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Amilla Maldives Celebrates Sustainability Day

Amilla Maldives Celebrates Sustainability Day
Amilla Maldives was proud to show off the many advancements they have made in sustainability during the celebrations of Sustainability Day.

Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences was proud to show off the many advancements they have made in sustainability in the past two years during the celebrations of Sustainability Day on the 27th October 2021. The resort also recently announced they were awarded Silver Certification by EarthCheck.

The day started with a talk. by the resident Marine Biologist for the resort’s smallest guests, aimed at getting future eco advocates to understand more about the subject. The children then participated in a beach clean up to collect any small pieces of garbage that had washed up on the shores during the night. This “waste” was then separated into mystery boxes for a family upcycling challenge.

Next was a Tepache and Mango soda class. These probiotic sodas form part of the resort’s Homemade@Amilla program, whereby the resort makes as many items as possible on-site, including Kombucha, yoghurts and sauces, to reduce packaging waste and eliminate food preservatives. Tepache, a fermented pineapple drink, and mango soda are made using the skins of the fruit. At Amilla the whole of each pineapple is used, the top to plant back in the resort’s garden, pineapple for eating, and the skins for making this delicious drink.

After this class guests were invited to tour the resorts extensive gardens as part of their Homegrown@Amilla program, again achieving goals such as reduced packaging waste, air miles and fresh and nutritious vegetables for their guests. The day culminated in a unique dining experience for their lucky guests. Amilla’s culinary team concocted a delicious Zero Waste Menu.

With a growing world population and attrition of fertile, not to mention organic, growing and grazing area, we need to find ways to utilise all parts of food and find creative and tasty ways of using items that would otherwise be thrown out.

Victoria Kruse. Sustanability and Wellness Mentor at Amilla

Key highlights from the menu included broccoli stem salad with onion leaf tips and crispy tomato skins, watermelon rind pickle with papaya seeds served on bread ends and dessert that featured sorbet made with fruit offcuts “mudi kaashi”, the nutritious sponge inside of baby coconut trees, a syrup scented with basil stems, basil leaf powder and caramelized basil stem, made from basil harvested from the resorts Mystique Garden.

This ground-breaking menu is just one highlight from the resort’s award-winning Wellness Your Way program. This program, recently crowned as the Wellness Cuisine of the Year at the Destination Deluxe Awards, offers the resort guests dedicated menus that cater to a variety of eating lifestyles. Each of the resort’s restaurants showcases a menu that caters for keto/paleo/low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan/vegetarian.

The next highlight in Amilla’s culinary offering is the upcoming residency of London’s renowned Plant-Based Chef, Kirk Haworth. The driving force of Plates London with be cooking up a vegan storm at Amilla between the 10th and 25th November.

Feature image by Amilla Maldives

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Sonu Shivdasani’s Enduring Legacy: Redefining Luxury Hospitality and Embracing a New Chapter

Sonu Shivdasani pioneers sustainable luxury resorts, wellness, and innovation across Maldives, Soneva, Six Senses, and global hospitality.

Few figures have shaped the world of luxury travel quite like Sonu Shivdasani. As the co-founder of both Soneva and Six Senses, he defined what sustainable, experiential luxury looks like not just in the Maldives but on a global scale. Over more than three decades of passion-driven leadership, he transformed remote islands into globally celebrated eco-conscious sanctuaries.

Since opening Soneva Fushi in 1995, Sonu Shivdasani has pioneered a back-to-nature luxury experience that redefined the Maldives as a premier high-end destination. Under his leadership, Soneva introduced many hospitality innovations that have become industry standards, including private pools, open-air bathrooms, and curated experiences with marine biologists and artists. His approach seamlessly fused luxury with environmental responsibility by embedding sustainability into every facet of the business.

Now, following a significant change in Soneva’s ownership structure, Shivdasani embarks on a new chapter guided by creativity, exploration, and long-awaited personal pursuits.

