Soneva | Owner, Sonu Shivdasani

February 01, 2021

If you’ve ever enjoyed a luxury, wellness, or sustainable travel experience – chances are that experience was shaped by the vision of today’s guest.

Sonu Shivdasani is the owner & CEO of Soneva Resorts in the Maldives and Thailand, and the founder of Six Senses Resorts. The ideas that he’s developed over the last 25 years have forever impacted the face of luxury travel.

Now as for Soneva Resorts – they are some of the finest island resorts in the world. Complete with over water bungalows, water slides, chocolate rooms, and advanced astronomy equipment.

Sonu shares with me some insightful tidbits on what true luxury means for the modern traveler, the crazy story behind leasing his first island in his mid-20s, and how personal crisis has shaped today’s experience at Soneva Resorts.

Listen to hear:

02:03 – What Sonu’s view from his favorite spot on the property is
05:04 – About his personal story as an entrepreneur supporting sustainability in the Maldives
11:31 – Why and how Sonu built Six Senses, and why he sold it
18:00 – How luxury is a philosophy of rare experiences
23:55 – How a personal crisis gave Sonu a new perspective on life, personally and professionally
28:19 – About the rooftop slides on the villas in Soneva
31:37 – Why the solidarity he felt on the island is one of his favorite memories
36:14 – What you will learn about the world after visiting the Maldives

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