When we saw renderings of the upcoming Dusit Thani resort opening in Singapore next year, the property seemed to look more like a modern airport terminal from above, instead of the grand old dame hotels we usually associate with the Dusit brand.
Where were the royal touches, the old-fashioned flourishes? Where was the “Dusit” in the new Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore? Longtime, old school fans of their usual properties are used to their sumptuous traditional Thai style, making this new modern design not quite recognizable. That, and the fact that the new Singapore property is being billed as a modern getaway for golf enthusiasts.
Coco Travel reached out to Dusit Thani, and spoke with newly appointed Senior Vice President of Development Marc Hediger, for the scoop.
So, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore will not officially open until early next year, and will be the company’s first in Singapore — and they intend it to be one of their showplaces, with the star attraction being that it’s the only resort with direct course access to Laguna National Golf & Country Club, one of Singapore’s premiere golf courses.
It’s this specific asset that Hediger thinks will make it a mutually beneficial success. “The Laguna course is beautiful, it has a great reputation, and is probably the best golf course in Singapore — but it may be more known as a local course. I think the course can work hand in hand with Dusit Thani, as an international company, to gain international acclaim.”
He sees the two properties as complementing each other. “There are a lot of things Dusit can do to complement the golf and vice versa. It will work both ways,” he said.
The Laguna resort will have 198 rooms and suites, but for the extra luxurious golf getaway, guests can grab one of eight golfer chalets with private pools.
When asked about the modern feel of this new property, Hediger said, “While our Thai DNA is certainly evident in each location in subtle things like room design and décor — and more obviously in our signature Thai spa and restaurant concepts — our service is developed based on what is right for the destination. This allows each hotel to have its own personality but still be part of the Dusit family.”
Singapore is a modern place that hosts modern people doing modern things, so perhaps the choice to make the property more contemporary makes sense — and golfers are probably more concerned with getting out on the course than Thai design showstoppers anyway.
Hediger went on to say that having a showcase property like the Laguna in, what he refers to as a gateway city like Singapore, is crucially important for the brand as part of the new direction they are aiming for. Part of this new direction, of course, is the impending January closing of their very first property, the majestic, if outdated, 1970 tower at the corner of Bangkok’s Silom Road.
This flagship will be rebuilt over the next few years as a more modern multi-use property including a hotel, residence, retail outlet, and office tower.
