Dusit pushes ahead with India plans

       Dusit International plans to expand into India next year, with the goal of managing seven hotels by 2013 and a total of 20 within 10 years.
       Harsh Varma, regional vice president of Dusit Bird Hotels, a joint venture between Dusit International and Bird Group of India, said the company would begin operating its first hotel in New Delhi, the Dusit Devarana New Delhi, in May 2010. Located near the centre of the city, the 78-room hotel will be the first luxury hotel in Dusit's India portfolio.
       The group plans to manage Dusit Devarana hotels in other cities, including Jaipur, Rishikesh and Goa, by 2013. All the properties will be owned and developed by Bird Group. The firms plan to add several more hotels to the management roster by 2013.
       Dusit also plans to open its first dusitD2 hotel outside Thailand, the dusitD2 new delhi, next year, Varma said.
       He described India as a key market for Dusit, which aims to become one of the leading hotel operators in the country.
       "India is a large country with huge domestic volume, while also welcoming overseas investors and opening air traffic up to international airlines, so it's a good time to go," he said.
       "We want to have up to 20 hotels and resorts in India within the next 10 years," Varma said.
       Octavio Gamara, senior vice president of Dusit International, said 2010 would be an important year for the firm, bringing the opening of the two Indian properties, as well as projects in Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Koh Samui and other locations to be announced soon.
       Born in India, Varma has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality field. After lworking for the Oberoi Group for 10 years, he was appointed GM of two properties of the Ascott Group.
       He continued his career as general manager of Oakwood City Residence in Bangkok before joining Dusit International.