Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 76

perspectives

interview claire chiang
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Capturing the essence of location is extremely important to you and Banyan Tree’s designs. Can you explain why, and some examples of your hotels that speak most to this?
Though there is a common thread to the Banyan Tree experience aesthetically speaking, each hotel takes inspiration from the unique and natural environment in which it resides. You’ll see local materials indigenous to regional environments used throughout each resort, along with menu items that reference traditional ingredients and dishes. Our galleries showcase items that are sourced from surrounding villages, along with other communities around the globe. The sense of place is further reinforced by our sta , many of whom come from the main towns and villages in each location. A good example is at Banyan Tree Ringha, in which we artfully reconstructed all thirty-two lodges and suites from decades-old Tibetan farmhouses log by log, without the use of nails or other modern materials.

You have a design arm, Architrave. How did that come about? Why is that important to your brand?

2. A glimpse inside the new three-story spa at Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund.

We have control over the architectural vocabulary by aligning the way we build and how we build to re ect local culture and heritage. A desire to align our product to the local visual vocabulary rst motivated the foundation of Architrave.

You are in a serious growth period. How many hotels are you opening in the next ﬁve years and where? Why now?

Which hotel are you most excited about that’s in development and why?

experience where alignment of the heart, mind, and spirit is achieved by one’s body being pampered sensorially through herbal remedies and treatment programs. A well-trained group of therapists is also key; we groom our sta in our proprietary Spa Academies.

In the next ve years alone we are opening at least ten new hotels, many of them in China. The explosive growth in Chinese domestic tourism is unprecedented, and we are favorably positioned to meet this hyper development.

Can you tell us a bit about your ﬁrst hotel in India slated for early 2013?
Banyan Tree Kerala is a very exciting project for us, as it signi es our rst Banyan Tree hotel in the subcontinent. Situated on its own private island, it will boast our very rst Ayurvedic center, along with a boat-up lobby.

While each hotel is unique, at the moment Banyan Tree and Angsana Lang Co in Central Vietnam is very exciting. As a late developer in tourism in an emerging economy, Lang Co holds the promise of providing an experience to tourists that will be di erent. There is an old charm that is unspoiled, yet there is sophistication to the region and its people. Our proximity to several world heritage sites will also be an enriching experience for guests.

Which spa trends are you paying attention to? What are guests looking for today in a spa?
Innovative spa products and treatment programs are key. It is the service and skills that our therapists display in relieving the stress and pain of travelers so they leave our spas feeling rejuvenated that is vital.

Your tagline is ‘Sanctuary for the Senses.’ Can you explain that and what it means for you and your company?
The tagline is meant to invoke the idea of our resorts serving as a high-touch mental, spiritual, and physical retreat for our guests. Whether for business or leisure, our guests stay with us because they seek a certain peace of mind. With our elegant yet not over-the-top architecture and interiors—which soothe and comfort—to our pampering spas and wellness programs, we believe that our resorts o er a space in which to relax, restore, and recover.

What are luxury hotel guests looking for today? How has that changed since you started out?

And you just opened an urban resort in Shanghai. Can you give us some highlights of that hotel?

Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund has just launched, and is our fourth urban resort project. The hotel is sited right on the Huang Pu River, and each room has gorgeous panoramic views of the river and Bund thoroughfare beyond. We have an expansive three-story spa featuring our signature wellness therapies, and a new concept called the Banyan Tree Host, which is an endto-end concierge service that will guide and customize each guest’s stay.

Spas: they are usually a major part of your hotel/resort experiences. What are the keys to a successful spa?
Spa means ‘self pampering art.’ It is a wellness

Luxury travel connoisseurs are much more interested in experiential travel which a ords them unique, enriching experiences rather than just a plush hotel room or expensive getaway. The value proposition has changed; they are curious, eager to explore and to give back. While this was certainly the case in some of the guests we saw at the beginning of our company’s history, this philosophy has been adopted by a much wider audience today from all walks of life. Luxury is about creating privacy and intimacy. It is about being pampered and enjoying an experience that is di erent from what one can nd at home. Good service and enriching experiences that you don’t receive in daily life is luxury. hd

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December 2012 hospitalitydesign.com

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