Newstrack

Bird Group to bring Dusit Devrana brand to India

Eyes expansion through management model

Dinkar Farwaha - New Delhi

Bird Group, which forayed into the hospitality sector last year through a joint venture alliance with Thailand-based Dusit International (formerly Dusit Hotels & Resorts), has announced its plan to develop four upcoming premium hotels in the country (in Goa, Delhi, Rishikesh and Jaipur) under Dusit International's high-end spa brand Dusit Devarana.

Informing this is Charles Carneiro, head (marketing & corporate communications) of The Bird Group, who said, "These hotels will be five-star, high-end business hotels and resorts. All four hotels will have state-of-the-art spa facility with a blend of western and traditional therapies and modern fitness facilities." All are likely to be operational by 2010.

The group, under its wholly-owned subsidiary Bird Hospitality Services (BHS), is looking at opening 10 hotels and resorts and managing several properties in the country. It plans to introduce Dusit's other hospitality brands like Dusit Thani (premium), Dusit Princess (budget category), Dusit Residence (serviced apartment) and D2 (lifestyle) in the Indian market through management or franchise. "While the Dusit Thani brand would be managed purely through management contracts in the country, we are looking at both management and franchise options for the other brands," informs Carneiro.