Dusit Dubai Hotel, the first Asian hotel and first Thai hotel in the Middle East, has signed a three-year contract with Thai Airways International (THAI) recently as the official crew hotel in Dubai.
"We are delighted enter into this agreement with Thai and to be the new home in Dubai for the crew," commented Michael P Tiplady, general manager. "We believe that the amicable relationship between us will most certainly be mutually beneficial," he said. Dusit Hotels and Resorts has gained a reputation for exclusive luxurious accommodation, fine dining, modern facilities and impeccable service for both business and leisure travellers alike. Throughout Thailand, Asia and the Middle East, where its properties are strategically located, the Dusit brand has been renowned for spreading the warmth of Thai hospitality and the uniqueness of Thai art and culture in the hospitality industry. As Thailand's national carrier, THAI's popularity among travellers has been largely attributed to comprehensive services and efficient, on-time operations. The airline is also well-known for gracious ground and in-flight service. This includes personalized attention to passenger needs, with special treats such as gift orchids for all female passengers and superb cuisine, which have earned a truly special place in the hearts of the travelling public. THAI has been flying to the Middle East for the past 20 years and flies to Dubai seven times a week, three times to Kuwait and three times a week to Muscat. The airline, which recorded a profit of Dh165 million last year, has the second highest market share on flights from Bangkok to Dubai after Emirates Airline, both in number of flights a week and the number of passengers carried the total seat capacity from Bangkok to the region on the airline is just under 4,000 a week. Last year, more than 10 million people visited Thailand, a 5.8 per cent increase on the previous year. The number of visitors from the UAE to Thailand last year increased by 7.5 per cent over the previous year. The Dusit reached its targeted revenue of Dh1 million in its Upselling Programme. The hotel front desk and reservations staff, the first contact ambassadors of Dusit Dubai were more than happy on achieving their target in less than nine months showing that the staff does more than provide courteous and efficient service. Dusit Dubai's Upselling Programme is designed to provide effective approach to proactive upselling in the front office and the reservations department. The training received has been a vital tool and has resulted in offering better service and increasing potential revenue for the hotel. The programme enhances the selling skills of the staff, thereby providing job satisfaction, reducing work-related stress and promoting efficient service. "We are more than pleased on achieving the targeted incremental revenue of one million dhirams boosting bottom line profit for the hotel," commented Tiplady. "The Upselling Programme implemented by Dusit Dubai has significantly added to the hotel's ARR and profit margins. "We are confident of our product and our ability to sell to the guests the added value service for an optional price, which make us very proactive and deeply concerned to satisfy our guests needs," commented one of the front office staff.