Dusit Thani Group - History

History

The group's origin dates back to 1948 when Honorary Chairperson, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, opened her first hotel, the “Princess” in Bangkok.

Thanpuying Chanut embarked upon a luxurious city-centre property, Dusit Thani Bangkok, which has become the company’s flagship hotel. Dusit Thani first opened in February 1970.

The company takes its name and much of its character from the ideas of King Rama VI, whose thoughts on the modern state blended Western and Thai influences. In 1987, Dusit acquired a hotel which was renovated to become the first resort property, Dusit Thani Pattaya, followed by another beach resort in Phuket – Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. In 1989, Dusit Thani Hua Hin opened (earlier known as Dusit Resort and Polo Club). Royal Princess Chiang Mai was opened in Chiang Mai, capital of the north in 1991, followed by a second northern hotel in Chiang Rai – Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai opened the same year.

In 1995, 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. The Manila hotel underwent a major renovation programme and became Dusit Thani Manila in April 2008. The Manila hotel is known for the Supreme Court ruling on "Illegal Strike" which considered the shaving of heads by the employees of Dusit Hotel as tantamount to committing strike. The issue has been protested widely in the Philippines especially with the International Labour Organization's findings that the Philippine government and the Supreme Court violated the workers' right to freedom of expression and association and redefined the meaning of strike. So far, Dusit Thani Hotel in Manila is on the watchlist of the ILO and other labor solidarity networks.

In early 2001, Dusit Thani Dubai opened, adding the Middle East to the Dusit portfolio. In 2005, Dusit set up the Middle East Regional Office also in Dubai, covering the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries.

In November 2006, Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts added a brand extension – the Dusit Lifestyle Collection with dusitD2 hotels & resorts. dusitD2 is the second generation brand of Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts. The first property in the dusitD2 collection opened in November 2006 in the historical city of Chiang Mai. The second dusitD2 hotel - dusitD2 baraquda pattaya was officially launched in February 2009.

In addition to the Dusit sub-brand extension, the company introduced Dusit Residence Serviced Apartments. Pearl Coast Premier Hotel Apartments, Dubai, United Arab Emirates was opened in January 2007, followed by Dusit Residence Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates in 2008.

Dusit International portfolio also includes Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts. 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. There are currently 7 Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts in Thailand. The first Dusit Princess outside Thailand, Dusit Princess City Centre, Dubai opened in December 2009.

In 2007, Dusit entered into a joint venture agreement with Bird Hospitality Services (BHS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bird Group – one of India’s largest hospitality technology companies, to bring the collection of Dusit International property brands to India. The first hotel, Dusit Devarana New Delhi is expected to open soon, followed by the first dusitD2 hotel outside Thailand – dusitD2 new delhi, Dusit Devarana Jaipur, Dusit Devarana Rishikesh, and Dusit Thani Goa.

Dusit International also announces its first step in China - Dusit Thani Sanya as well as other projects in the pipeline, including Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Dusit Residence West Bay Doha, Dusit Thani Dilmunia Bahrain, and Dusit Thani Jeddah.

In 1993, Thanpuying Chanut also founded Dusit Thani College. In 2009 Dusit Thani College initiated a programme with Lyceum of the Philippines University. Lyceum of the Philippines University commenced the first Dusit Thani College – LPU programme in June 2009 with over 4,000 enrollments. Additionally, Dusit Thani College opened its new campus in Pattaya in 2011. LPU, the leading university in Philippine Hospitality Education, has 4 major campuses located in Manila, Batangas, Cavite and Laguna.

Dusit International also formed an alliance with Le Cordon Bleu, the world’s largest, distinguished culinary arts institute in Paris. In August 2007, the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School opened, making it the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region.

Besides Dusit Thani College and the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit joint venture, the Dusit Executive Development Center Co., Ltd. (DEDC) was established in 2005 and a subsidiary of Dusit Thani Public Co., Ltd., provides executive training courses and customise programmes to individuals and various organisations specialising in, or dealing with, the hospitality industry.