BANGKOK—With a property in Southern California already under renovation, Dusit International is looking to break into other global markets.
Bangkok-based Dusit recently announced its plans to enter the U.S. hotel market with its first dusitD2 brand outside of Asia—the 136-room dusitD2 Pasadena (formerly the Hotel Constance). The company’s management team declined to identify what renovations are being made to the property or how much is being invested.
The property is expected to open after extensive renovations and refits by the third quarter of 2012.
“A dusitD2 location needs to be a proven destination for business or leisure, and the hotel should be located in a stepping distance to key attractions or the surrounding activity,” Dusit CEO Chanin Donavanik said in an email.
“The hotel site is in an excellent location and will take advantage of the surrounding commercial, financial and entertainment precincts,” he added. “We believe that our stylish dusitD2 brand and the warmth of Thai hospitality will quickly make dusitD2 Pasadena the place to be and pave the way for Dusit’s future expansion into this region.”
Further growth
As Donavanik alluded, Dusit, which has 21 hotels comprising 4,850 rooms under its umbrella, has additional growth on its mind. Hotels in development, excluding the Pasadena property, include:
- Bahrain: Dusit Thani Dilmunia Bahrain
- China: Dusit Thani Sanya
- India: Dusit Devarana New Delhi; Dusit Devarana Jaipur; Dusit Devarana Rishikesh; Dusit Thani Goa; dusitD2 New Delhi
- Maldives: Dusit Thani Maldives, Mudhdhoo, Baa Atoll
- Saudi Arabia: Dusit Thani Jeddah
- Thailand: Dusit Devarana - Phang Nga
- United Arab Emirates: Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi
Donavanik declined to say how much investment and how many rooms are represented in this development pipeline.
Dusit also is planning further development in North America. The company plans to introduce its Dusit Thani, dusitD2 and Dusit Princess Hotels and Resorts in other U.S. cities, Donavanik said.
New York will be a particular focus, Donavanik wrote.
“Dusit is taking a selective approach to ensure that the chosen projects are a proper fit for Dusit’s brands, the market condition and the strategic and financial objectives of Dusit and our investment partners,” Donavanik said. “Dusit's USA development team is currently considering a number of opportunities and hope to have further announcements by the end of the year.”