Banyan Group vs Laguna Phuket 2026: Yields, Prices & Which to Choose
Banyan: hotel brand, Garrya from $180K, 6–7% yield. Laguna: masterplan, Lakelands from $120K, 5–8% yield. Side-by-side comparison of all projects, prices, and ROI.
Banyan Group vs Laguna Property Phuket: Which Developer to Choose?
Banyan Group and Laguna Property are the two dominant developers operating in Phuket’s Laguna / Bang Tao area — and they frequently collaborate on the same projects. Understanding which developer to buy through, and why the distinction sometimes matters and sometimes doesn’t, is essential before committing capital in this area. This guide compares both entities across brand, price range, project pipeline, and investor suitability.
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Understanding the Developer Relationship
Before comparing the two, it’s essential to understand that they are not truly separate competitors — they are deeply intertwined:
Laguna Resorts and Hotels PLC (the entity behind Laguna Property) has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) since 1993. It is the estate developer and landowner of Laguna Phuket — the 1,000-acre integrated resort estate on Bang Tao Beach.
Banyan Group (formerly Banyan Tree Holdings) operates the hotels, spas, and branded services within Laguna Phuket — most notably Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Phuket, and Cassia Phuket. Banyan Group’s residential arm develops and brands residences within and adjacent to the Laguna estate.
In practice: Laguna Property is the landowner and estate developer; Banyan Group brands the properties and operates the hospitality services. Many projects — including Residences at Garrya, Skypark Elara Lakelands, and Laguna Lake Residences Aster — are explicitly co-branded joint ventures between both entities.
Corporate Profile Comparison
| Factor | Banyan Group | Laguna Property |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 (Singapore) | 1993 (Thailand, SET-listed) |
| Type | International hotel and residential group | Thai resort development company |
| Stock listing | SGX (Singapore Exchange) | SET (Thailand) |
| Primary role | Hospitality brand + residential development | Land development, estate management |
| Phuket focus | Branded residences + hotel operations | All Laguna Phuket development |
| Portfolio size | Multi-brand across 24+ countries | 19 projects, 2,147 units in Laguna |
Brand Ecosystem Compared
Banyan Group Brands in Phuket
Banyan Group brings multiple international hospitality brands to the Phuket residential market:
- Banyan Tree: Ultra-luxury ($4.7M–$6.5M beachfront)
- Angsana: Luxury sea-view ($1.2M+)
- Garrya: Wellness ($430K–$1.9M)
- Cassia: Lifestyle entry ($160K–$375K)
- Bellaguna: Upcoming Lakelands brand (pricing TBA)
Laguna Property Brand
Laguna Property operates under its own brand rather than multiple sub-brands. Projects carry the Laguna name (Laguna Lakelands, Laguna Lake Residences, Laguna Beachside, Laguna Park, Laguna Homes) and benefit from the Laguna Phuket estate brand recognition built over 30+ years.
Full Project Comparison Table
| Project | Developer | Units | Price Range | Delivery | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banyan Tree Oceanus | Banyan Group | 16 | $4.7M–$6.5M | Dec 2028 | Off-plan |
| Banyan Tree Varuna | Banyan Group | 10 | On request | 2028 | Off-plan |
| Banyan Tree Sirena | Banyan Group | 40 | Premium TBA | 2026 | Off-plan |
| Residences at Garrya | Banyan + Laguna | 38 | $430K–$1.9M | Q2 2027 | Under construction |
| Skypark Elara | Banyan + Laguna | 220 | $265K–$1.52M | Oct 2026 | Under construction |
| Laguna Lake Residences Aster | Laguna + Banyan | 180 | $338K–$1.11M | Dec 2027 | Under construction |
| Laguna Beachside | Laguna Property | 120 | From $280K | 2025 | Ready |
| Laguna Seaside | Laguna Property | 50 | $250K–$1.01M | Q1 2026 | Ready/near ready |
| Angsana Oceanview | Banyan Group | 149 | From $1.2M | 2021 (ready) | Secondary |
| Cassia Phuket | Banyan Group | 104 | $160K–$375K | 2019 (ready) | Secondary |
| Laguna Park 2 | Laguna Property | 53 villas | From $840K | 2023 (ready) | Secondary |
| Laguna Homes | Laguna Property | 41 villas | From $1.5M | 2024 (ready) | Secondary |
Where Banyan Group Wins
1. International Brand Recognition
Banyan Tree is one of the world’s most recognised luxury hotel brands. Garrya and Cassia have strong international distribution through Banyan Group’s reservation systems. For yield investors, this brand recognition translates directly into booking volume that independent or Laguna-only branded properties cannot replicate.
2. Ultra-Premium Positioning
For buyers seeking trophy assets — Oceanus at $4.7M–$6.5M, Varuna, or Sirena — only Banyan Group delivers the ultra-luxury brand overlay that justifies these price points in the international luxury property market.
3. Wellness Positioning (Garrya)
Garrya is the most compelling wellness-branded residential product in Phuket. The wellness real estate market is growing globally; Garrya’s preventive health and mindfulness integration is a differentiated product with genuine ADR premium potential.
Where Laguna Property Wins
1. Estate Ownership
Laguna Property is the landowner. This matters because all projects within the estate exist at the pleasure of Laguna Property’s planning and infrastructure decisions. Buying a Laguna Property project means buying from the entity that controls the estate’s future.
