Dusit International

Dusit International's FY2017 revenues were 5,570 million baht, up from 2016's 5,425 million. Net profits in FY2017 doubled from 2016: from 152 million baht to 332 million. Total assets rose to 9,978 million baht. Total liabilities rose to 4,098 million baht.{{cite web |title=Financial Highlights |url=http://dtc.listedcompany.com/financial_highlights.html |website=Dusit International |access-date=2018-12-27}}{{RP|8}}

The top seven Dusit International executives' remuneration in FY2016 was 57.13 million baht in salary and benefits, up from 32.51 million baht paid to eight executives in 2015.{{RP|57}}

Dusit Thani PCL has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) since 1975. Its shares are not actively traded.

The group's origin dates back to 1948 when Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, opened her first hotel, the "Princess" in Bangkok.{{cite news|title=Thanpying Chanut Piyaoui—35 Most influential Thais|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/35persons/images/74chanut.pdf|work=The Nation|date=1 July 2006|access-date=23 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012173938/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/35persons/images/74chanut.pdf|archive-date=12 October 2012}} It had only 30 rooms but had the distinction of being the first modern hotel in Bangkok with a swimming pool.

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 1918, he created a utopian miniature city near Lumpini Park and named it Dusit Thani meaning "town in heaven". In Thai, Dusit is the mythological name for the fourth of the seven levels of heaven.{{cite news|title=Company Background, One of Asia's Leading Hotel Brands|url=http://dtc.listedcompany.com/company_background.html|publisher=Dusit Thani Public Company Limited|access-date=23 November 2017}}

In 1970, the 23 storey Dusit Thani Bangkok became the company's first flagship hotel.{{cite news |last1=Phataranawik |first1=Phatarawadee |title=Farewell to an icon |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/Tourism/30360913 |access-date=2018-12-22 |work=The Nation |date=2018-12-22}} The 510-room hotel was the first luxury hotel and the tallest building in Bangkok for several years.{{cite web|title='Why shouldn't I be the one to build it?'|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/-why-shouldn-t-i-be-one-build-it--197075.html|work=Arabian Business|date=21 November 2007|access-date=23 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530200713/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/-why-shouldn-t-i-be-one-build-it--197075.html|archive-date=30 May 2016}} In 2017 it was announced that the hotel would be demolished in April 2018. That date has been postponed for eight months: final checkout at the Dusit Thani will be at 14:00, 5 January 2019. The rebuilt hotel will open as part of a 36.7 billion baht mixed-use project to be built in partnership with Central Pattana PLC.{{cite news|last1=Sritama|first1=Suchat|title=Final check-out at landmark Dusit Thani postponed|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1389682/final-check-out-at-landmark-dusit-thani-postponed|access-date=4 January 2018|work=Bangkok Post|date=3 January 2018}} When an entirely new Dusit Thani reopens its doors after a three-four year construction period, it will be taller but with fewer rooms – about 300 compared with the current 510.

In 1987, Dusit acquired its first resort property, Dusit Thani Pattaya, followed by another beach resort in Phuket Province, the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.{{cite web|title=Company Background|url=http://dtc.listedcompany.com/company_background.html|website=Dusit International|access-date=23 April 2016}} In 1989, Dusit Thani Hua Hin, formerly known as the Dusit Resort and Polo Club, opened. Royal Princess Chiang Mai was opened in Chiang Mai in 1991, followed by the Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai.

In 1995, Dusit International acquired the Hotel Nikko Manila{{cite news|title=Asian Hotel Chains|url=http://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Travel-News/Asian-Hotel-Chains|work=Travel Weekly Asia|access-date=16 June 2016|date=11 April 2012}} by purchasing shares in the holding company, Philippine Hoteliers, Inc. (PHI), from Japan Airlines Development Company Limited and JAL Trading Inc. After the acquisition, the Hotel Nikko Manila came under the management of Dusit Thani Hotels and Resorts, and was renamed the Dusit Hotel Nikko, Manila.{{cite web|title=The History of Dusit Hotels|url=http://balancingontwofeet.com/content/history-dusit-hotels|access-date=16 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809174243/http://balancingontwofeet.com/content/history-dusit-hotels|archive-date=9 August 2016}} The Manila hotel underwent a major renovation programme and became Dusit Thani Manila in April 2008.{{cite news|last=Fischer|first=Joachim|title=Dusit International – One of Asia's Leading Hotel Brands|url=http://tourism-insider.com/en/2011/09/english-dusit-international-one-of-asia%E2%80%99s-leading-hotel-brands/|access-date=16 June 2016|work=Tourism-Insider|date=30 September 2011}} It 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.{{cite web|title=Outrageous and Erroneous Supreme Court Ruling on Dusit Hotel case discussed in Church-Labor Conference congress|website=Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN)|location=Manila|url=http://www.learn.org.ph/2011/10/outrageous-and-erroneous-supreme-court-ruling/|access-date=16 June 2016}}

