Dusit International Continues Global Expansion with New Dusit Princess Hotel in Central Kathmandu, Nepal

Photo caption - The official signing ceremony was held at Baan Dusit Thani, Thailand. Pictured (from left): Mr Lim Boon Kwee, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International; Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dusit International; Mr Dorje Gyaltsen Lama, Managing Director, Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd., and Mr Tenzin Zoepa Lama, Director, Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd.,

Bangkok, Thailand, 25 September 2019 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed an agreement with Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd. to develop and operate Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Nepal – the second Dusit-branded hotel set to open in Nepal – in Q3 2020.

Operating under Dusit’s upper-midscale Dusit Princess brand, the new hotel will comprise 108 well-appointed guest rooms in a prime location in the capital’s vibrant Lazimpat neighbourhood. The area is home to various international institutions and is just a short walk from the bustling eateries and shops of Thamel.

Tribhuvan International Airport and major cultural attractions such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, and Swayambhunath Stupa can be reached in 20 minutes by car.

Designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers alike, hotel facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool and pool bar, a rooftop lounge-bar, a fully equipped fitness centre, a spa, and meeting facilities. An all-day dining restaurant will serve daily buffet breakfast plus a variety of international and local cuisines.

In keeping with the Dusit Princess brand, each room will feature high-quality beds, a cosy bathroom, modern amenities, and a contemporary design reflecting local style and culture to provide high levels of comfort and convenience.

“We are delighted to partner with Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd. to bring our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Kathmandu for the first time,” said Mr Lim Boon Kwee, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “Surrounded by popular cultural attractions, centuries-old religious sites, several embassies and major businesses, Dusit Princess Kathmandu is perfectly positioned to link guests with everything this fascinating city has to offer. We now look forward to delivering a hotel experience that delights on all fronts while providing sustainable value to all our stakeholders.”

Mr Dorje Gyaltsen Lama, Managing Director, Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd., said, “Nepal welcomed more than 1.1 million tourists in 2018 – up 25% YOY – and the country’s tourism industry just keeps going from strength to strength. To capture this fast-growing market, we were determined to find a distinctive partner with international experience, a track record for excellence, and a commitment to having a positive local impact. We are delighted Dusit is that partner, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship together.”

Dusit International’s property portfolio now comprises 271 properties (nine owned and 262 managed) operating under six brands across 13 countries. The company has more than 50-Dusit branded hotels in the pipeline and expects to open at least 10-12 hotels per year in key destinations from 2020 onwards.

Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Nepal is the second property Dusit International has signed to operate in Nepal. Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort & Spa, a luxury mountaintop resort in Nepal’s central region, is slated to open in Q1 2021 under a hotel management agreement.

About Dusit International

Dusit International was founded in 1948 by Honorary Chairperson Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, whose first hotel was the Princess on Bangkok's Charoenkrung Road. Today the company is a leader in hotel management and hospitality education and comprises a unique international portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts operating under four brands: Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess and Dusit Devarana.

Alongside growing its operations globally, with more than 50 properties in the pipeline across key destinations, Dusit International is also expanding its business to provide new experiences for customers across the lodging spectrum.

The company recently entered the vacation rental market with the full acquisition of Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, and it also announced plans to enter the lifestyle market with the launch of ASAI Hotels, a distinctive new brand designed to link curious, millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in vibrant cities and resort destinations worldwide.

The company also operates the signature Devarana Spa and has a fast-growing Education Division. The latter, established in 1993, comprises Dusit Thani College, which offers vocational and postgraduate hospitality degrees at campuses in Bangkok and Pattaya; and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School.

In 2019, Dusit International will redevelop its flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel as part of Dusit Central Park, a landmark mixed-use project comprising residences, an office building, retail areas, and a new Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel. The new hotel is expected to open in 2023.

For more information, please visit www.dusit.com.

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd.

Established in 2016, Hotel Lhasa International Pvt. Ltd (HLIP) is a Nepal-based property developer and manufacturer and exporter of hand-woven Tibetan carpets. The company owns two renowned boutique hotels in Kathmandu (Hotel Tibet and Hotel Tibet International) and is currently developing Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Nepal.

The company’s subsidiary, Shangrila Carpet Industry, has been in the industry for approximately 30 years and exports the finest hand-woven Tibetan carpets to the UK, USA and more international markets.