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| Dusit Thani Bankok |
Leading
Asian hospitality group Dusit International officially announces 2013
as their "Year of Expansion" at this year's ITB Berlin, to be held in
the German capital city from 6-10 March. The company has upwards of 7
properties scheduled to open over the next 12 months and a further 16
projects in the development pipeline.
Dusit
International has already made waves with a number of announcements
over the last two months, starting with the management agreement for
dusitD2 nairobi. Located in an exclusive development complex flanked by
high end residences, universities, government offices and embassies,
dusitD2 nairobi promises to bring a burst of energy to the area with its
attractive mix of all day dining outlets, meeting facilities, spa and
terrace bar. It is the company's second location on the continent, but
its first in sub-Saharan Africa.
The
company quickly followed this news with the announcement of a joint
venture agreement in China, which will see a minimum of 10 properties
developed over the next five years. The joint venture agreement resulted
in the creation of the Dusit Fudu Hotel Management Company, Ltd., a
partnership between Dusit International and local partner, Changzhou
Qiao Yu Group. Cities to be targeted for development by this agreement
include Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hainan. By 2020, over
5,000 hotel rooms will come under the Dusit brand name.
Domestically,
the company announced the signing of a dusitD2 hotel in Khao Yai,
scheduled to open in Q4 2014. The 79-room hotel boasts an inspired
winery/vineyard concept and features a hot spring spa and grill
restaurant, amongst other facilities. It also benefits from being in
close proximity to Khao Yai National Park,
recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Also
set to open this year is the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi in Q2 2013.
Strategically located in the new business and government district, Dusit
Thani Abu Dhabi features a wealth of unique facilities that provide the
discerning business traveller with the perfect destination. This
opening, in addition to upcoming projects in Dubai, Doha and Jeddah,
represent the company's intention to strengthen its presence in the
Middle East region where it has been operating for over 11 years.
These
announcements, and those that will follow later this year, are the
product of Dusit International's senior management team led by Managing
Director and CEO, Mr Chanin Donavanik. He has assembled an exceptionally
talented and experienced team to drive the company's expansion plans,
including Mr Giovanni Angelini, an icon of the hospitality industry.
Formerly the CEO of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, he joined Dusit
International as Vice Chairman and has been instrumental in
orchestrating the joint venture agreement in China.
Mr
David Shackleton, Dusit International's COO, joined the group in Q2
2012. He possesses over three decades of experience with some of
hospitality's top brands, including Starwood Hotels and Resorts and the
Intercontinental Hotel Group. Mr Rustom Vickers, Group Director of
Development, is focused on sourcing new management joint venture and acquisition
opportunities internationally. Together, the team is ushering in an
exciting, new age at Dusit International, one which sees the brand reach
far beyond Asia which has been its traditional home.
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| Dusit Thani Maldives |
"This
is an important year for the company's future," says Mr Donavanik.
"Five years from now, Dusit will own and manage more than 50 hotels in
popular destinations across three or four continents, and our brand
recognition will grow and be stronger as well. I believe Thais are
naturally very strong in the hospitality business, and our aim is to be
able to export this by continuing to launch quality hotels under the
Dusit brand."
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