When expanding the brand globally, the existing methods and new methods need to ensure that brand image and core value must not be diluted by too generic target market or vague market position.
When expanding the brand into different countries and regions, the competition within a specific location and competition between different locations are impossible to neglect.
2. What value propositions does Banyan Tree offer as an experiential brand?
By leveraging the natural surroundings unique to each location and adding consistency in the designs, facilities (including spas), ambience (including romance), and services (including warm hospitality) offered, Banyan Tree created strong brand identity and a unique value proposition that was associated with self-indulgence and pampering experience.
3. Evaluate Banyan Tree's expansion plan. What are the potential risks that Banyan Tree should be aware of and how can it mitigate such risks?
Banyan Tree’s expansion plan is fast and ambitious. It ensures the brand exist globally in most popular destinations. The positive aspect of the geographic expansion is that it helps to reduce low-revenue period caused by seasonality. It also allows the company to take advantage of cross-marketing opportunities.
Besides the expansion plan of new resorts, existing resorts expansion also helps to increase the revenue, and it requires less capital expenditure and cash flow. To offset the investment layouts, plans were in place to commerce selling resort residential properties in Lijiang, China and Bangkok, Thailand. But there were risks involving in it. These include various uncontrollable circumstances other than natural and man-made crises.
To mitigate such risks, management agreements are good approaches that can reduce the risks of loss and responsibilities of development and maintenance.
Based on current resources, is it realistic and achievable?
It is realistic and achievable, but requires