DUSIT International is accelerating its overseas expansion plans, roping in veteran hotelier Giovanni Angelini as its new vice-chairman, and growing its presence in China by opening two offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Angelini, retired CEO of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and presently CEO of Hong Kong-based Angelini Hospitality, will be looking after all overseas expansion of the Thai hotel chain. Dusit now operates and manages 22 properties in four countries and plans to open 10 more hotels in six countries.
In a bid to expand its footprint in China, Dusit will be opening a regional sales office in Shanghai on July 1 and a development office in Hong Kong on May 1, joining its existing regional sales office in Hong Kong. The group has also added Mandarin pages to its website and appointed Mandarin-speaking associates at properties in key locations.
China has been one of Dusit’s fastest growing markets in terms of visitor numbers to its properties in Thailand, Manila and Dubai over the past few years, according to the chain’s sales and marketing vice-president, Jennifer Cronin.
Cronin said Chinese guests at Dusit Thani Dubai accounted for eight per cent of the property’s business in the first quarter of this year, up from one per cent over the same period last year, while Dusit Thani Pattaya saw year-on-year growth of three to six per cent from the same market.
By Sirima Eamtako
