Dusit International Eyes China at this year's IT&CM China

Dusit Devarana Hainan, China

Leading Asian hospitality group Dusit International continues to promote its year of expansion by exhibiting at IT&CM China, the country’s leading international Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) event, held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from 17th-19th April 2013.

There, the company will launch its latest MICE promotion, “Dusit Fine Selection.” Meetings and events booked from 17th April - 30th June 2013 and held between 1st May - 30th October 2013 at participating hotels and resorts will count as one entry towards a lucky draw. The grand prize is a five nights’ stay in a 2-bedroom villa at the luxurious Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, including round-trip air fare from the winner’s home country. Aside from the lucky draw, the promotion also offers various complimentary inclusions for organizers to choose from, such as additional room allocations, room upgrades or special dining add-ons.

Dusit International also intends to emphasize its commitment to the Chinese market by reinforcing its announcement of a joint venture agreement, signed with a local Chinese partner earlier this year. The agreement created the Dusit Fudu International Hotel Management Company, which will oversee a minimum of 10 hotel developments over the next five years. Cities targeted by the new hotel management company include Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Hainan. Currently, Dusit International has planned a presence in Hainan and Qingyuan with its Dusit Thani and Dusit Devarana resort brands, slated to open soon. By 2020, the aggregate number of Dusit-branded hotel rooms in China will number approximately 5,000.

In recent weeks, the company has also added a Beijing Regional Sales Office to its Chinese operations, in addition to its established Shanghai Regional Sales Office. Here, Ms Margaret Zhang was named Regional Director of Sales, Northern China. A PRC national, she previously held the position of Director of Key Accounts for Banyan Tree’s Beijing Sales Office and will be responsible for driving outbound sales on behalf of Dusit International from her Beijing base.

Additional efforts made by Dusit International’s hotels and resorts to cater to the Chinese traveler range from Chinese-speaking staff, television channels, meals and teas at select resorts to promotional offers with various high-profile Chinese partners including UnionPay, Ping An Bank, and most recently, the world’s largest bank, ICBC.

Dusit Thani Qingyuan, China

“An event like IT&CM China is great for us as a group, as it is a way to increase brand awareness and meet with a variety of established and potential trade partners,” says George Cao, Regional Director of Sales, Dusit International. “We are pleased to participate this year, sharing the news about our expansion plans which include 16 hotels in the pipeline, as well as our focus on the promising emerging market that is China.”