Banyan Tree Group will expand its Mexican portfolio in 2025 with the opening of a new tropical wellness retreat in the country’s Bacalar Lagoon region, located in the southern part of Quintana Roo.

Called Banyan Tree Veya Bacalar, the US$28m (€26.8m, £23.2m) resort will house 40 rooms and be branded under the hospitality group's new wellness resort concept Veya.

The upcoming resort is Banyan Tree’s second project with developer Groupo UBK. The organisations are already collaborating to realise Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe by Q3 of 2023 – set to be the debut Veya property in Mexico.

Veya was created in direct response to the pandemic in order to address a world with an urgent need for reconnecting mind and body. Based on Banyan Tree’s eight proprietary pillars of wellbeing, the resorts offer personalised retreats to ensure all visitors enjoy a bespoke holistic wellness experience.

To learn more about the concept, read Spa Business' exclusive interview with Kim Weller, Banyan Tree's wellbeing director.

In addition to Veya programming, Banyan Tree Veya Bacalar will provide traditional spa services at a signature Banyan Tree Spa designed to resemble a cenote in honour of the region’s underground water caves.

“Banyan Tree Veya Bacalar, along with the soon-to-open Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, will create a new category and concept of hospitality in Mexico that redefines luxury from a multisensory perspective,” said Peter Hechler, senior assistant vice president, head of regional operations for the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas of Banyan Tree.

“Modern travellers are actively seeking experiences on ‘the-path-less-travelled’, and as we continue to expand, we’re looking to bring awareness to emerging destinations that are rich with history, culture and natural wonders.”

Situated 30 minutes north of the Belize border, Bacalar is best known for its crystal-clear waters that native Mayans call ‘the Lagoon of the Seven Colors’, referring to the water’s multiple hues of blue.

Banyan Tree Veya Bacalar resort will mark the brand’s sixth location in Mexico and third in the Yucatán Region. Accommodation will comprise 35 villas and five residences set within dense greenery.

Additional facilities will include a main pool, four dining concepts and watersports amenities.

Banyan Tree’s Mexican portfolio already includes Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués in Acapulco, Banyan Tree Puebla and Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana in Merida.

The Veya portfolio includes the newly unveiled Banyan Tree Veya Phuket and the anticipated opening of Banyan Tree Veya Ilha Nejovo in Mozambique (2023), as well as the two aforementioned Mexico openings.