Phuket’s crowded luxury property scene is preparing for another major arrival as VillaCarte Group advances Layan Verde, a $637 million development combining premium residences, two planned five-star hotels, and extensive lifestyle facilities. Located near Bang Tao and Layan beaches on the island’s west coast, the project is designed to bring holiday accommodation, residential living, shopping, dining, and wellness into one integrated destination.
Image Credit: VillaCarte Group
The hospitality arrangements are central to its appeal. Dusit International will manage one of the two hotels and a serviced residential component, bringing established Thai hospitality expertise to the development. As this Phuket Hotel News report explains, the second hotel remains a separate part of the plan, with its operator yet to be publicly identified in the information available.
A Large Development with Several Moving Parts
Layan Verde occupies a 7.5-hectare site and is being positioned as VillaCarte Group’s largest development. Recent launch coverage describes more than 774 premium and luxury residences, two five-star hotels, and over 65 amenities. The scale places it firmly among Phuket’s ambitious mixed-use projects, where developers increasingly compete through the environment surrounding each apartment.
Published project specifications have evolved. Dusit’s original partnership announcement described a complex exceeding 108,000 square meters, while current developer materials promote approximately 200,000 square meters of architecture. These figures belong to different announcements and should be read accordingly, rather than treated as interchangeable measurements of an unchanged plan.
Dusit’s Hotel and Residential Responsibilities
Under the agreement announced in June 2024, Dusit Collection – Layan Verde was planned across five buildings with 398 rooms. It was the first property signed under Dusit’s luxury Collection brand, which emphasizes distinctive architecture, thoughtful design, and guest experiences connected to the character of each destination.
Dusit also announced responsibility for another five buildings containing 388 rooms under a branded residential offering. That component would extend hotel-style service to condominium and apartment residents. These are the figures in the original management announcement; they should not be added to the newer residential total without clarification about how the updated accommodation inventory is organized.
Image Credit: VillaCarte Group
The distinction matters because the serviced residences are not the second hotel. Layan Verde’s current development proposition includes two hotels alongside its residential accommodation, while Dusit’s disclosed role covers one hotel and the residential component. Further announcements should clarify the other hotel’s branding, operator, and final room count.
Bang Tao Commands Phuket’s Premium Market
The project is entering an area already attracting a substantial share of Phuket’s residential investment. In the market overview supplied for September 30, 2026, VillaCarte founder Vadym Bukhkalov identified Bang Tao, Laguna, and Layan as important centers for forthcoming housing supply.
According to that overview, Bang Tao accounts for 62% of units scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, rising to a projected 71% in 2027. It also represents 52.3% of residential units offered for sale but 64.2% of their combined market value, indicating a concentration of higher-priced properties.
The same assessment places 31 of 60 surveyed premium projects in Bang Tao and another eight in Layan. Bang Tao reportedly holds 58.6% of available units in the survey’s Lux and Lux+ categories. These developer-cited figures describe a powerful location advantage, but also reveal how intensely neighboring projects are competing.
Thai Identity Becomes a Selling Point
For Layan Verde, differentiation increasingly rests on Thai identity and the service experience. Bukhkalov’s account describes an approach shaped by local partners, construction decisions, landscape considerations, and the selection of materials, furniture, and handicrafts from Thai producers.
Dusit’s participation gives that direction an operational foundation. A recognizable hotel brand can help connect architectural promises with everyday services, from guest reception and housekeeping to dining and assistance for residents. For buyers comparing similar apartments, confidence in how a property will operate can influence the decision.
The supplied market commentary also highlights changing expectations around wellness, privacy, convenience, and a distinctive sense of place. Layan Verde’s challenge is to deliver these qualities consistently, particularly as the development brings together permanent residents, holiday guests, visiting diners, and owners participating in rental arrangements.
Nature-Inspired Architecture and Greener Design
Dewan Architects + Engineers is responsible for the project’s architecture, with SHMA handling landscape design. The developer describes the buildings as examples of bionic architecture, using organic forms and an approach intended to connect the built environment with its tropical setting.
Current project materials advertise Advanced EDGE certification and energy efficiency benefits of up to 35%. That claim should be understood as a design and certification statement, rather than a promise that every resident’s electricity and water bills will fall by an identical percentage.
Image Credit: VillaCarte Group
Recent launch coverage reports more than 16,500 square meters of landscaping, over 300 plant species, and multiple waterfalls, pools, streams, and ponds. Around 40% of the site is described as devoted to infrastructure and the wider living environment, a broader category than planted green space alone.
Facilities Intended to Support Everyday Life
The planned amenities extend well beyond a conventional residential swimming pool and gym. Official partner materials list two hotels, approximately 5,000 square meters of retail space, more than 16 restaurants, cafés, and bars, a wellness center, coworking space, children’s facilities, walking trails, and sports areas.
Those materials also identify nine swimming pools, a 50-meter pool, two padel courts, and a 700-square-meter event space. The combination is intended to support families, working residents, leisure travelers, and smaller events within the development.
An ocean club and shopping facilities were also included in Dusit’s original announcement. Together, these elements could give guests and residents more reasons to spend time on site while creating business opportunities beyond accommodation. Their eventual appeal will depend on the quality of the operators, programming, and maintenance.
VillaCarte’s Experience and the Delivery Schedule
Founded in Phuket in 2012, VillaCarte grew from property rental, brokerage, management, and concierge services into development. Its portfolio includes Layan Green Park and La Vista Villas, providing experience across accommodation operations and residential sales.
That background helps explain Layan Verde’s emphasis on managed living. The proposed experience combines ownership with access to hospitality services, while rental participation offers an additional route for eligible owners. Financial arrangements, operating costs, and owner-use conditions will depend on the applicable contracts.
The timetable also requires careful distinction. Dusit’s 2024 announcement anticipated opening in 2027, whereas current developer partner materials identify completion in 2028, and VillaCarte’s property listing specifies December 2028. These dates should be presented as published targets for different stages, with confirmed hotel opening dates still requiring updated announcements.
A Significant Test for Phuket’s Luxury Sector
Layan Verde brings considerable ambition to a neighborhood already rich in premium developments. Its combination of two hotels, serviced residences, Thai hospitality, distinctive architecture, and extensive facilities could strengthen Bang Tao’s destination appeal. The decisive test will be whether construction, service delivery, and the finished living environment fulfill those promises as each phase opens.
For more on Villacarte Group, visit:
https://villacartegroup.com/en
