Keeping expansion plans under wraps since mid-2006, Dusit International – Dusit’s operating arm of hotel service business – unveiled vital new development projects within Thailand and in other parts of the Asian region in 2007.

Dusit’s mid scale brand, Royal Princess Hotels & Resorts, will manage its first resort property, Princess Resort, Koh Chang, opening in August this year. The resort is located on Ao Bai Lan and will have a total of 96 accommodation units.

Koh Chang, second only to Phuket as the largest island in the country, is fast becoming a major tourist destination due to its teeming wildlife and marine life, as well as a national marine park that occupies 80% of the island. It is easily accessible by a 45 minutes flight from Bangkok, with a further 45 minutes ferry and transfer. Moving towards the Middle East, Dusit is poised to also firm its presence there.

According to Dusit International CEO and Managing Director, Mr Chanin Donavanik, these upcoming developments will provide Dusit with a stronger foothold in the Middle East market, which is part of the Thai hotel chain’s expansion plans since it set up its Middle East Regional Office in Dubai in mid-2005. Coupled with the existing over 300-room Dusit Dubai hotel, Dusit’s latest various project agreements will make Dusit’s presence in the Middle East much stronger.

The Dusit Palm Island project comprises two hotels, the luxurious 6-star Dusit Devarana and the Dusit Thani, plus the exclusive Dusit Residence. The Dusit Devarana is a luxury hotel with Indian-inspired architecture while the Dusit Thani is a family resort.

Sam-Erik Ruttmann, Regional Vice President-Dusit Middle East Office, said, “We are excited about these opportunities to expand the Dusit brands and the gracious style of Thai hospitality particularly in the Middle East, where personal service is an integral part of the Arabic culture of hospitality.”

Further afield in the Asian region, Dusit has recently entered into a joint venture agreement with Bird Hospitality Services (BHS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bird Group - one of India’s largest diversified groups in the aviation, travel and information technology arena.

Under this agreement, Bird is committed to develop six 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts in New Delhi, Goa, Rishikesh, Pune, Amritsar and Jaipur, providing Dusit the possibility to manage or franchise several hotels in India.