The plan was simply to build one hotel in the Maldives 27 years ago, but Sonu Shidavsani has surpassed even his own wildest dreams. With his wife Eva, he built the Soneva Fushi resort on the deserted island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives. It was the first “castaway” resort there, pioneering the trend for back– to–nature holidays.
Today, it is a luxury resort with vast multi–bedroom luxury villas and private residences — all within touching distance of a Biosphere UNESCO–protected coral reef. Nobody on the island wears shoes, and TV channels don’t exist — never mind luxury, this is the ultimate luxury isolation destination.
Arabian Business Traveller sat down with Sonu Shivdasani, the CEO and co–founder of Soneva, who shared on the importance of sustainability, the future of Soneva, and the need to do more.
Was it love at first sight when you first came to the Maldives?
I first visited the Maldives with [my wife] Eva in 1987 and fell in love with the place. I had never seen anything quite like it. Pure ice–coloured water, aquamarine lagoons with little blobs of sand — tens of them scattered as far as the eye could see. It was Eva who introduced me to the Maldives as she had first visited at the beginning of the 80s on a modelling shoot. In those days, there were only four resorts in the Maldives, which was extremely untouched and simple. Even back in 1987, tourism had not yet developed.
We both had an affinity for the place, as if we had spent a previous life there together. We kept on returning. However, at one point, we realised that we needed to become more involved because the resorts that existed were very poor in terms of sustainability and the standards of service and quality provided.
When you opened in 1995, did you have visions of growing to this scale?
Our initial vision was to build one example of what travel and tourism in the Maldives could be. For us, this came in the form of an eco–conscious resort that pushed the boundaries of luxury, while supporting and enhancing the well–being and health of its guests.
This vision was successful, not just in the Maldives, but abroad. In fact, it led to the creation of Six Senses, where we started to expand beyond the Maldives, operating spas, and resorts throughout the world. As we grew, we realised that the positive impact that we were having on the environment in local communities continued to grow as well.
In 2012, we decided to focus on just one brand, where we were both owner and operator and where we could achieve new boundaries for excellence in every aspect that these platforms allowed us.
Today, our three Soneva resorts in the Maldives and Thailand have evolved to the extent that we are very proud of. We are now expanding beyond the Maldives and Thailand, with direct investments and partnerships planned in Cambodia, Japan, Switzerland, and the U.S — you will learn more about these developments as we come closer to opening.
Do you remember welcoming your first guests? How did that feel?
The opening of Soneva Fushi was an exciting and nerve–wracking experience. We invested our souls into the resort. Ourselves and our gracious hosts worked tirelessly to prepare the resort, from hiring and training hosts to creating unique experiences and designing sustainable practices.
When the first guests arrived, we were thrilled to see our vision come to life. We were also just as delighted to receive positive feedback from guests who appreciated the resort’s attention to detail, sustainability, and personalised service.
Welcoming our first guests was a significant milestone for us, and it marked the beginning of our journey as luxury hoteliers committed to sustainability, authenticity, and social responsibility.
Can you elaborate on the “one owner, one operator, one philosophy” strategy?
I strongly feel that luxury has become very institutional, so being both owner and operator is very important. Many luxury resorts are now owned by a few large hotel companies, meaning that the days of passionate hoteliers are long gone, as their successors are now just operators.
Soneva is different. We own and operate our hotels. The advantage of being both owner and operator is that we do not have to make compromises. This allows us to preserve a clear philosophy and, with time, a strong brand DNA.
You do a lot on the environmental front as an organisation. Do you feel other companies do enough or can do more?
Sustainability is important to me and Eva, as we believe that a company must have a purpose that is beyond simply enriching shareholders and paying employees a salary. We believe that by making small changes to the way that we do business, we can raise considerable capital to support people well beyond our shores, all while maintaining our profitability.
So, to answer your question, I personally feel that at Soneva, we should be doing more. But, given that we have won numerous awards that are similar to the Oscars for our sustainability in travel and tourism, and the fact that we are known for pushing the boundaries of sustainability in travel and tourism, it is clear that other resorts and businesses could also be doing much more.
You are re-imagining waste management through Soneva Namoona. Can you tell us more about that?
Soneva Namoona was launched in 2019. It aims to solve a problem that has bedevilled the Maldives for a generation — how to properly dispose of waste. Presently, island communities burn their garbage in toxic, open bonfires. Meanwhile, significant amounts of waste, especially single–use plastics, wash up on the beaches, litter the jungle, and smother the coral reefs.
Soneva Namoona is an initiative founded by Soneva, the Maalhos Island Council, the Dharavandhoo Island Council, and the Kihaadhoo Island Council. Our mission is to create a blueprint for empowered zero–waste communities in the Maldives, centred around the three core components of reduce, recycle, and inspire. Soneva Namoona is grounded in the reality of the challenges and opportunities that are unique to local islands.
Straight after inception, we installed the first glass water bottling centre on a regional island this was the beginning of many firsts.
Traditionally, the water consumed in restaurants, guest houses, and by the island’s public in general comes from plastic bottles, from a water bottling company in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Soneva Namoona Water, however, filters and mineralises the desalinated island water and then places it in sterilised glass water bottles. When the bottles are returned, the user gets a 20 percent saving on their water purchase — making them financially better off.
It is also worth noting that the first Soneva Namoona plant avoids the use of 10,000 plastic bottles a month. A second plant is under construction in Kudafari in the Noonu Atoll, where Soneva Jani is based, while a third will soon be built in Makunudhoo, where our new resort is set to open at the end of the year.
In February 2020, we celebrated another Maldives’ first — Maalhos became the first island in the country to end the practice of burning its garbage in open bonfires. This was made possible by the opening of the island’s Eco Centro waste–to–wealth centre, funded by Soneva and modelled on Soneva Fushi’s own Eco Centro.