In November 2006, Dusit Thani added a brand extension, the Dusit Lifestyle Collection with dusitD2 hotels and resorts. dusitD2 is the second generation brand of Dusit Thani Hotels and Resorts.{{cite news|last= Dayrit|first=Christine S|title=Dusit Thani: Town in Heaven|url=http://www.philstar.com/travel-and-tourism/52899/dusit-thani-town-heaven|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=16 June 2016|date=30 March 2008}}{{cite news|title=dusitD2 hotels + resorts = Dusit Lifestyle Collection|url=http://www.eturbonews.com/900/dusitd2-hotels-resorts-dusit-lifestyle-collection|access-date=16 June 2016|date=18 January 2008}} The first property in the dusitD2 collection opened in November 2006 in Chiang Mai.{{cite news|title=Dusit Unveils New Brand in Chiang Mai|url=http://hotelexecutive.com/newswire/2345/dusit-unveils-new-brand-in-chiang-mai|access-date=16 June 2016|work=Hotel Business Review|date=30 November 2006}} The second dusitD2 hotel, dusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya, was opened in February 2009.

Dusit International's portfolio includes Dusit Princess Hotels and Resorts. The rebirth of the original Princess hotel came with the 1989 opening of the Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkok,.{{cite news|title=Dusit International – Asia's Leading Hotel Brands|url=http://tourism-insider.com/en/2009/10/dusit-international-asiens-fuehrende-hotelmarken/|access-date=16 June 2016|date=25 October 2009}} There are seven Dusit Princess properties in Thailand.{{cite web|title=Dusit Princess Hotels & Resorts|url=http://www.dusit-international.com/hoteldivision/dusitprincess/|access-date=16 June 2016}} The first Dusit Princess outside Thailand, Dusit Princess City Centre, Dubai, opened in December 2009.{{cite news|title=Dusit International Opens Dusit Princess City Centre|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/dusit-international-opens-dusit-princess-city-centre|access-date=16 June 2016|work=Khaleej Times|date=2 December 2009}}

Dusit Thani Dongtai was the first Dusit Thani to launch in China.{{cite news|title=China's First Dusit Thani Hotel Debuts in Jiangsu Province|url=http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4073809.html}}{{cite news|title=Dusit International to open first property in China|url=http://www.businesstraveller.com/asia-pacific/news/dusit-international-to-open-first-property-in-c|access-date=16 June 2016|publisher=BusinessTraveller.com|date=12 November 2009}} Dusit Thani Fudu Qingfeng and dusitD2 Fudu Binhu Hotel also opened in 2016 followed by Dusit Thani Dongtai.

The group's other business are hotel management of both Thai and overseas properties, and education, through the Dusit Thani College and a Bangkok culinary school joint venture with Le Cordon Bleu of France. In 1993, Thanpuying Chanut founded Dusit Thani College.{{cite news|title=Dusit Thani College's newest Campus in Pattaya City Opens in June 2011|url=http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4050927.html|access-date=16 June 2016|date=8 April 2011}} In 2009 it initiated a programme with Lyceum of the Philippines University. Additionally, the college opened its new campus in Pattaya in 2011.

In August 2007, the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School opened, making it the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region.{{cite news| title=The Threat Underground – Will Bangkok's venerable Dusit Thani close? |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/97/0502/biz5.html |publisher=CNN|date=30 November 2000|access-date=23 April 2016}}{{failed verification|date=August 2017}}

Besides these, The Dusit Executive Development Center (DEDC) was established in 2005 as a subsidiary of Dusit Thani Public Co., Ltd. to provide executive training and development courses to individuals and various organisations.{{cite news|title=Dusit establishes Training and Development Company|url=http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4024640.html|access-date=16 June 2016|work=Hospitality Net|date=21 September 2005}}

The dusitD2 Hotel in Nairobi was the scene of the 2019 Nairobi hotel attack.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46880375|title=Nairobi DusitD2 hotel under attack as blasts and gunfire heard|date=15 January 2019|publisher=BBC News|access-date=15 January 2019}}

In April 2018, Dusit International introduced a new mid-market brand called ASAI Hotels{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1440271/dusit-launches-asai-with-millennial-focus|title=Dusit launches Asai with millennial focus |newspaper=Bangkok Post|date=4 April 2018 |access-date=2019-11-11 |last1=Sritama |first1=Suchat }}

As of 2019, Dusit International has 36 properties in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, United States, China, Bhutan, Maldives, Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt and Kenya. Its brands include Dusit Thani Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Princess Hotels and Resorts, dusitD2 Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Devarana Hotels and Resorts and ASAI Hotels.

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Category:Hospitality companies of Bangkok

Category:Companies based in Bangkok

Category:Hospitality companies established in 1948

Category:1948 establishments in Thailand

Category:Companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand

Category:Thai brands

Category:Hotel chains