Luxury to awaken the senses

We are here to create innovative, exciting and enriching experiences.

We are about sustainable development, whether it be in our office or in our resorts.

That’s our core purpose.

We are a private company and half of our 2500 employees, who we refer to as hosts, are almost like our children as they have been with us from the start.

We also have a ‘No Shoes, No News’ policy, which means that when you arrive at our resorts, your shoes are taken from you and place in a bag.

Guests are encouraged to walk barefoot for the entire duration of their stay.ATN: How can you define each brand to make it easy for agents to sell them?The Soneva Resorts are bespoke.

If we compare them to air services, they are in the private jet category. Evason Hideaways are the First Class seats and Evason Resorts are in the Business Class cabin.

At Soneva Resorts there is a huge focus on privacy and choice, and the destinations [where they are located] have to be absolutely stunning.

We believe very strongly that at the top end of the market, the clientele have already experienced everything.

Most of the time they can afford to buy the resort, so it’s about the choices we give them.

Our focus is toanticipate our guests’ requirements.

If they read about a new wine on their plane journey to one of our resorts, we should have it in stock when they arrive. ATN: What unique experiences does Six Senses offer its guests?

We believe in having a good bottle of wine, while sitting barefoot on a private beach looking out to the Indian Ocean.

Ten years ago when we were selling this experience, people laughed at us, but now people have travelled more and the world is getting smaller. People value privacy and personal space.

We include small features in our resorts that make a significant difference.

Many people think our outdoor shower in the garden is conceptual, but it’s not.

The real reason we put it there is because when we did focus groups, people asked for two showers. They want to get ready at the same time.

We try to anticipate every move of our guests.

We know who they are, where they are and what they are doing. We keep extensive guest histories.

Innovation is key and we try to redefine experiences.

You might be able to have a picnic at other hotels, but we have our own picnic island. We offer spa treatments for kids and even do sleepovers in tents for them.

Of course, they are allowed to bring their nannies.

This market loves it!ATN: How do you achieve privacy?

When we design a property, we think it through thoroughly.

It’s also about sales and marketing; we make sure we get the customer mix right.

You will have your guests that want to chill by the pool and those that want excursions.

Others will stay in their villas.

When you take this into consideration, you can run to full capacity, but still offer privacy.ATN: Who stays at Six Senses resorts?

We get a huge mix from the Middle East.

At the Soneva Resorts we get royal families from the GCC and affluent families, as well as honeymooners who do a world tour and stay at several of our resorts. ATN: Explain how important preserving the environment is to Six Senses.

Every resort has a green team and is responsible for sustaining, maintaining and developing environmentally friendly products.

Around 5% of our total revenue is designated for being socially responsible and contributing to the local community [of each resort].

Our investors are 100% behind the environment.

We even go to the extent that we have a permaculturist; a person that studies how human beings affect the local vegetation, and vice versa.

He studies the gardens at each resort and how we use them.

We also employ a ‘deputy conscience’, an environmentalist that ensures we are socially responsible at every stage of a resort development, from the conception and feasibility study to the opening stage.

The conscience ensures we are leading a responsible leisure lifestyle and taking a holistic approach.