Photo 1 - Participants of the Staff Exchange Programme will receive on-the-job training and take part in classroom activities to deepen their understanding of Japanese and Thai hospitality cultures. — Photo by Dusit International

Bangkok – As part of its strategic marketing alliance, global hospitality company Dusit International, together with Japan's largest hotel chain, Prince Hotels, has launched a Staff Exchange Programme, starting this month.

The companies entered into a strategic partnership in February 2015 with the aim of strengthening brand awareness in the region by leveraging their sales and marketing resources and networks, thereby creating opportunities for cross-selling, marketing and promotion.

The new Staff Exchange Programme builds on these foundations by enabling both companies to share local expertise and hospitality knowledge to best cater for guests from Japan and Thailand, key feeder markets for each company respectively.

In the first exchange, staff from Prince Hotels will spend time at the Front Office and Concierge of the Dusit Thani Bangkok and DusitPrincess Srinakarin Bangkok hotels to get familiar with their operations. Reciprocally, Dusit staff will visit Prince Hotels in Japan. Participants will receive on-the-job training and take part in classroom activities to deepen their understanding of Japanese and Thai hospitality cultures.

"The Staff Exchange Programme will provide rich, first-hand experience for hotel staff from both companies," said Mr. Takao Sato, Corporate Director Managing Administrator of Prince Hotels Inc. "While our employees will gain direct exposure to Thai culture and Dusit's gracious hospitality, Dusit's staff will be able to learn more about omotenashi – the Japanese spirit of hospitality and service. The idea is that by sharing the best practices of both companies, our respective staff will be better equipped to meet and surpass guests' expectations, the hallmark of excellent hospitality experience."

Dr Niramol Jindanuwat, Chief People Officer, Corporate Human Resources, Dusit International, said, "The Staff Exchange Programme is an excellent way for Dusit to deepen its partnership with Prince Hotels. Going beyond sales and marketing purposes, this new initiative provides an excellent opportunity for staff from each company to bolster their skill sets and enhance service delivery. We look forward to making the programme a success."

About Prince Hotels

Prince Hotels, Inc. is one of Japan's leading hotel and leisure companies, as well as the core company of Seibu Group. Under its three main brands, The Prince, Grand Prince Hotel and Prince Hotel, the company operates 42 hotels in cities and resort areas throughout Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Karuizawa, Hakone, Sapporo and Furano, where it specializes in providing its unique brand of Japanese "omotenashi hospitality spirit and techniques."

In addition to hotels, the company also operates a variety of other unique leisure facilities in Japan including 28 golf courses, 9 ski resorts, onsen hot springs, tennis courts, movie theaters and aquariums. The company also operates hotels, golf courses and ski resorts overseas in Hawaii, China and Taiwan with sales offices in major cities including Honolulu, Los Angeles, Paris, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, New York and Sydney.

For more information, please visit www.princehotels.com

About Dusit Hotels and Resorts

Dusit Hotels and Resorts is the hotel arm of Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies. With a heartfelt belief and commitment to introducing Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the world, Dusit Hotels and Resorts offers guests a uniquely special stay in high-style surroundings and a personalised approach to service. The group's portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under a total of eight brands (Devarana – Dusit Retreats, Dusit Thani, Dusit Suites, Dusit Collection, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 18 countries worldwide.

For more information, please visit dusit.com

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Hospitality Education, Dusit Foods, Dusit Estate, and Hospitality-Related Services.

Dusit International's diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification.

For more information, please visit dusit-international.com

Sureerat Sudpairak
Corporate Manager – Public Relations
+66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321
Dusit