As Dusit International embarks on a new phase of expansion, Louise Oakley jets over to its newest gem, Dusit Thani Maldives, to find out more from the company’s vice president, operations, Jiri Kobos
My interview with Dusit International vice president, operations Jiri Kobos is a little more relaxed than most. Instead of being in an office or lobby, we’re sat watching the sun set at Sala Bar, an over-water venue at the company’s newest gem, Dusit Thani Maldives.
The view of the sun going down behind the resort’s over-water villas, curving seductively around Mudhdhoo Island in the Bar Atoll, is awe-inspiring and it’s easy to see why Kobos, who is based in the corporate office in Bangkok, is investing significant resources and time in ensuring everything at the new resort is exactly as it should be.
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After all, there is a lot at stake with this hotel; it’s an acquisition for Dusit rather than a management contract.
“This is Kuhn Chanin’s baby,” says Kobos, of Dusit International CEO Chanin Donavanik, who leads the company his mother founded 63 years ago.
“One day he came to the office and said ‘we are buying an island’, and so it happens. [When it comes to] deals you can be actively looking, be pursuing, have prospect generations and negotiations that go over years and years, and then they fall apart, or you have something like this, you just have to meet somebody who introduces you to somebody and then you go and have dinner and ‘pow’ — it just fits in and makes sense.
The diligence doesn’t take that long and it’s proving to be a good direction for sure,” observes Kobos.
A total investment of US $80 million was committed to the project, with Dusit as the majority shareholder.
In addition, Dusit College, a subsidiary of Dusit International, which has grown to more than 12,000 students across six campuses in Philippines and two in Thailand, will be developing a hospitality training programmes in the Maldives for Maldivians entering the tourism sector — again, reflecting the company’s commitment to the area.
However, so speedy was the acquisition that Dusit only had six months of pre-opening ahead of the launch of Dusit Thani Maldives on February 6.
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