History

INTRODUCING THAILAND’S PREMIER HOTEL COMPANY

Dusit Group (now Dusit International) draws upon more than 50 years experience in the hotel and hospitality field.  The group’s origin dates back to 1949 when Honorary Chairperson, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, opened her first hotel, the “Princess” on Bangkok’s New Road. This successful venture represented a major breakthrough for Thailand’s hospitality industry creating and evolving what is today the nation’s leading hotel company.

Continuing in this pioneering spirit, Thanpuying Chanut embarked upon a luxurious city-centre property, the Dusit Thani Bangkok, which has become the company’s flagship hotel.  Dusit Thani opened in February 1970 and from the beginning achieved widespread popularity, setting new standards for hospitality.  Since then, despite increased competition and the unprecedented scale of new hotel construction, Dusit Thani has remained at the forefront of Bangkok’s quality hotels.

The essence of Dusit Thani is best symbolized by the statue of King Rama VI, which stands just across the street.  King Rama IV devised a Utopian concept in 1918, named Dusit Thani, meaning “Town in Heaven”.  To Thais, the word “Dusit” has two very special connotations.  First, Dusit is the mythological name for the fourth of the seven levels of heaven.  Second, King Rama VI took the name adding “Thani,” meaning “Town” in Thai, to be the title of a model city for democratic society where everyone would live in happiness and freedom.

The hotel takes not only its name, but also much of its character, from the ideas of King Rama VI, whose thoughts on the modern state blended Western and Thai influences.  Thus the architecture of the Dusit Thani hotel displays contemporary lines that nonetheless echo traditional Thai style.  Similarly, the interior design exemplifies genuine Thai artwork and reflects classical Thai motifs, while the facilities and amenities surpass the highest expectations of modern deluxe hospitality.

Following more than a decade of success with the Dusit Thani, Dusit International began to explore expansion opportunities beyond Bangkok.  In 1987, Dusit recognized tourist trends towards resort style accommodations and acquired a hotel which was renovated to become the first resort property, Dusit Thani Pattaya, followed by another beach resort in Phuket.  In 1989, the prestigious Dusit Resort and Polo Club opened in Cha-Am/Hua Hin (now renamed Dusit Thani Hua Hin).  A hotel was opened in Chiang Mai, capital of the north, in 1991, followed by a second northern hotel in Chiang Rai that same year.
 
Also in 1991, Dusit entered the international arena through a partnership with three other international companies to create Melrose Investment Partnership, which acquired the Melrose Hotel in Dallas, Texas (USA).  The shareholding of the US property was subsequently sold following years of successful operation.  Following this was the opening of the Dusit Balikpapan in Balikpapan, Indonesia in 1994; and a second property, the Dusit Mangga Dua, in Jakarta, Indonesia.  [From 1 March 2006, Dusit and the Indonesian owning company, PT Duta Pertiwi Tbk, mutually agreed not to extend the franchise agreement for the two hotels.]  Also in 1994, Dusit acquired the German-based Kempinski group of hotels; and Dusit was responsible for managing all its hotels, including Kempinski Airport Munich.  With the onset of the Asian economic crisis in 1997, Dusit decided to sell its shares.

In 1995, the Dusit International acquired the Hotel Nikko Manila by purchasing shares in the holding company, Philippine Hoteliers Inc. (PHI), from Japan Airlines Development Company Limited and JAL Trading Inc.  The Hotel Nikko Manila came under the management of Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts, and was renamed the Dusit Hotel Nikko, Manila.  In order to meet the high Dusit standards, the Manila hotel also underwent a major renovation program.

In early 2001, the Dusit Thani Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened, adding a vital important new market, the Middle East, to the Dusit portfolio. The majority of Dusit Thani Dubai staff and employees were recruited from Thailand itself, thus ensuring a perfect transfer of the warmth and charm of traditional Thai hospitality.  In 2005, Dusit set up the Middle East Regional Office also in Dubai, covering the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, to meet the challenges of the fast growing hospitality industry there.

In November 2006, Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts added a brand extension – the Dusit Lifestyle Collection with dusitD2 hotels & resorts.  D2 is the second generation brand of Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts, representing a new concept in balance between tradition and trend, with international high standards and warm hospitality that is distinctly Thai.  The first property in the D2 collection opened in November 2006 in the historical city of Chiang Mai.  The dusitD2 chiang mai is a ‘D’ynamic, ‘D’esirable and ‘D’lightful blend of serenity, individuality and modernity that is authentically Thai.  In 2008 and 2009, dusitD2 in Pattaya and Samui will open respectively. 

Within Thailand, Dusit International also proudly includes Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts, offering first-class, moderately priced accommodation in primary and secondary destinations throughout the country.  Each is unique to their location and serves a particular city or market segment.

The rebirth of the spirit of the original Princess hotel came with the 1989 opening of the Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkok, a boutique-style hotel opened near the city’s Grand Palace and now the flagship of the Dusit Princess group of hotels.  There are currently 10 Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts only in Thailand; with the latest addition and first Princess resort being Dusit Princess Koh Chang opening 1st November 2007.

Concerned with providing the best education - from basic to top-level knowledge - in the hospitality industry has spurred Thanpuying Chanut to set up the Dusit Thani College, founded in 1993 and has since become the leading centre of hospitality learning regionally, and the first institution of its kind to gain recognition from the Thai Ministry of Education. 

In the same educational pioneering spirit, Dusit International has forged an alliance with Le Cordon Bleu, the world's largest, distinguished culinary arts institute in Paris. Early in 2007, the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School opened, making it the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region.  Offering a wide range and scope of Gourmet short courses and highly sophisticated Le Cordon Bleu 3-month courses including the Classic French Course-Superior Cuisine.  Furthermore, the school will also offer English-language Tourism and Hospitality courses - basic, intermediate and advanced lasting 10 weeks each.  The Dusit Thani College currently offers an international Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration in Kitchen and Restaurant Management, also in association with Le Cordon Bleu.

Besides the Dusit Thani College and the new Le Cordon Bleu Dusit joint venture, the Dusit Executive Development Center Co., Ltd. (DEDC), established in 2005 and a subsidiary of Dusit Thani Public Co., Ltd., provides top-level executive training courses and customize programs to individuals and various organizations specializing in, or dealing with, the hospitality industry. DEDC’s managerial and executive level tailor-made courses have been praised for their dynamic approach - the Center actively collaborates with leading institutes and universities, committed as it is to provide the most reliable quality and solid expertise in the hospitality industry.

Dusit International now has a unique portfolio of deluxe hotels. Comprehensive distribution is matched only by unbeatable service.  Dusit’s aim is to provide the traveller with a consistently high quality hotel experience.  It is this total focus on serving the needs, and anticipating the desires, of our customers, which has set the Dusit International apart from the more uniform chain operations.  With a team of dedicated professional and experienced managers, Dusit International has built upon ancient Thai traditions to create a personal experience that is unique to the chain; in short, an experience that enlivens the individual spirit no matter what their journey.

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