The Code is pleased to welcome Dusit International as our newest member on 8th August 2018.
On 28 March 2018, Damien Brosnan, The Code’s Programme Manager, gave a presentation on ‘Security in Hotel, Human Trafficking’ at Dusit Thani Hotel for their annual and internal meeting Be a Winner, Dusit Ambassadors’ Workshop 2018 for their General Managers working at Dusit Thani’s chains globally.
This presentation was requested by senior management for introducing their chains to The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.
Brosnan briefed the meeting on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (SECTT), gave case studies and examples from around the world, highlighted key findings of Global Study 2016 and mentioned actions to prevent SECTT. The presentation drew enormous attention from the meeting.
After the presentation was given Mr. Angelino Giovanni, Vice Chairman, Dusit Thani re-affirmed their interests in introducing The Code for Dusit Thani’s chains worldwide at the meeting.
The signing ceremony took place at Dusit Thani Bangkok and representatives of Dusit International and of The Code were present. The agreement was signed by Lim Boon Kwee, Chief Operating Officer and Niramol Jindanuwat, Chief People Officer at Dusit International, and Theo Noten, ECPAT Netherlands, Board Member of The Code.
Damien Brosnan, Programme Manager of The Code, congratulated Dusit International with these words:
It is encouraging to see that companies are taking a proactive rather than reactive approach. While tourism is not responsible for the sexual exploitation of children, offenders use tourism infrastructure to commit this crime. The private sector then is in a privileged position to combat this issue.
Lim Boon Kwee also added:
When we think about the challenges for business, we think about economic difficulties, or political unrest for example, but we rarely focus on the sexual exploitation of children.
However, this is a reality, it is happening worldwide and has to stop.
Tourism as a global industry has a huge potential to protect children. We are very proud to join The Code, with their support we will be able to implement a zero tolerance policy.
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 education and comprises an international portfolio of hotels and resorts operating under four brands: Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess and Dusit Devarana.
The Education Division, established in 1993, comprises Dusit Thani College, which offers vocational and postgraduate hospitality degrees at campuses in Bangkok and Pattaya. In 2018 Dusit will open the pioneering Dusit Hospitality Management College, a unique fully integrated hospitality school and hotel in Manila, Philippines.
