Dusit PulseMay 2018 News and updates from Corporate HQ W RLD ONE DUSIT Our global expansion continues apace PLUS Dusit plans to enter food business Building the hotel leaders of the future Dusit flies high with THAI DusitInsider Pulse 1 Warm greetings and welcome Warm greetings to Dusit Pulse – the brand new from name of our quarterly newsletter designed to keep you up to date Dusit International with all of Dusit’s most important news. Much has happened since our first newsletter earlier this year. From our strategic investment in the food industry (page 3) to the launch a new hotel brand (page 12), we have made excellent progress in line with our strategy for sustainable and profitable growth – and the Dusit family is growing. Alongside continuing to sign new projects in key and emerging markets worldwide, this year we will open our first hotels in Vietnam, Bhutan and Bahrain, as well as expand our presence in China and Philippines. We cele- brate this fact with a showcase of some of the upcoming properties on pages 6 – 9. To enhance our capacity to deliver impressive results at each of our hotels and resorts, we have rolled out a new program designed to identify talented individuals and equip them with the skills they need to inspire, mo- tivate and lead successful teams – thereby maintaining high levels of guest satisfaction and building customer loyalty (see page 10). We have also continued to secure top talent to enhance our operations at a corporate level. This includes welcoming Khun Marc Hediger, a seasoned hotel development leader with more than 30 years of managerial and operational experience, as our new Senior Vice President of Devel- opment. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure to meet him yet, flip to page 5 where you’ll find a handy introduction. Working as a global team, every strategic decision we make is always designed to create long-lasting value for all of our partners. From arranging roadshows in India, one of the world’s fastest growing markets (page 11), to hosting our annual GM and sales and marketing workshops (page 14), to creating new digital channels to promote our global destinations (page 4), we remain committed to pursuing continuous market growth for each and every one of our hotels and resorts. We are delighted, and honored, to have you with us on this journey. Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International 2 Dusit Pulse NEWS Dusit plans to expand into food business with strategic investment in NR Instant Produce Development is in line with company’s strategy to diversify its lines of business and generate revenue from adjacent industries usit recently invested approximately “With our expertise and experience in F&B, there is 660 million baht for an approximate huge growth potential for our company in the food 26% share in NR Instant Produce Co., business,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO. Ltd., (NRIP), a well-known producer and “With time, we hope to create a partnership with NRIP exporter of ready to cook, ready meals, to develop a line of Dusit-branded, premium products Dseasoning powders, dipping sauces, drinks and juices. for local and international consumer markets.” To invest in NRIP, whose signature brands include Por Ms Suphajee added that the investment in NRIP would Kwan, Lee, Thai Delight, DEDE, and Shanggie, Dusit strengthen Dusit’s investment portfolio, and is in line has established Dusit Foods Co., Ltd., a new subsidiary with the company’s long-term operating plan which designed to leverage Dusit’s rich experience in food and comprises five approaches: 1. Efficiently manage ex- beverage service. The investment approval process was isting assets and provide appropriate returns; 2. Expand completed at the end of March. its hotel business in Thailand and overseas; 3. Diversify its lines of business to mitigate risk; 4. Expand its cus- The investment forms part of Dusit’s three-pronged tomer base and enhance brand image worldwide; and, strategy for sustainable and profitable growth, which 5. Strengthen its management and operation teams to includes balance, expansion, and diversification. Invest- expedite business expansion. ment in NRIP is considered Dusit’s first investment in an entirely non-hotel related business. DusitInsider Pulse 3 Promoting the best of each destination online Stunning photography, destination tips, and user-submitted videos are just three of the highlights of the new Dusit Journey ou may have noticed a change in this year’s official Dusit Calendar. Gone are the demure Yand attractive ladies in traditional Thai dress; in are the stunning locations where Dusit has – and will soon have – a presence. Designed to go beyond the limitations of a traditional calendar and promote and celebrate Dusit’s ever-growing global reach, the calendar includes striking photography of Central Thailand, Maldives, Philippines, Middle East, Northern Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, USA, China, Thailand Beaches, and Bhutan. Scan the QR codes on each location using a smartphone or tablet (within Facebook, Line or any other QR scanner app), and you will be redirected to a new