The Dusit International group is a veritable institution in Thailand, active in hotels, restaurants, real estate, hotel and gastronomy training and villa management. Owned for 75 years by the Chanut family, the group boasts a portfolio of over 300 establishments in 22 countries, mainly in Asia and the Middle East, including a majority of private villas, as well as some twenty hotels under the Devarana, Dusit Thani, Dusit D2, Dusit Princess, Dusit Collection and Asai brands.
Three years ago, 3rd-generation representative Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of the Dusit International group, recruited Gilles Cretallaz (L in photo), a former regional manager with the Accor group, to spearhead a strategy of diversification, which has resulted in the appearance of new brands, and a determination to conquer the West to promote the Dusit style in Europe.
The Dusit Group’s commitment to the West
The first stage was successfully completed with the opening of the Dusit Suites in Athens, but Gilles Cretallaz is now targeting Germany, Austria and France. It was his meeting, two years ago, with the directors of Family Office Sydel that gave the impetus for this expansion.
Sydel is best known for its involvement in the healthcare sector, structuring investments and assisting professionals and financiers with acquisitions and transfers. Since its takeover in 2012 by David Elgrably (R in photo) and his associates, Sydel has remembered its hotel past, when it helped create the Hôtels de Paris group. Today, it collects savings and private funds to partner with hotel real estate specialists such as Extendam and Honotel.
Three projects already well advanced, awaiting confirmation
It is this expertise that he brings to the Dusit International group to help it identify assets – mainly, but not exclusively, in Paris – that could soon bear one of the Thai group’s flags. The entire Dusit range is studied to seize or provoke location opportunities based on the characteristics of the building.
To date, three projects – still confidential – are in the negotiation phase and could become reality in the coming months. Both Gilles Cretallaz and David Elgrably agree that urgency is not a determining factor. Each project must be scrupulously studied, validated and planned to ensure that Dusit’s arrival in France corresponds to the philosophy of quality service and profitability criteria for the operator and owner.
The cooperation agreement was officially signed on July 10, 2025, in the presence of the Thai Ambassador to France, His Excellency Sarun Charoensuwan.
