A Milestone Moment: Banyan Group Celebrates Its 100th Resort with a Singapore Debut
Luxury travelers, this is big news. Banyan Group — the global hospitality brand known for its eco-luxury resorts and meaningful experiences — has opened its 100th property, and yes—it’s happening in its home city: Singapore.
As someone passionate about stays that blend sustainability, culture and refined hospitality, this launch absolutely caught my attention. The new Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree isn’t just another opening—it’s a homecoming wrapped in narrative and intention.
44 sqm / 474 sqft
The Brand’s Homecoming
Founded in Singapore in 1994, Banyan Group built its reputation around sanctuary-style resorts, wellness, and nature-led experiences. Yet until now, the brand never actually had a property in its birthplace. That makes this debut even more meaningful.
The resort is set within the lush precinct of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore’s dedicated nature and wildlife destination, and this marks the brand’s Singapore debut. The opening is preceded by a week-long festival: the inaugural Rainforest Festival, running from 27 November to 3 December 2025, and designed to celebrate the milestone while giving back.
Spa
Inside the Resort
This is not your standard city hotel. It embodies Banyan’s ethos of immersive, environmentally informed luxury. Elevated structures, preserved trees, circular-resource systems—these touches are built in.
Visitors can explore a self-guided Discovery Trail, where architecture and “living design” merge with the rainforest. The iconic Wishing Tree installation invites guest interaction—leaves of hope, messages of renewal.
And of course, there’s the global hand-craft gallery: the “Banyan Gallery Showcase” curates artisans from around the world, weaving cultural heritage and design into the stay.
The Rainforest Festival: A Celebration with Purpose
Here are the standout moments:
The festival marks the grand finale of Banyan’s “100 Journeys” campaign—hundreds of days of activations leading toward this 100th property.
All ticket proceeds will be donated — and matched dollar-for-dollar by Banyan Group — supporting the President’s Challenge, which benefits 60 programmes across 52 local charities and social-service organisations. Additionally, the Singapore Government is providing a matching grant under the SG60 Matching Grants programme.
The festival programme includes: discovery trails, a sustainable weekend market (featuring home-grown eco brands, hands-on workshops, live performances), and wellness/nature/family-friendly activities such as yoga, sound-healing, guided nature walks, and kids’ “Rangers’ Club” workshops.
Weekend market highlights: The resort’s ballroom becomes an “Into the Rainforest” marketplace by GREEN-HOUSE HangOut, with ten independent eco brands, DIY rainforest-inspired experiences, and live acts such as MICappella, Joie Tan, Jack & Rai and more.
Wellness focus: Sessions like “100 Sun Salutations” (marking the 100-property milestone), restorative yoga & sound healing, kids yoga, plus body-scrub-making workshops at the spa.
Nature experiences: Festival guests (and those booking paid experiences at the wider Mandai Wildlife Reserve) will also see 20% of proceeds donated to the President’s Challenge. Options include guided wildlife park tours, behind-the-scenes animal encounters and kids survival programmes.
Children’s Play Area
Why It’s a Game-Changer for Luxury Travel
There’s a clear shift in the luxury travel scene: travellers are demanding more than just plush interiors. They want narrative, impact, environment, connection. And this launch nails that.
Here’s why it matters:
Symbolism: After decades of expansion, Banyan returns to its roots in Singapore for its 100th stay, which underlines legacy and place.
Sustainable luxury: The resort doesn’t just claim eco-credentials—it integrates them into design, guest activities and local partnerships.
Experiential depth: From artisanal craft to forest walks, to mindful wellness, the stay is layered and immersive.
Appeal to families and individuals: While many luxury resorts skew adult-only or adult-focused, this one balances legacy luxury with kid-friendly, nature-rich experiences—so it expands the target.
What to Expect as a Guest
If you’re planning a stay here (and I wholeheartedly recommend it), here are the highlights to plan for:
Immersive wellness: forest-edge yoga, sound healing, spa workshops that are hands-on.
Cultural & craft immersion: artisan galleries, curated local refreshments (wildlife-friendly coffee, up-cycled‐botanical chocolates, special tea blends) within the Rainforest Festival context.
Nature-first activities: guided jungle walks, Rangers’ Club for children aged 4-11, interactive installations.
Festival timing advantage: Visit during the Rainforest Festival week (27 Nov to 3 Dec 2025) and you’ll catch the launch excitement + deep-dive activities at their peak.
Tickets & rates: General admission to the festival is S$10 on weekdays, S$15 on weekends; children under 4 enter free with accompanying adult. Guests of the resort and those who book paid experiences also receive festival admission.
Final Thoughts
For me, the Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree signifies everything that modern luxury travel can and should be: thoughtful, connected, purposeful. It’s not about excess; it’s about experience, intention, story.
Whether you’re a nature lover, a wellness-driven traveller, a family seeking something meaningful, or someone who simply appreciates refined hospitality with a conscience—this is a destination worth adding to your radar.
If you’d like help planning a stay here or want to explore similar mindful-luxury destinations across Asia (tailored for families, solo travellers or couple retreats), I’d love to support you in creating something special.
Click here to get in touch and let’s start crafting your next escape.
