Banyan Group has launched its rainforest-inspired 338-room Mandai Rainforest Resort within the 126-hectare Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore’s wildlife and nature destination, a 20-minute drive from the city.

Surprisingly, it's Banyan Group’s first property in Singapore, where the company is headquartered – and the first resort in the city to receive the Green Mark Super Low Energy certification from the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore.

The 4.6-hectare resort and spa is owned and was developed by Mandai Park Holdings, that owns the wildlife reserve and was designed around the mature trees on the site by WOW Architects to be a biophilic property.

We first reported on the resort’s conception in 2019.

The property uses reclaimed wood, and each of the ‘wings’ of the resort are elevated above the ground to accommodate the movement of native wildlife below.

The resort’s rooms include 24 treehouses, a rooftop pool with unobstructed views of the Upper Seletar Reservoir and a Banyan Tree Spa.

Banyan Tree Spa

Located on level two of the property, the 345sq m spa has three spa pavilions and three wellness pods for treatments – which are delivered using Banyan Tree’s own products. The design of the spa pods’ external façades is inspired by the protective keratin scales of the Sunda pangolin.

“Just as the pangolin’s scales shield it from harm, the pod offers a sense of sanctuary and tranquility,” Sabrina Chen, spa director for the property, told Spa Business.

The spa, which operates between 10am-9pm and is open to resort guests and visitors with an appointment, also has a relaxation area at the reception, a yoga room and a gym on the same floor.

Programming

The menu features detoxifying body scrubs and conditioners, made using natural ingredients such as turmeric and ginger, as well as massages to enhance circulation and alleviate muscle fatigue. The menu is split between tailored treatments, recovery and bodywork massages, scrubs and signature treatments.

One is the Royal Banyan treatment, which offers a blend of Eastern and Western massage techniques using a warm herbal pouch dipped in sesame oil. It also features a cucumber cleanser and jade face massage. The price for this 150-minute treatment is SGD450 (US$348, €308, £259).

Chen says, “In addition to treatments, guests can take part in our eco-conscious workshops, including our DIY body scrub workshop – where salt, sugar and used coffee grounds are transformed into natural skincare products. Guests can craft their own body balm and lip balm using nourishing ingredients such as beeswax and shea butter.”

Sustainability features

To receive the Green Mark Certification – a framework for evaluating the environmental performance and sustainability of buildings – the designers had to implement strategies to ensure water and energy efficiency, environmental protections, indoor environmental quality and other green technologies.

At Mandai Rainforest Resort, guest room windows can fully open for ventilation and ambient room temperatures are regulated to mirror the cool temperatures of rainforests in the tropics.

Each guest room also has an interactive display that shows power consumption levels – offering gentle reminders when usage exceeds recommended levels.

Rainwater is also collected and repurposed for waste water flushing in every room.

Read more about the plans Banyan Tree has for its wellness facilities in an interview with Paul Hawco, global director of integrated wellbeing for Banyan Tree, in the current edition of Spa Business.