Banyan Tree at Mayakoba
“A necklace of jewels that spans across the globe” – the description of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts by their founder Ho Kwon Ping is lyrical but accurate. Since its founding in 1994, the award-winning Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has carved out its own enviable niche of boutique hotels with unsurpassed service and a sure sense of place. Elegantly natural, their resorts in Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives and the Seychelles are designed to echo the indigenous building tradition while blending seamlessly with the local plant and marine life.
Now Banyan Tree comes to the Riviera Maya, a superb fit in several ways. Guests at Mayakoba will benefit from the legendary Banyan Tree hospitality, where visitors are welcomed with the smell of aromatherapy and soft music playing in their villas. . The Singapore-based company’s commitment to the environment, known as the Banyan Tree’s Green Imperative, finds an ideal partner in Mayakoba’s stewardship of its mangroves, dunes and jungle. Banyan Tree’s outdoor garden spas, famous for their Asian-inspired treatments and meticulously trained therapists (all of whom undergo over 400 hours of training at the Banyan Tree Spa Academy based in Phuket), are made for Mayakoba’s pure, unhurried atmosphere. Best of all, Banyan Tree’s talent for respecting the unspoiled beauty spots where they build their thoughtfully conceived hotels accords perfectly with the Mayakoba philosophy.
At Mayakoba, Banyan Tree accommodates guests in 132 villas, some of which Include two and three-bedroom villas. All units are on land or above water, either on the Caribbean or Mayakoba’s undulating lagoons and canals. These clean-lined, serene dwellings, shielded from neighboring villas by natural flora and fauna, feature indulgent details such as private swimming pools (each villa has one), outdoor sunken baths and Jacuzzis, sun decks, and massage salas. Some of the larger villas separate bedrooms with loggia living rooms for maximum privacy.
Banyan Tree’s public area centers around a water court and a striking pool surrounded by lounges and terraces on the second floor. The main floor is devoted to banquet and meeting rooms, a library, gym and spa reception rooms. The spa treatment rooms are outdoor pavilions located romantically in the lagoon, which adds to their almost otherworldly ambience. A large, free form pool with a dining and sunning deck, and Saffron restaurant – an exotic dining experience on three pontoons -- complete the main public area. The beach club includes sun decks, a pool, dining room and lounge.
Last but not least, those who know Banyan Tree’s other resorts are eagerly anticipating the Banyan Tree Gallery at Mayakoba. These choice shops search out and feature the finest local artisans and cottage crafts; they’ve also been a way for Banyan Tree to foster and develop local workshops. Mexico’s silver, textiles, ceramics and other crafts have long been recognized by connoisseurs as remarkably accomplished, so expectations are high for this intimate collection. When Banyan Tree Gallery meets Mayakoba, the results should be memorable.