SONEVA UNVEILS ITS LATEST SECRET (Maldives)
With the opening of its new Soneva Secret resort, the Soneva group has once again succeeded in marrying ultimate luxury with sustainable development, in a Maldives archipelago still under threat from global warming. |
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SONEVA UNVEILS ITS LATEST SECRET (Maldives)
With the opening of its new Soneva Secret resort, the Soneva group has once again succeeded in marrying ultimate luxury with sustainable development, in a Maldives archipelago still under threat from global warming. |
Category: Asia Pacific - Maldives - Industry economy
- Hotel opening
Article written by Guillaume Chollier on 2023-10-27
In a paradise at the end of the world, bathed in the turquoise waters of unspoilt lagoons in the Indian Ocean, in the atoll of Haa Dhaalu, whose name alone is a promise of exoticism, Soneva Secret, the latest resort in the Soneva group, invites you to much more than just a trip. In the brightly coloured seaplane that takes us there, this residence set on a small confetti of white sand seems to be frozen in a distant, idyllic world, where manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks and a myriad of multicoloured fish undulate in a harmonious ballet. An atmosphere 10,000 leagues from the reality of our world.
"I first visited the Maldives with Eva in 1987 and fell in love with the place. I'd never seen anything like it. Eva, who had visited in the late 1980s and early 1990s, loved this simple, unspoilt way of life," recalls Sonu Shivdasani, who co-founded Soneva with his wife, Eva,contacted by Journal des Palaces.
However, this dream does exist and will welcome its first visitors in January 2024. In the heart of a totally unspoilt natural setting, the group's new prestige address knows how to look after its guests, with just 14 villas, some set on an immaculate beach, others on stilts, the last of which, the Crusoe Villas, are located on the lagoon and accessible only by boat. Villa Castaway is the first floating villa in the Maldives. With direct access to the beach or lagoon, these villas have a master suite and spacious bedrooms, and a retractable roof, so you can enjoy the night breeze with your nose in the stars. What's more, each accommodation comes with a 'Barefoot Guardian', a 'Barefoot Assistant' to a private chef who concocts exceptional menus on request, to be enjoyed in the villa or in one of the island's many picture-postcard landscapes.
Another gastronomic experience, Out of This World, offers a unique opportunity to taste one of the classified vintages from its wine cellar at the top of an observatory accessible by zip-line.
A return to basics, sprinkled with rare luxury
From the outset, Soneva has suggested a return to basics, to the essential, to simplicity, without denying its luxurious character. These values are deeply rooted in the DNA of the group, which, as a symbol, campaigns for barefoot luxury in its resorts. A concept that has become a mantra: "no news, no shoes". It was almost 35 years ago, in 1995 to be exact, that the group set itself the challenge of offering luxury hotels of the highest quality, combined with sustainable tourism in the Maldives, with the opening of Soneva Fushi. An eco-responsible luxury hotel that has enabled the brand to become the spearhead of 'intelligent luxury'.
Building on its immediate success, Soneva now offers three eco-resorts in the Maldives – Soneva Secret, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani - as well as a luxury yacht, Soneva In Acqua. The group also owns Soneva Kiri in Thailand. In each of them, the Group is committed to the principles of SLOW LIFE: Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness-Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences.
"When we decided to open our first hotel complex, we wanted to create something unrivalled while taking care to protect the environment. We believe that a company should have a clear objective, over and above the pursuit of profit. It must serve and contribute to the society in which it operates and must not have a negative impact on the environment in which it is located", explains Sonu Shivdasani.
Committed to the fight against global warming and its impact on tourism, Soneva has set itself the goal of achieving a zero-carbon footprint in all its resorts. Under the leadership of its founders Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the group has also initiated a significant number of local and international projects that support environmental sustainability, the protection and conservation of biodiversity and habitats, as well as large-scale social and community initiatives. "Sustainability has always been at the heart of Soneva's ethos, whether it's sourcing sustainable materials, pioneering 'waste to wealth' practices or working in partnership with our local communities," adds Sonu Shivdasani.
A group committed to preserving the environment
As a symbol of this strong commitment, the Soneva Foundation was created in 2008. This non-profit organisation invests in innovative initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment, society and the economy. A 2% tax is added to guests' stays to benefit global projects that have a positive impact on the environment, society and the economy. This tax also helps to offset carbon emissions from the resorts' activities, as well as guests' air transfers. In 2019, Soneva Namoona, a partnership between Soneva Fushi, neighbouring islands and the international NGO Common Seas, was launched. The aim is to phase out single-use plastic on all Maldivian islands, introduce recycling and inspire a new generation of ocean stewards. By the end of 2021, 11 islands had signed up to the programme, saving 101,680 single-use plastic bottles and redirecting 100,191 kilograms of recyclable materials from landfill or open-air incineration to partners who are experts in recycling.
