This Global Resort Brand Just Turned Its Wellness Program Into a Full-Blown Retreat Series

Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is expanding its Connections private wellbeing program to eight additional resort destinations starting May 2026. The move comes alongside a global partnership with yoga and wellness brand Manduka and the launch of multi-day group retreat experiences.

Eight New Destinations

The Connections program, which launched in 2025 as a private immersion experience, will roll out to Banyan Tree AlUla in Saudi Arabia, Banyan Tree Dubai, Banyan Tree Lang Co in Vietnam, Banyan Tree Samui in Thailand, Banyan Tree Bintan in Indonesia, Buahan a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali, and two properties in China (Nanjing Garden Expo and Guangzhou Jiulong Lake, the latter arriving later in 2026).

From Private Sessions to Group Retreats

The expansion adds a new format: Connections Retreats, which are guided group journeys combining mindfulness, movement, and cultural immersion over multiple days. Banyan Tree is also launching a visiting practitioner residency series, rotating wellness experts across its global portfolio.

The Manduka partnership integrates the brand’s yoga products at selected properties and brings Manduka-affiliated practitioners to lead retreat sessions. It’s a signal that Banyan Tree sees wellness not just as an amenity but as a bookable product line in its own right.

The Bigger Picture

Banyan Tree recently passed 100 resorts globally, and the wellness push comes as the luxury resort segment increasingly competes on programming rather than just hardware. The brand is betting that structured retreat experiences — not just nice spas — are what will differentiate resorts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.