Dusit International signs to manage first ASAI-branded hotel in Yangon, Myanmar
Slated to open in 2020 in Yankin Township, the hotel will link curious, millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences
4 January 2019
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd. to operate ASAI Yankin, one of the first properties to be signed under ASAI Hotels, Dusit’s new affordable lifestyle brand.
Located in Yankin Township in the northern central part of Yangon, approximately 25 minutes by car from Yangon International Airport, ASAI Yankin is designed to give millennial-minded travellers the opportunity to experience the city like a local, putting them in the heart of a vibrant neighbourhood renowned for its multi-ethnic character and thriving shopping scene.
Reflecting the four key pillars of ASAI Hotels – Thoughtful Essentials, Common Areas, Locally Inspired, and Connected Community – ASAI Yankin will comprise 111 compact rooms (between 15 to 22 sq m) whose contemporary design will emphasize key features such as superior quality beds and high pressure rain showers. A large mixed-use space, meanwhile, will include a modern and efficient work space, a leisure area, and a restaurant concept curated by local chefs. The hotel will also offer a fully equipped gym, and two retail floors highlighting local brands and products.
Following ASAI’s official slogan, Live Local, the hotel will put guests within easy reach of nearby attractions such as Yankin Market, Fushan temple, and the lively restaurant scene of New University Road. Myanmar Plaza, Yangon’s first international retail shopping center, is located right next to the hotel, and renowned attractions such as Shwedagon Pagoda, Kandawgyi Lake, and Yangon Zoological Gardens are only 20 minutes away be car.
“Inspired by community, and driven by sustainability, ASAI is designed to link millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences while having a positive impact, environmentally and socially,” said Mr Siradej Donavanik, Managing Director of Asai Holdings Co., Ltd., Dusit International. “ASAI Yankin will be a fine showcase of these values, and we are delighted to partner with Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd to introduce the brand in this fascinating destination.”
Mr Thura Oo, Director, Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd., said, “Combining international quality with a local flavour, from the food and drink, to the design and service, ASAI Yankin will give travellers a taste of the real Myanmar, and we’re delighted to work with a company as renowned and respected as Dusit, and also be the first property in the country to carry this exciting brand which reflects our own company’s values.”
Alongside ASAI Yankin, four more ASAI properties are already confirmed in the pipeline. This includes three ASAI Hotels in Cebu, Philippines (in Lapu-Lapu, Oslob, and the city centre); and a flagship ASAI hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, in the city’s stylish Sathorn district.
ASAI Hotels’ management team hopes to secure 10 more properties in the pipeline by the end of the year across Southeast Asia and Japan. This includes owned and joint venture properties as well as properties under Hotel Management Agreements.
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 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
About Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd
Rich Mandalay Group of Co.,Ltd (RMG) was established in 2008 with its primary business in real estate development and hospitality. Since then, the company has grown exponentially and successfully diversified its lines of business into construction, plantations, production and manufacturing. In collaboration with experienced project management teams and hospitality experts, RMG aims to expand its portfolio by investing in more business opportunities, while continuously creating high quality products to enhance the local hospitality industry and benefit the community.
Media Contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Assistant Director – Corporate Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Fax: +66 (0) 2636 3549 | Email: sureerat.sp AT dusit.com
