Sonu Shidvasani, descendant of Hindu parents, was born in England, where he completed his studies too, as well as in Nigeria and Switzerland. He graduated from Oxford with a degree in English literature, and it was during his time at university that he met his Swedish-born wife Eva, who, during the 1970s and 1980s, worked as a model for the most prestigious magazines. Sonu and his wife Eva traveled all over the world but fell in love with the Maldives, and there they bought in 1990 the desert island of Kunfunadhoo to build their home and their first resort, Soneva Fushi, opened in 1995. Soneva Fushi was the pioneering resort in the field of sustainable, eco-friendly luxury, and its opening redefined the concept of exclusive tourism in the Maldives.
Sonu and Eva are convinced that a company must exist for a greater purpose than shareholder return. Their philosophy is based on offering the best experiences to their guests while contributing to different projects related to the rural communities in the area through the Soneva Foundation.
From the beginning, sustainability has been part of the essence of Soneva. From using sustainable building materials and maintaining the natural beauty of each resort location, to working in partnership with the various local communities. At Soneva, they believe that luxury and sustainability are interconnected concepts, which do not compete with each other, but rather complement each other.
Thus, each of Soneva's resorts has its own organic gardens in which vegetables, fruits, and greens are grown for the restaurants. In this way, it is possible to offer guests fresh and local produce while eliminating the need to transport food to the resorts, which contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions.
All resorts have their own "Chocolate room", a special room where only dark chocolate from fair trade companies is served, and half of the wines on their restaurant menus are of bio-dynamic origin, without the presence of pesticides in the cultivation of the grapes and therefore much more sustainable, healthy, and of better quality.
Since 2008, Soneva resorts filter, mineralize, and bottle their own drinking water in reusable glass bottles, while using the proceeds to provide clean, safe water to 750,000 people worldwide. They import no single-use plastic into their resorts and recycle any discarded plastic, turning it into colorful and useful objects at their facility called Maker Space. In fact, Soneva Fushi already recycles 90% of its waste.
The "Slow Life" concept is synonymous with sustainable, local, organic, wellness, learning, inspiring, and fun experiences. This idea explains the Soneva philosophy and gives its name to the SLOW LIFE Symposia, which are organized to foster environmental and social collaboration within local communities. This symposium brings together the best academic, policy, and business minds to discuss some of the world's most pressing issues.
In 1995, Soneva Fushi set the standard for all luxury resorts on a desert island, combining the fantasy of a Robinson Crusoe-style experience with intelligent luxury. It's what they call "Barefoot Luxury," and guests at Soneva are asked upon arrival if they would like to take off their shoes, as not wearing shoes allows you to truly feel and experience the terrain you walk on.
Their philosophy, "No news, no shoes," is about disconnecting from everyday life and truly embracing the luxury of time and nature. There is no connection to television networks at any of Soneva's resorts, and the Wi-Fi connection in each villa can be turned off with a simple switch, allowing guests to unplug to reconnect with themselves.
Located on Kunfunadhoo Island in Baa Atoll and opened in 1995, Soneva Fushi was the pioneering hotel that inaugurated the concept of smart and sustainable luxury in the Maldives. It features a pristine coral reef declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and consists of 65 private villas that are hidden among the island's dense vegetation, just a few meters from the beach.
It offers an exquisite cuisine prepared with organic products grown on the island and has, among its attractions, an astronomical observatory, a magnificent spa, an outdoor cinema on the beach, and its Den Kids, a center dedicated especially for the youngest members of the family.
This exclusive hotel is located on Koh Kood, the fourth largest but least populated island in Thailand, just an hour by private plane from southeast Bangkok. Soneva Kiri offers an unparalleled combination of luxury, sustainability, exclusive local experiences, and delicious cuisine made from organic produce.
All villas feature a beachfront pool, hillside or cliffside views, and all have views of the Gulf of Thailand.
Situated on Medhufaru Island, in a 5.6-kilometer lagoon in the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, Soneva Jani offers panoramic ocean views in all directions. The lagoon is a 35-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport and a one-hour speedboat ride from Soneva Fushi. Jani, which means "wisdom" in Sanskrit, is built almost entirely on water.
Soneva was the first resort to have its own astronomical observatories for guests to explore the night skies guided by resident astronomers. Soneva Jani boasts the first observatory built over water in the Maldives.
Soneva Jani is built on a lagoon with five islands surrounded by white sandy beaches, covered by rich tropical vegetation. The overwater villas are separated by the expansive lagoon, offering privacy and sweeping views.
A floating villa, Soneva in Aqua, combines the ubiquitous charm of Soneva with the freedom to explore the oceans with no time limit. A custom itinerary designed by the captain offers guests the opportunity to explore exceptional reefs, deserted islands, and stunning locations.
Soneva in Aqua is a luxurious yacht measuring 23 meters long and 6.40 meters wide and with a cruising speed of 8 knots. The yacht has a maximum occupancy of four adults and two children to ensure maximum exclusivity and privacy.
The design features natural materials such as organic woods and cottons, and the engines have been built to the highest specifications in terms of fuel economy.
At any of its resorts, to live the Soneva experience is to return to the essence of smart luxury, where exclusivity is not at odds with sustainability. It is to reconnect with nature and with oneself through a unique, unforgettable, and transformative journey.
