Dusit International invests in the new Dusit website targeting increased online bookings and elevating the Dusit brands through online media channels.

Dusit International, one of Asia's leading hotel groups, announced its 2011 online marketing strategy with the launch today of the new facelift for a more interactive Dusit.com, and gearing up for its online marketing throughout the year.

Ms Jennifer Cronin, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Dusit International revealed "The global traveller of today now expects 24/7 instantaneous connectivity wherever they are in the world. With the ever-fast changing technological landscape, we have made Dusit.com a priority for the future of the company.

In less than three years since the last website rebuilt, as a company, we have made a firm commitment to investing in the new Dusit.com and to be continually upgrading to keep up with these major changes in the way we do business. The project has taken almost 12 months to finalise to this point that we are at today and will be an ongoing KPI for our online marketing efforts".

"Dusit's online marketing strategy will play a key role in the long term marketing activities of all Dusit International's hotels and resorts this year. With a fresh look and design, easy navigation, as well as many new features we will provide an even more convenient 24/7 connectivity to guests, corporate accounts, and the travel industry to book, amend, and confirm their business or leisure trips instantly worldwide.

In addition, the new Dusit website will also help us understand our customer's behaviour better with guest history, web statistics, conversion rates and google analytics features. With an investment of almost THB 10 million or USD 335,000, we aim to increase the overall online bookings through Dusit.com from 12 percent in 2010 to 25 percent this year as a minimum.'

"Our online marketing programmes will include initiatives such as Click it's Magic for special accommodation offers, with an increased proportion of 45 percent allocated for online advertising in our overall advertising spend. We have also invested in the utilisation of e-brochures for our MICE and Global Directories and collateral.

Social Networking has also taken a high priority with the appointment last year of the company's first Social Media representative, with Social Media Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Social Media champions at every Dusit property, responsible for all online communications activities.

All of which reflects Dusit's belief in being constantly in touch with new technologies, communications, and marketing trends. As a matter of fact we were one of the first hotel groups to ensure QR codes are inserted in all advertising collateral and we will continue to look to be ahead of our competitors in all facets of technology and new media," said Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Dusit International unveils the new www.Dusit.com

The key highlight features of the brand new Dusit.com include:

• New look and feel with easy features to navigate
• New Content Management System and CRM
• Ability to track guest booking patterns
• More flexible booking engine, such as rate and availability displays, more options for amendments
• Guest history record
• Greater Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) capabilities
• Group bookings
• Multi-languages including English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Arabic
• New confirmation letter by brand with more helpful travel information such as weather forecast, links to local destination guides, google map, and others.
• Mobile application for smart phones (available in April 2011)