Cassia, the first of the two new brands launched by Banyan Tree, is in tune with the times, with hotels in pop tones, at tight prices and with limited services - takeaway food, kitchenettes in the rooms, housekeeping every other day and a simplified spa offer... While the first hotels are in Thailand's leisure towns - one has already opened in Phuket, with another expected in Bintan - Cassia intends to establish this relaxed, residential concept in Asia's major metropolises.
For its part, the Dhawa brand is also taking a very contemporary approach to hotels. In addition to their contemporary decor, the hotels open onto 'Void' lobbies, which are truly relaxing cocoons. Each floor also has a 'Nest' communal area, a kind of lounge offering hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks. The 'Cocoons' rooms, meanwhile, are ideal for relaxing or working, with a mobile table - equipped with power sockets - for surfing the Internet or eating a meal in your room. The first Dhawa will open in March in Bo'ao, on the island of Hainan in China, then in July 2016 in Cuba, before other hotels are planned in China and Thailand.
Banyan Tree, which has 37 hotels, plans to almost double its offer over the next five years. In the meantime, its original Phuket establishment has been given a facelift, with a private swimming pool in all 173 rooms and a new meeting room for executive committees combining reflection and well-being.
