TravTalk India Online Magazine
Dusit Hotels offers a personalised experience with focus on providing a local feel while catering to different groups of Indian travellers. The Thailand based brand, which emphasizes on wellness and sustainability, and specializes in hosting weddings and M!CE events, plans to expand its presence in India and Nepal working with travel trade partners.
Janice Alyosius
The Indian travel market has become an essential part of the business mix for Thailand based Dusit Hotels. With more Indians travelling to destinations like Thailand, Maldives, and UAE, Dusit focuses on providing a personalized and tailored experience to service different groups of Indian travellers. This includes small touches like Indian breakfast items, up to hosting Indian weddings, a popular choice for couples from India.
More than just a hotel stay
Dusit Hotels aims to provide a local experience, which is beyond just Thai hospitality. Nichlas Maratos, Vice President Commercial, Dusit Hotels and Resorts, said, “An Indian traveller going to the Maldives is looking for a Maldivian experience, and Dusit Hotels aims to bring these experiences to life in all their hotels, providing guests with a local feel for where they are staying. The brand ensures that every location offers a local feel for the guests to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of the place they are visiting. The brand’s focus on Thai hospitality is renowned, but we also offer a Maldivian experience for Indian travellers going to the Maldives.”
Wellness and sustainability
The pandemic heightened awareness for personal well-being, leading the brand to place a greater emphasis on wellness. “Our focus on wellness extends beyond the traditional spa services and can be incorporated throughout the entire guest experience, such as providing wellness elements in corporate meetings or overnight stays that are not necessarily spa related,” said Maratos. Dusit Hotels is also committed to sustainability and providing a sustainable experience in their hotels. “Sustainability is another area of focus for us, which has gained even more importance post-COVID. We believe that it’s not just about taking care of ourselves, but also about taking care of the planet, environment, and the communities where we operate. Therefore, we are committed to providing a sustainable experience in our hotels, which benefits everyone involved,” he added.
Expanding presence in India and Nepal
Dusit Hotels views India as a crucial source market and an attractive location for new hotels. “India is not just a significant source market for us, but also a vital location for our upcoming hotels. We are thrilled to announce our plans for the launch of DusitD2 in Shimla later this year, marking our entry into one of India’s most scenic hill stations. In addition, we have plans for the opening of Dusit Princess Residences in Kolkata either later this year or next year. We are also actively pursuing various other opportunities in India, both in resort locations and urban destinations,” said Maratos, adding, “Additionally, we have two upcoming hotel launches in Nepal, including one in Kathmandu and another in Dhulikhel, located just outside the city. These developments indicate exciting prospects for the subcontinent.”
M!CE and weddings
Dusit Hotels provides ample space and facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (M!CE) across their hotels in the Middle East and Thailand. The brand focuses on delivering an immersive experience rather than just a meeting for M!CE events. “Dusit Thani Hua Hin is a famous wedding venue in the Indian market, and the brand specializes in hosting Indian weddings. We have dedicated experts in many of our hotels who possess the knowledge and expertise to cater to Indian weddings. This presents a significant opportunity for us, not only in Thailand, but also in other locations. We have observed a rise in smaller weddings taking place in destinations such as the Maldives, which we believe is an opportunity worth focusing on,” he said.
Working with travel trade
Dusit Hotels sees the travel trade as a valuable partner to deliver business from the source market to their locations. They partner with travel agencies and tourism authorities to attract consumers to their hotels and destinations. Recently, they had conducted roadshows in India, partnering with various tourism authorities and travel agencies in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