2. Masterplan Vision
The $2 billion Laguna Lakelands masterplan — announced February 2024 — represents a 5–10 year development roadmap that only Laguna Property can deliver. Being early in this masterplan (Skypark Elara at Oct 2026, Aster at Dec 2027) positions buyers ahead of the full infrastructure buildout.
3. Price Breadth
Laguna Property’s portfolio spans from $160K (Cassia, though branded Banyan Group) to $1.5M+ (Laguna Homes villas). Within its own branded products, Laguna Property covers $250K (Laguna Beachside) to $1.5M (Laguna Homes), giving investors more entry options without requiring a Banyan Group brand premium.
4. Thai Institutional Track Record
As a SET-listed Thai company since 1993, Laguna Property has the longest and most transparent development track record of any Phuket developer. 19 projects and 2,147 units delivered without a major failure is exceptional in the Thai property market.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose Banyan Group if:
- You prioritise international brand equity for rental yield or resale
- You want ultra-luxury (Oceanus) or wellness-focused (Garrya) positioning
- Your budget is either under $375K (Cassia) or above $430K with brand premium appetite
- International booking channel access for rental management is important to you
Choose Laguna Property if:
- You want the masterplan developer’s advantage in the Lakelands zone
- You prefer a Thai institutional entity with 30+ year track record
- You’re buying a villa or townhouse (Laguna Park 2, Laguna Homes — Laguna Property exclusively)
- You want a beachside condo at accessible pricing (Laguna Beachside from $280K) without brand premium
Choose Either — For Joint Projects:
For Residences at Garrya, Skypark Elara, and Laguna Lake Residences Aster — all of which are Banyan Group / Laguna Property joint ventures — the distinction is largely academic. You are getting both brand ecosystems in the same project.
Price-to-Value Assessment
| Budget Range | Best Option | Developer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $200K | Cassia Phuket (secondary) | Banyan Group | Only Laguna branded option at this level |
| $200K–$300K | Skypark Elara (entry) | Banyan + Laguna | Newest Lakelands project at accessible price |
| $300K–$500K | Garrya or Laguna Aster | Banyan + Laguna | Beachfront wellness or lake lifestyle |
| $500K–$1M | Laguna Aster or Laguna Beachside | Laguna (+ Banyan) | Best value per sqm at this level |
| $1M–$2.5M | Angsana Oceanview (secondary) | Banyan Group | Ready sea-view branded luxury |
| $2.5M+ | Banyan Tree Oceanus | Banyan Group | Irreplaceable beachfront brand asset |
Pros and Cons
Banyan Group strengths:
- International brand equity drives rental premium
- Ultra-luxury segment uniquely dominated by Banyan Tree
- Wellness (Garrya) brand well-positioned for market growth
- Wide price range from Cassia ($160K) to Oceanus ($6.5M)
Banyan Group considerations:
- Brand premium means higher entry prices vs equivalent non-branded alternatives
- Management fees can reach 30–40% of gross rental revenue
Laguna Property strengths:
- Estate landowner and masterplan executor
- 30+ year SET-listed track record — strongest developer credibility in Phuket
- Broader villa/townhouse portfolio for lifestyle buyers
- Lakelands masterplan early-buyer advantage
Laguna Property considerations:
- Less international brand recognition than Banyan Tree for rental marketing
- Villa products (Laguna Homes, Laguna Park 2) are secondary market only
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are separate companies with a long-standing partnership. Laguna Resorts and Hotels PLC (Laguna Property's parent) is a SET-listed Thai company that owns the Laguna Phuket estate. Banyan Group (SGX-listed, Singapore) operates the Banyan Tree, Angsana, Garrya, and Cassia hospitality brands within the estate. Many Phuket residential projects are co-developed joint ventures between both entities.
Both developers show strong resale performance within Laguna Phuket. Banyan Tree-branded properties (Angsana Oceanview, Cassia) benefit from international brand recognition that reduces buyer due diligence time. Laguna Property projects benefit from the estate landowner relationship. Projects that are joint ventures between both — Garrya, Skypark Elara, Laguna Aster — tend to have the strongest combined brand support.
Yes. Many investors in Laguna Phuket hold positions in multiple projects across both developers. A typical diversified Laguna portfolio might include a Cassia unit (Banyan Group, income-generating), a Skypark Elara unit (under construction, joint venture), and a Laguna Homes villa (Laguna Property, lifestyle use). MORE Group can advise on portfolio construction across all Laguna/Banyan projects at 0% buyer commission.
The Laguna Lakelands masterplan ($2 billion, announced February 2024) means Laguna Property will launch the most new projects over 2025–2030, including Bellaguna and additional Lakelands phases. Banyan Group's pipeline includes Garrya (Q2 2027), Skypark Elara (Oct 2026), Banyan Tree Oceanus and Varuna (2028), and Sirena (2026). Most new launches in the Laguna area will be joint ventures between both.
Laguna Phuket has the strongest investment fundamentals of any single zone in Phuket: 30+ year estate track record, SET-listed developer, 5–6% annual price appreciation historically, 5.5–8.5% gross rental yields, Bang Tao Beach access, and the $2B Lakelands masterplan infrastructure investment ahead. Both Banyan Group and Laguna Property are institutionally credible developers within this estate.
Read Also
- Buying Property in Phuket
- Phuket Rental Yield Guide
- Best Areas to Buy in Phuket
- Bang Tao Property Guide
- Freehold vs Leasehold Thailand
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