Set to open within the group’s integrated beach resort of Laguna Phuket and featuring serviced apartments, Cassia Phuket will be an affordable offering for families, friends and couples looking for more space than the average hotel room, the group said.

Cassia Phuket has 221 one- and two-bedroom “residences”, each with a separate living room and fully-equipped kitchen, while many also feature a loft “hang-out” with views of the lagoon, ocean or park.

Cassia is calling its staff “Friends”, who will be primed to help recommend local activities, while guests select various service options online pre-arrival, such as preferred apartment packages, airport transfer methods, spa and room add-ons, a la-carte housekeeping and tour packages.

Restaurant concepts include Market 23 Cafe and Street Bar, which has an in-house DJ and works by Thai street artists. Guests can also prepare their own meals in their kitchen after shopping at Market 23 Cafe or order take away from street vendors.

Cassia Phuket also features Chill-Chill Spa, Play Play kids club, two pools and access to Bang Tao Beach; WiFi is complimentary for guests, as is a “tiffin box” breakfast delivered to the room.

The resort will also be expanding to a total of 326 residences in a second tower by 2017.

Banyan Tree also operates the Angsana brand and the next Cassia locations will be Bintan in Indonesia, Lijiang in China and Beruwala in Sri Lanka.