online platform featuring Dusit’s own captivating clips and user-sub- mitted videos, as well as a wealth of information about local attractions. The Dusit Journey website is just one of the ways Dusit is embracing technology to add value above and beyond a traditional stay by linking guests to truly local experiences. By subtly educating the market about Dusit’s international growth, Dusit Journey is also designed to drive demand for Dusit’s various destinations. Two English versions of the calendar are printed – one for Thailand, the other for international distribution (featuring corresponding public holidays). There is also a separate calendar produced for China. The Dusit Journey website is available in English and Chinese. Soon, direct links to its content will be available in the Dusit app. Here is a teaser video highlighting some of the user submitted content featured throughout the website. (If you’re reading the print version, you can see the video at dusitjourney.com). 4 Dusit Pulse NEWS In Dusit’s pursuit of hospitality excellence, the company remains committed to securing and developing top talent at its corporate office as Introducing well as its hotels and resorts worldwide. With that in mind, we are delighted to introduce the latest newcomer to Dusit’s executive team, Dusit’s new Marc Hediger. Khun Marc is a seasoned hotel development leader with more than 30 years of managerial Senior Vice and operational experience. During his career he has worked as general manager for several Hyatt hotels worldwide, and he spent eight President of years as Senior Vice President and Director of Development Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Hong Kong. During his time at the company, Development: Shangri-La increased its management contracts from two to 25 hotels, and doubled its number of owned properties to 70. Marc Hediger He spent almost two years as Senior Vice President – Property Development – New World Hospitality, Hong Kong, overseeing the launch of Pentahotels and establishing the new Rosewood brand, and prior to joining Dusit, he was CEO of Lanson Place Hospitality Man- agement, Hong Kong, where he successfully doubled its number of luxury hotels from six to 12 properties. Khun Marc is now responsible for taking the lead of Dusit’s Hotel Development and will oversee the department’s global operations, including Asia Pacific (excluding China) and EMEA. A Swiss national, Khun Marc holds a Diplôme d’Études Supérieurs from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. Throughout his career he has completed, and conducted, various executive management training courses and seminars. DusitInsider Pulse 5 W RLD ONE DUSIT n line with our strategy to double our number of hotel rooms in operation, I we are making great progress. Last year, Dusit’s Development team signed 17 properties across Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, DESTINATION Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam, and our number of hotels in operation is now set to surpass 70 within the next three years. Alongside continuing to sign new projects SUCCESS in key and emerging markets worldwide, Dusit’s global expansion this year we will open our first hotels in Vietnam, Bhutan and Bahrain, as well as continues apace… expand our presence in China and the Philippines. Listed here are just few of the hotels we will welcome soon to the Dusit family. We’ll feature more in our next issue. Country debut! Country debut! Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach dusitD2 Resort & Spa Vung Tau Resort Phu Quoc Location: Vietnam Location: Vietnam Partners: Ha Dat Company Limited Partners: Linh Chi Limited Company Business Model: HMA Business Model: Franchise Keys: 100 Keys: 108 In brief: Situated approximately 90km from In brief: Dusit will make its Vietnam debut Ho Chi Minh City in the south of Vietnam, with a hotel on the country’s largest island, Vung Tau is spectacularly located on a peninsula Phu Quoc, an up-and-coming tourist destination with extensive beaches. The upscale dusitD2 known for its long, sweeping beaches, rich Vung Tau is located on the west of the peninsula coral reefs, and dense tropical jungle. approximately 10 minutes by car from Vung Tau center. 6 Dusit Pulse FEATURE Country debut! Country debut! dusitD2 Sunset Road, Bali dusitD2 The Fort, Manila Location: Indonesia Location: Philippines Partners: PT. Merpati Abadi Sejahtera and Partners: Bonifacio Civic Center PT. Ayana Realty Holdings Inc. Business Model: HMA Business Model: HMA Keys: 282 Keys: 125 In brief: Located in the heart of a vibrant In brief: Fully integrated with the pioneering shopping, dining and leisure district near the Dusit Hospitality Management College upmarket and fashionable Seminyak town, Manila (DHMCM), this distinctive hotel the hotel is just 15 minutes by car from the is located in the heart of Bonifacio Global sandy Kuta Beach, Double Six Beach, the City – a major financial district also known beachfront Beachwalk shopping mall, Mal as The Fort, where business, commerce Bali Galeria shopping mall, and the lively and lifestyle combine to create a vibrant Legian beachfront area.