Stepping Back, Not Stepping Away

In May 2025, KSL Capital Partners converted their preference shares into ordinary shares, taking majority control of the Soneva Group. Despite this shift, Sonu and his wife Eva remain significant minority shareholders but have stepped back from the company’s day-to-day operations.

Sonu Shidvasani told Hotel Investment Today,

“It is very important to us that Soneva thrives. However, I have agreed with them that they will run the business and Eva and I will not be involved.”

This marks the close of an era of active leadership while maintaining lasting influence. Their continued stake reflects deep-rooted confidence in the brand’s values and future.

A Legacy of Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality

To fully appreciate this transition, it is essential to reflect on Sonu and Eva’s remarkable journey, which has been a deeply personal and enduring commitment. Over more than 30 years, they built two globally respected hospitality brands that set new benchmarks for sustainability, wellness, and authentic guest experiences. They launched Six Senses in 2004, growing it to 26 resorts and 41 spas worldwide, before deciding to focus exclusively on Sovnea’s “One Wonder, One Operator, One Philosophy” model. This model champions intimate, purpose-driven luxury.

Beyond pioneering resorts, Sonu spearheaded transformative environmental and social initiatives through the Soneva Foundation, founded in 2010. Under his guidance, the foundation rolled out impactful programs, such as eliminating branded bottled water in favor of purified onsite water. This initiative funded clean water access for over 800,000 people across 50 countries. Additionally, the voluntary carbon levy on guest stays supports projects including planting half a million trees in Thailand, installing a windmill in India, and distributing energy-efficient cookstoves that have benefited nearly 300,000 people in Myanmar and Darfur.

He also led the Myanmar Stoves Campaign, which generated $14 million in social value over four years by reducing deforestation, improving public health, and increasing incomes for 140,000 people. In the Maldives, his groundbreaking Soneva Namoona waste management program led the regional and national phase-out of single-use plastic.

From Personal Challenges to Global Recognition

In 2017, Sonu faced a serious health challenge when diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After a courageous battle, he emerged with a renewed holistic wellness philosophy that integrated both conventional and alternative therapies. This vision led to the launch of the Soneva Soul, a wellness brand in 2021, broadening the group’s commitment to well-being.

Therefore, his extensive contributions to tourism, sustainability, and philanthropy earned him recognition in 2023 when he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). That same year, he received the SevenRooms Icon Award at the World’s 50 Best Hotels. A unique individual honor celebrating his transformative impact on global luxury hospitality.

Today, Soneva’s portfolio includes:

  • Soneva Fushi
  • Soneva Jani
  • Soneva Secret
  • Soneva in Aqua (luxury yacht experience)

Each property embodies the brand’s core philosophy, “SLOW LIFE.” Which focuses on Sustainability, Locality, Wellness, Learning, and Inspiring experiences. These principles have defined Shivdasani’s legacy and continue to shape the future of luxury travel.

Looking Forward: A New Chapter of Creativity

Despite stepping back, Sonu Shivdasani is far from slowing down. While many might see this as a step toward retirement, he views it as a welcome pause and a chance to breathe and pursue projects long deferred.

“I feel fortunate to have a little bit of a break to catch my breath and do many things that I have always wanted to, but have never had the time..  At 58, I have another lifetime of creativity ahead of me.”

With day-to-day operations now entrusted to KSL. He plans to revisit hospitality concepts he once envisioned to develop but had kept aside. His broad experience and deepening focus on wellness and longevity continue to inform his evolving perspective on hospitality.

What’s Next for Soneva Under KSL?

With its increased stake, KSL Capital Partners now guides Soneva’s next phase. Armed with a strong background in luxury travel and leisure, the firm intends to expand operations and invest in existing properties while preserving the founding values that define Soneva.

To lead this evolution, KSL appointed Neil Gallagher as Soneva’s new CEO.

The Legacy Continues

Though Sonu Shivdasani no longer leads Soneva’s daily operations, his legacy remains deeply woven into the Maldives hospitality sector and resonates across global luxury travel. His vision endures in every villa, every tranquil moment, and every barefoot step taken on the Maldivian sands.

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