BANYAN Tree Hotels & Resorts yesterday raised the curtain on Cassia, a new brand of extended stay accommodation with properties already in development in five destinations.
Cassia signals the hospitality group’s foray into the serviced apartments sector, where the brand is meant to straddle the niche sector in between hotel and apartment.
Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Group, said: “Cassia merges three of the group’s strengths – hospitality, design and real estate – to set the stage for hotel residences of the future.”
“The extended stay segment has been overlooked in recent years so we took the opportunity to innovate and create a hospitality product that meets the demands and needs of today’s travellers.”
Banyan Tree’s new brand of serviced apartments are already in development in Phuket, Bintan, Beruwala (Sri Lanka), Gold Coast and Lijiang. Another seven are slated to come up in Brisbane, New York, Japan, the Seychelles, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Lang Co (Vietnam).
Cassia will offer one- and two-bedroom units that come with flexible living and dining areas, ranging in size from 35m2 to 55m2. Public spaces will encourage interaction through activities, games and a daily social hour while the residents can unwind at the Chill Chill Spa.
Other facilities include a pool, gym, activity room, bar, convenience mart, laundry and home delivery options.
Units are also open for purchase with prices starting at S$180,000 (US$143,668) for a 35m2 one-bedroom apartment.
Cassia is the third brand under the Group after Banyan Tree and Angsana.
