Accor Invites Families to Experience the Ultimate Vacation in the Maldives

Accor’s five resorts in the Maldives are offering a truly unique array of experiences for guests of all ages.

Thanks to Maldives’ elevated safety measures, the island nation has been welcoming guests back since July 2020. Accor has rounded up the very best family offerings across the group’s five resorts to provide travellers with a worry-free vacation in paradise.

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo

Location: Set on Kooddoo Island amidst mature lush vegetation, part of Gaafu Alifu Atoll, and a quick 55-minute domestic flight from Malé.

Families will love: From sunset and dolphin cruises to guided snorkelling tours around deserted islands, parents and children will discover the truly diverse marine life of the Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Mercure Maldives Kooddoo offers a host of experiences such as kayaking, sailing, and jet skiing.

accor — *Image: Mercure Maldives Kooddoo*

Pristine coral-sand beaches and calm, clear waters make the island a paradise for swimmers. Guests can borrow a pair of fins and snorkelling gear from the Dive Centre and go exploring around the house reef. On-land activities include tennis, futsal to pool, darts and karaoke. Families can join regular outdoor movie nights or performances of authentic Maldivian Boduberu music.

What to book: Mercure Maldives Kooddoo offers a spacious four-bedroom family beach pool villa, located on the beach closest to the turquoise lagoon. The family villa is available from 2,250 USD per night on an all-inclusive basis.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa

Location: The resort is set on Maamutaa Island which boasts 18 hectares of lush vegetation, perfect white beaches and a natural lake. Located in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, in the South of the Maldives, the resort is accessible via a 55-minute domestic flight followed by a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé.

Families will love: The world is your playground at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort. Children and teens are well catered for at Playground and Skillz Sports Centre, with a range of entertaining and educational activities including table tennis, board games, karaoke rooms and an indoor golf simulator.

A kids’ club with a pool, indoor and outdoor activities and a kid’s spa is also available for younger guests. Nature walks with the marine biologist are available for the adventurers at heart to enjoy the natural beauty of the island and to learn more about the living wonders of the underwater world.

The all-inclusive resort offers more than just complimentary meals and free-flow beverages, with diving immersion trials for new divers, and complimentary non-motorised water sports. Guests can book a ride on one of the resort’s inflatable tubes and bounce around behind a jet ski for an adrenaline-filled experience. Families will also love the tennis court, Pullman Fit Trail, an extensive array of restaurants for memorable meals altogether.

What to book: The Pullman Family Beach Pool Villa offers an intuitive contemporary design with 300 square metres of space for the family to relax. A separate kids’ room with a bunk bed offers exactly the right blend of privacy and company. The family villa is available from 1,400 USD per night in a Beach Villa.

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives

Location: Nestled in the undisturbed Noonu Atoll in the north of the Maldives, the resort is a 45-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Malé.

Families will love: Mövenpick’s global family programme provides attractive kids’ offers and facilities for families, such as the Little Birds Club. The activities at Little Birds Club are flexible and tailor-made for different age groups, accommodating children with different interests.

Junior VIPs can splash around at the pool by the Little Birds Club, while adults can enjoy some downtime at the stunning beachfront infinity pool. Families love the extensive array of excursions, which include dolphin cruises and turtle adventures.

Thanks to the resort’s babysitters, parents can enjoy romantic moments such as a starlight Champagne cruise, private romantic dinner on the beach, or a couples spa treatment.

What to book: Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives offers a spacious three-bedroom Beach Spa Pool Residence, perfect for larger families. Sleeping options are flexible with two of the bedrooms offering king beds and the third bedroom offering twin beds. The large dining table seats up to six people.

The Beach Spa Pool Residence is available from 4,850++ USD per night for 6 or 4 adults and 2 children. Rates include a daily complimentary one-hour massage for two, free-flow beverages at selected outlets, daily mini-bar replenishment, complimentary group sunrise and sunset yoga sessions, non-motorised water sports and snorkelling equipment and a complimentary excursion each week such as fishing, dolphin watching, or a sunset cruise.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

Location: Set on the Shaviyani Atoll in the North of the Maldives, the resort is a 55-minute seaplane flight from Malé. The island boasts a crystal-clear 600-hectare lagoon.

Families will love: Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi offers an art studio for younger guests, with painting and crafts utilising recyclable materials. Families can also engage in educational experiences with the resort’s marine biologist who is on hand to offer lessons on marine life and conservation.

*Image: Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi*

Menus are available for younger children, ensuring families can dine together at the gorgeous array of restaurants. One of the many highlights of the resort is the ‘Coralarium’, a semi-submerged tidal gallery that interlinks the skyline, inter-tidal waterline and seabed.

The Coralarium structure, and the sculptures within, act as an artificial reef, encouraging local marine life to make it a home. For the ultimate enjoyment of the 9-kilometre house reef, experienced diving guides can help guests to begin their diving journey or diving certification on the island.

What to book: Elegant and wonderfully proportioned, this rustic Two Bedroom Water Sunrise Villa offers bounteous amounts of space for families. Located on the waterbeds of the serene Indian Ocean and just a few steps away from the picturesque white sands, this villa is the epitome of Maldivian living. The Two Bedroom Water Sunrise Villa is available from USD 3,400 per night from March to April, and from USD 3,200 per night from May to September.

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

Location: Set in one of the world’s most remote and pristine locations in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, found at the southernmost reach of the Maldives, the resort is a 55-minute domestic flight and 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé.

Families will love: Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is a truly luxurious setting for the grandest family getaways. Marine Butlers lead guided explorations of the resort’s two spectacular house reefs while a personal Butler is available at any time of the day or night to facilitate private boat trips, hearty feet-in-the-sand meals under the shimmer of flickering tiki lights at The Firepit, or indulgent treatments at the resort’s overwater spa.

Accor Maldives — *Image: Raffles Maldives Meradhoo*

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo’s team of Children’s Butlers can be enlisted to entertain younger visitors, and specialist planners are available to facilitate anything from surprise birthday parties to decadent anniversary dinners.

What to book: Occupying an unblemished stretch of the resort’s blissful Beach Island, the vast six-bedroom Raffles Royal Residence is perfect for larger family gatherings. Stretching comfortably over 1,700 square metres and accommodating up to 15 guests, the Royal Residence’s heart is the three consecutive reception rooms that border its 40-metre pool and look towards the property’s private beach.

Whether savouring a fully catered barbecue or simply admiring unimpeded views of another staggering sunset, everything that the resort offers can be enjoyed in absolute exclusivity. The Raffles Royal Residence is available from 16,000 USD per night.

Feature image by Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

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.