Exclusive with Ahmed Nizar: IT Director of Six Senses Laamu

Ahmed Nizar has been working in the hospitality industry for the past 18 years. He’s currently the IT Director of Six Senses Laamu.

Ahmed started his journey in the hospitality industry after leaving school. Initially, he did an internship at AAA & Trading Company. After that Ahmed moved to a couple of resorts to experience the field. For a short period, Mr. Ahmed worked in the front office, and afterwards, he got an opportunity to train himself at One & Only Kanuhura (now Kanuhura Maldives) as an IT assistant.

Following that, Ahmed got an opportunity to work at Filitheyo Island Resort, which was his first full-time job. Ahmed’s fascinating career led him to work in some of the most famous international brands. Likewise, he was directly involved in making the first integrated leisure destination of the Maldives a reality.

Be positive in whatever work you do. Love what you do and be dedicated. The most important thing is not to give up.
Ahmed Nizar, IT Director at Six Senses Laamu.

We received the privilege to have a conversation with Ahmed to share his journey in the hospitality industry and gain his insights.

01. So, why did you decide to stick to the hospitality field for this long?

Ahmed Nizar: I love my work. I love keeping things running for all different types of people from a technology standpoint and making the most out of the available resources.

It is the interest and desire in learning about the new technology, hardware software, developments, meeting new people etc. There are always opportunities present for you to advance yourself in this industry professionally and individually.

02. What is the role of IT in the hospitality industry?

Ahmed Nizar: Information is the key element in the tourism, hospitality industry. Information Technology has played an important role in the hospitality and tourism industry over the last decade.

The use of Technology in the hospitality and tourism industry has helped speed up operations, improve communication between staff and guests and helped the resort operations become more enjoyable and efficient.

Information technology is also revolutionizing the hospitality industry with innovative technologies that have made various benchmarks and breakthrough for future advancements in coming years with automation and mechanization.

03. What’s the biggest challenge in the IT department?

Ahmed Nizar: Technology needs within the industry are constantly changing. We must learn about the potential strengths and weaknesses of new applications and devices to help select technology upgrades and decide when to roll them out.

The security threats are numerous and include hackers using AI to try to crash websites and intranets, ransomware that can cripple a company’s devices, and fraudsters who seek to access accounts and steal identities.

There are other areas that we should consider, too, such as users accessing company network on their devices or the use of social networks on company devices

We must maintain a balance between flexibility and control, and make our systems more attractive to users.

These incidents make regular and comprehensive preventative maintenance essential for the IT department. Real-time monitoring of all critical networks and devices becomes an absolute must as businesses simply cannot afford the cost and reputational damage that accompany a data breach or a system crash.

04. Could you briefly explain your career starting from when you were in Filitheyo Island Resort?

Ahmed Nizar: I worked at Filitheyo for 3 years. I did my first (Property Management system) opera installation at Filitheyo with Micros Fidelio Team, which is the most widely used system in the Maldives and all over the world.

Afterwards, I got an opportunity at Angsana Velavaru. I was there with Velavaru’s pre-opening as an Assistant IT Manager and worked with them for more than a year. Then I got an opportunity from Lily beach Resort where I worked for about two years as well.

Later, I joined my first project at Atmosphere Kanifushi. This was the first project I started from scratch. I did the pre-opening with atmosphere Kanifushi.

After that, I went on another project at Loama Resort, did the pre-opening with Loama. And then joined Six Senses Laamu as an IT Manager in 2015. I joined Six Senses as it’s a luxury brand and there is plenty of career growth. I was in Six Senses for almost 4 years before I left for Crossroads. After Crossroads pre-opening and completing 2 years, I decided to join Six Senses.

05. How did the opportunity to work for Crossroads Maldives arise?

Ahmed Nizar: Since I got an offer from the Crossroads project for the pre-opening team and being in Six Senses for quite a long time, I decided to take part in the offer.

Projects are determined in terms of time, scope, procurement, quality and cost. It entails several activities that must be done in the specified time, under a fixed budget with the given resources.

I was at the Singha Corporate Office in Bangkok for two weeks with the project team to explore more about the project. The whole concept was new to me because it was multi-brands with complex integrations.

06. You were responsible for the overall planning, organizing and execution of ITC at Crossroads Maldives, one of the biggest hospitality projects in the country. How was your experience at this Crossroads pre-opening project?

Ahmed Nizar: It is a massive project that anyone would love to be part of it. I worked with Singha Cooperate IT team along with all the brands, Hard Rock Hotels corporate IT Team and Hilton Corporate IT teams to do the system/application implementations for both Resorts/ café’s in Crossroads.

There were different vendors for various implementations that took place in the process and it was a good learning experience to work with different nationalities during the project.

The biggest challenge was training the end-users to use the integrated Applications for the multi-property concept. Everyone was busy with the opening and finding the time for the training and organizing it with the vendor was quite some challenge as the opening date was changed few times. We had back to back training for 3 properties daily till the live date.

07. What are some of the day-to-day challenges you face in your current job?

Ahmed Nizar: I start the day reviewing my emails and the job system to plan the day. This is a mix of seeing new projects and assessing what’s urgent, fixing anything leftover from the previous day or starting on the next job. I also analyze new technologies or software upgrades.

Investing your time in knowing and understanding your office technology is important. The more you know about common IT problems, the better you’ll be at preventing them from happening!

Another challenge is, network security is considered one the most critical parts of keeping the operations safe.

There’s nothing worse than having your old and slow-working IT systems fail and not having the resources to fix them because of how out-of-date they are. Since we are in remote locations, it’s difficult to source and get the equipment when required.

08. So the ones who are starting in the hospitality/IT field, what are some of the typical mistakes they make? And when you started, what are some challenges you faced?

Ahmed Nizar: I think when I started, it was quite different. Because at that time, we didn’t have the level of resources we have now. We had limited resources and training materials available.

But nowadays, we have resources available. We have the equipment available; we have a training environment for practice. They just need to be patient, focus on assigned works. They will be supervised, instructed. Most of the resorts have internships for newcomers.

09. Are the locals in the IT field at Resorts increasing?

Ahmed Nizar: I think the number is increasing compared to the past. We hired a 100% local team for the crossroads IT Team. I believe that we have enough skilled, educated locals who have the potential to lead the ICT in the hospitality industry. But the thing is, locals don’t get enough opportunities. Mostly the IT managerial posts are occupied by Expatriates.

To overcome this issue is to reserve the Tourism industry IT jobs only for locals by law.

Feature image by Ahmed Nizar

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.