Banyan Tree Group is set to debut in Europe with the upcoming Banyan Tree Varko Bay.

The result of a collaboration between Banyan Tree and the French hospitality group, Accor, the  new luxury resort will be developed on the Varko Peninsula in Pogonia, Aitoloakarnania, Greece. Slated to open in 2026, the five-star resort will consist of approximately 116 villas and 45 branded residences, seamlessly embedded in the coastal surroundings.

Applying Banyan Tree Group’s expertise across the all-pool villa concept, the resort aims to offer tranquil, wellbeing-centered accommodations, backdropped by views of the Ionian Sea and the islands of Lefkada, Meganisi and Skorpios.

It will also feature an award-winning Banyan Tree Spa, a water sports center, several state-of-the-art venues for meetings and events, a beach club, several bars and three restaurants including the brand’s signature Saffron, which serves Thai fare.

In keeping with Banyan Tree’s core pillar of sustainability, Banyan Tree Varko Bay will be constructed and operated with an uncompromising approach to sustainability and eco-sensitivity.

Built in partnership with the award-winning Greek Elastic Architects, the resort aims to be the first in Europe to achieve LEED Gold certification. Mirroring existing Banyan Tree Group developments, it will prioritize  responsible water use (70 percent of water will be reused for irrigation), the use of renewable energy sources and the encouragement of vegetation growth.

By ensuring the majority of all its hotels are covered with vegetation and developing plant-centered tropical spas, Banyan Tree creates beautiful contemporary spaces that are also friendly to the surrounding environment.

Banyan Tree Group operates more than 60 hotels worldwide, with a potential pipeline of more than 50 projects by 2025. The addition of Banyan Tree Varko Bay will build on the brand’s core concepts of sustainability and wellbeing-centred luxury, while reinforcing Banyan Tree’s leadership in this highly demanding sector.

Banyan Tree Group entered a strategic long-term partnership with Accor in 2016 to develop and manage Banyan Tree-branded hotels around the world along with the access to Accor’s global reservations and sales network, as well as the loyalty program ALL – Accor Live Limitless.