm fronds, and each chalet consists of two floors and themed as desert tents.
These property developments are designed to blend in with the Middle Eastern style of architecture. However, what they have in common is the Dusit touch of Thai hospitality - charming service and graceful approach by staff to guests - all of which are invariably the essential trademark of all Dusit properties, whether in Thailand or overseas.
Sam-Erik Ruttmann, Regional Vice President-Dusit Middle East Office, said, “We are excited about these opportunities to expand the Dusit brands and the gracious style of Thai hospitality particularly in the Middle East, where personal service is an integral part of the Arabic culture of hospitality.”
To sum up, 2007 promises to be a landmark year for Dusit, when growth and expansion in various fields are well on their way this year, and in the years to come.