The Maalhos Eco Centro is a waste–processing facility that sorts waste into different types, such as plastic, glass, tin and wood. It compacts, crushes, and chips it where possible and then sends it off the island for recycling. We opened Eco Centros on Dharavandhoo and Kihaadhoo a few months after that.
2021 was a very exciting year for Soneva Namoona. It saw three more islands from the Noonu Atoll (Magoodhoo, Lhohi, and Kudafari) and four more islands from the Baa Atoll (Dhonfanu, Kamadhoo, Kudarikilu, and Kendhoo) join the three original Namoona Islands (Maalhos, Dharavandhoo, and Kihaadhoo) to work with us. Together, we worked on ways of improving their waste management systems, reducing the amount of single–use plastics used on the islands, and ways of promoting the environmental stewardship practiced within their communities.
In December 2021, we coordinated a collection boat for the recyclables segregated and baled on the seven Namoona islands of Baa atoll. Fifty tonnes of aluminium, metal, plastics, and cardboard were sent for recycling.
Last year, Soneva Namoona and seven Women’s Development Committees of Baa Atoll launched an innovative second–hand market that connects all Namoona islands of the Baa Atoll. The initiative was launched with the support of their respective island councils.
Soneva Namoona is a Maldivian NGO. It is not driven for profit, but to work with local islands on waste management and the elimination of single–use plastic.
What is it about Soneva Fushi that makes you most proud?
Soneva Fushi is our firstborn. It is the resort where our vision is most evolved. There is an intangible beauty to Soneva Fushi — a certain magic that one feels the moment they walk down the jetty. It is an energy that one achieves when everything gels together in a perfect balance. It is difficult to explain. But let me try, Soneva Fushi embodies all of the core values and principles that are at the heart of the Soneva brand.
One of the things that makes me most proud of Soneva Fushi is our commitment to sustainability. From the use of renewable energy sources like solar and biomass to the extensive waste reduction and recycling initiatives, Soneva Fushi is a model for a sustainable luxury resort. We have won numerous awards for our environmental initiatives, including the prestigious Green Globe certification.
Another aspect of Soneva Fushi that I am proud of is the unique guest experience that we offer. The resort is designed to be a “barefoot luxury” retreat, where guests can unwind and reconnect with nature in a beautiful and unspoiled setting. From the stunning villas and beachfront dining with Michelin starred chefs to the world–class Soneva Soul wellness centre and spa, Soneva Fushi is a place where guests can truly relax and escape.
Finally, I am proud of the team that we have assembled at Soneva Fushi. The resort has over 500 talented and passionate hosts, many of whom come from local Maldivian communities.
Overall, I believe that Soneva Fushi represents the best of what luxury hospitality can be — a place of beauty, sustainability, and care that offers guests a unique and unforgettable experience.
Looking back at the last 27 years, would you do anything differently?
I am someone who is always looking to learn and grow, and while I’m proud of all that Soneva has achieved over the last 27 years, I believe that there are always opportunities for growth and improvement.
That being said, I don’t believe in dwelling on regrets, or looking back with a sense of disappointment or frustration. Every experience is an opportunity be it for learning, growth, exploration, or innovation.
Of course, there are always things that could have been done differently or better in hindsight, but I prefer to focus on the present and the future rather than the past. I am very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Soneva and the luxury hospitality industry as a whole. I am committed to continuing to push the boundaries of sustainability, innovation, and guest experience.
How do you see the resort looking ten years from now? Will it be any different?
I believe that a hotel should be a living, dynamic being. It should not just be built by a developer and left there — exactly the same as the day it was built, with some small maintenance and FF&E repairs. It should be continuously evolving and developing as one’s knowledge evolves. When I think of how a hotel or a true service business should evolve, I’m reminded of peeling an onion, where every time you remove one layer and think that is it, you discover another one and another opportunity to continuously evolve, develop, and
improve. The Japanese have a word for this — it’s Kodawari.
In terms of how I see Soneva evolving in the next ten years, I believe that the resort will continue to push the boundaries of sustainability and luxury. Our new resort, which opens at the end of the year, will run on 95 percent renewable energy. Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani will be at a little over 50 percent.
Certainly, by 2030, all three resorts will be decarbonising in their operations, even though we have been carbon neutral as an organisation since 2010. We will continue to be a leader in sustainable hospitality and continue to push the boundaries on how one can reduce one’s environmental footprint. We will also continue to promote responsible tourism practices.
At Soneva, we have an extremely strong focus on the guest, and we will continue to reimagine and come up with new, unique, and unforgettable experiences. We will also continue to develop new services that will have a big impact in allowing our guests to rejuvenate and recover true health. We will be a place where guests can truly escape and unwind in a pristine natural environment.
Soneva will continue to evolve and innovate in terms of technology and design. We are aiming to develop our wellness offering far beyond Soneva, and position ourselves in the wellness space, as we have over 27 years of experience in hand.
I am excited about the future of Soneva and the opportunities that lie ahead of us. I believe that we will continue to evolve and grow in exciting new ways, while staying true to the core values and principles that have made it so successful over the past two decades.
For Soneva, even the next two years will reveal a lot of Soneva Secrets…
If you could choose a totally different career, what would it be?
I joined into the hospitality industry by accident, but I am now a truly passionate hotelier and I love what I do to the extent that I do not consider it work. If I were to choose a different career, it would be one where I could continue to engage with people and have a huge impact on the environment. It would also be one where my right and left brain would benefit. In other words, it would be a venture where I would have to think strategically and rationally and use financial acumen, but at the same time, where I would be rewarded for my creativity
Follow www.abtraveller.com and @abtravellerme to stay updated on the latest travel news