"We are proud of our harmonious fusion of sustainable luxury and authentic experiences. Our commitment to environmental protection goes beyond simple gestures, as we have incorporated innovative design and practices to minimise our ecological footprint. This commitment not only resonates with the conscious traveller, but also offers a unique opportunity to engage with the natural beauty of our island in a responsible and respectful way," explains Sonu Shivdasani, who reports he sources his food locally - sometimes even from the organic gardens grown at the resorts.
Experience is the priority at every resort
Soneva cultivates a different kind of luxury, one that underlines the playful nature of the group and its innovative spirit. Dinners in the trees, restaurants accessible by zip line, water slides, open-air bathrooms, private observatories, floating cinemas, and spectacular cabins for little explorers illustrate perfectly how Sonava sets itself apart from other resorts, both in the Maldives and in Thailand.
Soneva Fushi, located in the only UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Maldives, stands out for the size of its 63 villas, which are among the most luxurious in the archipelago: up to 3,048 m2. The resort boasts some of the largest overwater villas in the world. Featuring waterslides plunging into the ocean and outdoor bathrooms, they also allow occupants to embrace the stars at nightfall by opening the retractable roof they are equipped with. All while enjoying a vintage wine from the largest wine cellar in the Indian Ocean. From glamping on a sandbank and watching classic films at Cinema Paradiso under the stars, to swimming with manta rays or dining on a private sandbank, not forgetting the Chocolate Room or the glass-blowing studio, Soneva Fushi offers no fewer than 50 unique experiences, to be enjoyed by two or the whole family.
At Soneva Jani, on the Noonu atoll, each of the 51 overwater villas has been designed to maximise the feeling of space, with a butler service to take care of its occupants. Each town has its own access to the turquoise lagoon via a waterslide and, here too, most of the accommodation allows you to fall asleep with your nose in the stars, thanks to the retractable roof. The resort offers rare gastronomic experiences, with, for example, the Crab Shack, voted "the most romantic restaurant in the world" by CNN, or the Cinema Paradiso, the only silent cinema on the water in the Maldives, where the sound of the films being shown is transmitted via Bluetooth headphones so as not to disturb the surrounding fauna, particularly the turtles in gestation. Another not-to-be-missed experience is dinner at So Starstruck, where you can watch the Milky Way with an astronomer through one of the largest telescopes in the Indian Ocean.
Just a few hours' flight away is Soneva Kiri, on Thailand's fourth largest and least populated island. The residence, which has its own private airport, is home to 34 luxurious villas with swimming pools, ranging from one to six bedrooms. On the beach or perched atop a promontory overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, the villas are set amid lush jungle, with views of the crystal-clear sea and the reef, home to a rich variety of wildlife. One of the incomparable experiences on offer at Soneva Kiri is Treepod Dining: dinner at the top of a tree, suspended in a bamboo platform, with your eyes drowning in the ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see, served via zip-lines. One of a kind!
A unique range of treatments
While Soneva goes to great lengths to enable its visitors to 'cut out' completely, it also cares for the body and mind. Launched in 2022, the Soneva Soul concept combines ancestral healing methods with scientific innovations to achieve long-term wellbeing and fitness goals through a multidisciplinary offering to reconnect mind, body and soul. "Soneva Soul is the culmination of everything we have learned since we launched our spa at Soneva Fushi in 1995, the very first resort spa in the Maldives. We are launching a ground-breaking concept that brings together seemingly contradictory notions to offer our guests a transformative and personalised wellness experience", explains Sonu Shivdasani about the concept, which not only offers spas but also programmes dedicated to exercise, sleep, yoga and meditation. It also offers a range of wellness products, a global network of recognised specialists, and innovative, regenerative medical treatments.
A healthy mind in a healthy body, enjoying a white sandy beach bathed in turquoise waters inhabited by turtles, dolphins, rays and other multicoloured fish - it's a dream come true. In her resorts, with perseverance, conviction and humility, Soneva has succeeded in making this dream come true! To Sonu Shivdasani's great delight. And it would be a real shame to keep it a secret...
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