Continuing in this pioneering spirit, Thanpuying Chanut embarked upon a luxurious city-center property, Dusit Thani Bangkok, which has become the company's flagship hotel. Dusit Thani Bangkok 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 Thailand'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 VI 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 Company 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 a 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.
Expanding footprints in Thailand and overseas
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. In order to meet the high Dusit standards, the Manila hotel also underwent a major renovation program and became Dusit Thani Manila in April 2008.
In early 2001, Dusit Thani Dubai 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, the Company 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.
Dusit International also proudly includes Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts, offering first-class, affordable 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. The Company currently owns 3 Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts in Thailand; Dusit Princess Srinakarin, Bangkok, Dusit Princess Korat, and Dusit Princess Chiang Mai.
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, opened in 2013.
To expand Dusit International’s footprints in China, Dusit Fudu Management Co., Ltd. – a hotel management joint venture between the Company and China-based Changzhou Qiao Yu Group – was established in 2013. dusitD2 Fudu Binhu, opened in July 2013, marked Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts' first project in China, as well as the first Dusit-branded hotel to open in the Chinese market.
Through the years, Dusit International aims to provide the travelers with a unique experience and deliver quality that always excels. It is this total focus on serving the needs, and anticipating the desires of our customers, which has set us apart from the more uniform chain operations. With a team of dedicated professional and experienced managers, Dusit International has built upon a heritage of Thai traditions to create a personal experience that is unique to Dusit; in short, an experience that enlivens the individual spirit no matter what their journey.
Educational pioneering spirit
In order to support Dusit International's expansion and provide the best education in the hospitality industry - from basic to top-level knowledge, Thanpuying Chanut set up Dusit Thani College in 1993. Dusit Thani College has since become the leading center of hospitality learning regionally, and the first institution of its kind to gain recognition from the Thai Ministry of Education.
In 2009, Dusit Thani College initiated a program with Lyceum University in the Philippines to prepare the young people of today for an exciting career in hospitality services in the future. Lyceum University has commenced the first Dusit Thani College - Lyceum University Program in June 2009 with over 4,000 enrolments, which exceeded all expectations for the program’s inaugural enrolment.
In the same educational pioneering spirit, Dusit International has forged an alliance with Le Cordon Bleu, the world's largest, and 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, offering a wide range and scope of gourmet short courses and highly sophisticated Le Cordon Bleu three-month courses, including the Classic French Course-Superior Cuisine. Furthermore, the school also offers English-language Tourism and Hospitality courses - basic, intermediate and advanced lasting 10 weeks each.
In 2015, Dusit Thani Hotel School was established to address the lack of trained talents in the growing hospitality industry. It is Thailand’s first paperless and cloud-based vocational hospitality school, with content based on ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals and certificates recognized across the ASEAN countries.