The Soneva Group to focus on resorts with private residences
The Soneva Group, the new company formed following the divestment of the Six Senses and Evason brands, has announced it is to focus on developing resorts with private residences.
The move will see the Soneva Group relinquish management of Soneva Gili, which is being sold by majority shareholders Capital Holdings and HBOS, to a new owner.
The Soneva Group will focus on developing the private residence portfolio at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Kiri as well as opening new privately owned resorts in the future.
Soneva Gili was the only Soneva resort that does not contain private residences.
A deal to sell the management contracts of the majority of Six Senses and Evason branded resorts and spas has already been announced and is scheduled to close within the next few weeks.
Sonu Shivdasani, the Chairman and CEO of The Soneva Group, said: "This is in keeping with our decision to focus on developing private residences at Soneva branded resorts. Soneva Gili did not offer that potential. We will also focus on developing further Soneva resorts that will include a significant number of residential options.
The Soneva Group is looking at other remote but accessible islands to re-create an additional resort in the Maldives with the potential to sell overwater private residences in keeping with the new strategy.
The ideal location for a new Soneva will be in an atoll with less traffic and greater potential for developing private residences in tranquil surroundings.
About The Soneva Group
The Soneva Group is a world leading sustainable luxury resort operator. It is made up of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. The company also holds a majority stake in Six Senses Laamu and Six Senses Hua Hin properties. Further Soneva resorts are planned in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Greece. Soneva in Aqua, a new yacht experience, will be launched in the Maldives in 2013.
The company is committed to leading the fight against climate change within the tourism sector with Soneva Fushi decarbonising by the end of 2013 and the other resorts to follow.
The Soneva Group came into being following the decision by Sonu Shivdasani, the founder of Six Senses Resorts & Spas, to sell the Six Senses and Evason brands in February 2012. Mr Shivdasani retains the role of Chairman and major shareholder in the Soneva Group.
About Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas manages 19 hotels and resorts and 27 spas in 19 countries under the brand names Six Senses, Evason and Six Senses Spas, and has signed a further 34 properties into the development pipeline. Six Senses is part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family.
Six Senses Hotels and Resorts: a leadership commitment to community, sustainability, emotional hospitality, wellness and design, infused with a touch of quirkiness. Whether an exquisite island resort, mountain retreat or urban hotel, the vision remains the same: to reawaken people's senses so they feel the purpose behind their travels and ultimately reconnect with themselves, others and the world around them.
Six Senses Spas: a wide range of holistic wellness, rejuvenation and beauty treatments administered under the guidance of expert therapists in all resorts as well as at 8 additional standalone spas. The high-tech and high-touch approach guides guests on their personal path to well-being, taking them as deep as they want to go.
Six Senses Residences: indulgent living as nature intended, providing all the unique amenities of a resort life community, while retaining the intimacy and personal touches of a beautifully-appointed private villa or apartment. Each is an appreciating long-term investment to be cherished for generations to come with immediate benefits including fine dining, pioneering wellness programming and exclusive status at other resorts worldwide.
Evason: a strong value focus with a vast array of personal guest experiences that the whole family will love, while sharing the Six Senses philosophy of uncompromised social and environmental responsibility.
