Banyan Tree opens first European resort as part of major expansion plans

Banyan Tree Group (BTG), a sustainable luxury hotel group, has opened The Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa, its first European flagship property in Corfu, Greece. 

Billed as a ‘Mediterranean sanctuary’, the resort, managed by BTG’s luxury Angsana brand, is located high in the hills overlooking Akra Punta bay and offers stunning views of the sea and surrounding mountains. 

It features 196 guest rooms, a state-of-the-art gym, several yoga pavilions, multiple food and beverage venues, a kid’s club and access to local tourist hotspots and excursions. The 1,400 sq m Angsana Spa completes the offering.

Taking a personalised approach to guests’ wellbeing, Angsana Spa’s ethos is based on eight wellbeing pillars: physical vitality, nutrition, sleep, connection, education, sustainability, nature and mind cultivation. 

It boasts 11 treatment rooms, two indoor pools, including a 25m pool, and an outdoor vitality pool, as well as spa gardens with outdoor massage pavilions and a juice bar. 

Among its hydrothermal experiences are a jacuzzi offering sea views and Rainmist showers from suppliers such as KLAFS, Libra and Gharieni. 

The spa’s treatment menu boasts Asian- and Mediterranean-inspired face and body treatments that blend traditional eastern and western healing techniques with locally grown and sustainable Corfiot ingredients and is powered by products from brands such as Sothys, Biologique Recherche and Coola Organic Suncare. 

“Banyan Tree’s ethos is about using local products, not only to enhance the guest experience by giving them a sense of place but also to support the local economy,” spa manager Sandra Amaral told European Spa. 

“Our commitment to nature as one of our healing principles means that the products that are used in our treatments are organic and locally and sustainably sourced,” she added.

Dharmali Kusumadi, senior VP of BTG, said: “With the Angana Spa, which is our signature, we wanted to create a calming ambience that would put guests at ease. It’s very difficult to relax in a clinical setting and that was the opposite of what we wanted to spa to be.” 

BTG has also revealed further details of its expansion plans, both in Europe and globally. Currently, the group has 35 hotels and resorts in various stages of development around the world, including its second European property in Salzberg, Austria. 

“After that our focus is on southern Europe, especially coastal areas like Portugal and Croatia,” Kusumadi told European Spa. “There are also plans for further properties in Greece, as well as new developments in Spain, Montenegro and Turkey.” 

“In addition, we’re developing new properties in America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Pacific region and the Middle East. There are also plans for further growth in Asia, South-East Asia, East Asia and China,” he added.