Dusit Draws Extensive Praise this Awards Season

Bangkok, 22 October 2013 – Leading Asian hospitality group Dusit Internationaladds to the list of distinctions earned over its 60-plus year history with a number of national and international awards earned the last week of September through early October.

The praise started on home turf at the 9th Thailand Tourism Awards, held on UNESCO’s World Tourism Day, 27th September, in Bangkok. Also known as the Kinnari Awards, the awards are organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand every two years and are considered one of the nation's highest accolades for the travel and tourism industry.

Dusit Thani Pattaya was commended for Excellence in Resort Hotel Tourist Accommodation (80 rooms and over)-Eastern Region whilst Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket was recognised for Outstanding Performance in Resort Hotel Tourist Accommodation (80 rooms and over)-Southern Region. Of the 271 applications for this year’s Awards, the judges selected 29 Awards of Excellence and 85 Awards of Outstanding Performance.

These accolades were followed by the Egypt Tourism Authority’s Awards, held on 30 September 2013 at the Cairo International Conference Centre. H.E. the Minister of Tourism of Egypt Mr Hisham Zaazou commended a group of travel and hospitality service providers for making considerable contributions to the local tourism industry.

Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo was honoured by the Minister for being the Best 5-Star Hotel in Greater Cairo in implementing the new standards set forth by the Tourism Ministry, as well as for offering the highest quality service to guests.

Soon after on 1st October, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket emerged victorious at the annual World Travel Awards held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The resort scooped the Thailand’s Leading Golf Resort, Thailand’s Leading Beach Resort and Asia’s Leading Beach Resort awards, the last of which qualifies the resort to compete for the World’s Leading Beach Resort title in late November.

Coming full circle to Bangkok, on 3rd October, the city played host to the 24th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2013 where Dusit Thani Maldives was named Best New Beach Resort Hoteland Mr Chanin Donavanik, Dusit International’s Managing Director and CEO, was named Travel Entrepreneur of the Year.

Readers of TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s print and online titles both nominate and vote for the Travel Supplier Awards, with 120,000 valid votes cast this year alone. However, Travel Entrepreneur of the Year is one of four awards under the organisation’s Outstanding Achievements Awards category which is voted upon solely by members of TTG’s editorial team.

The Travel Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented each year to a CEO who makes the right hires to strengthen his organisation, who dares to take risks, sets new standards for the brand and contributes to the industry in critical areas such as training, education and sustainability.

“We are both honoured and proud to receive such positive support this year, from both the public and industry peers,” said Ms Catherine McNabb, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Dusit International.

“2013 has been a busy year for Dusit International, with a number of exciting international openings and announcements for 2014 having taken place, and these accolades inspire us to take our products and services to an even higher level in the coming year.”

- End -

Photo Caption

Photo 1 – General Manager Mr Chatchawal Supachayanont of Dusit Thani Pattaya (left) receives the Excellence in Resort Hotel Tourist Accommodation (80 rooms and over)-Eastern Region at the 9th Thailand Tourism Awards in Bangkok.

Photo 2 –Mr Ahmed El Hady (centre), General Manager of Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo, receives the awardfor Best 5-Star Hotel in Greater Cairo from H.E. Hisham Zaazou and Mr Elhamy El Zayat, President of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, in Cairo.

Photo 3 – Mr Peter Komposch, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, accepts three World Travel Awards on behalf of the resort in Dubai.

Photo 4 –Mr Chanin Donavanik, Dusit International’s Managing Director and CEO, receives the Travel Entrepreneur of the Yearaward at the 24th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2013 in Bangkok.

Media Contact:

Yingrekha Langulasena | Corporate Director – New Media & Communications | Dusit International

Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3320 | Fax: +66 (0) 2636 3549 | Email:

Thitiporn Wongpakawat | Corporate Assistant Manager – Public Relations| Dusit International

Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Fax: +66 (0) 2636 3549 | Email:

Note to editor: Dusit International has more than 60 years' experience in the hotel and hospitality field. Founded in 1949 by Honorary Chairperson Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, whose first hotel was the Princess on Bangkok's New Road, Dusit International has since acquired a unique portfolio of distinctive hotels, building upon Thai culture and tradition to create a personalized welcome for all guests made distinctive under the Dusit International brand promise; the delivery of an 'experience that enlivens the individual spirit, no matter the journey’.

Dusit International comprises four hotel brands: Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess and Dusit Devarana. It also operates Dusit Residences and its own signature Devarana Spa.

1/7

Corporate New Media & Communications

Dusit Thani Building, 946 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 l Fax: +66 (0) 2636 3547