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Today: Sonu and Eva Shivdasani announce their new luxury hotel brand Sosei
Here’s some truly exciting news for the world of luxury travel: Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the trailblazing hoteliers who transformed the Maldives from a modest island getaway into a global benchmark for high-end tourism, are about to unveil their latest venture—Sosei. Known as the founders of Six Senses and Soneva, the couple redefined the very idea of luxury through their pioneering concept of barefoot luxury, where simplicity, sustainability, and indulgence blend seamlessly. Now, after decades of reshaping the industry and stepping back from operational control of Soneva, they are preparing to embark on a bold new journey.
In an exclusive conversation with Travel + Leisure Asia’s Ron Gluckman, the Shivdasanis revealed plans for Sosei, a hospitality brand that not only reflects their signature mix of creativity and eco-consciousness but also symbolizes a deeply personal transformation. Inspired by the Japanese word for “rebirth,” Sosei marks both a new professional horizon and a renewal of spirit for the couple, particularly for Sonu, who has emerged from a recent health battle with renewed energy and vision. With projects already in the works from Japan to the Arctic Circle, and ambitions to bring their philosophy into cities as well as remote retreats, the launch of Sosei signals a fresh chapter in the evolution of luxury travel—one that promises to be as groundbreaking as their earlier creations.
From Barefoot Luxury to Global Icons
In creating two of the world’s most celebrated resort brands—Six Senses (now part of the InterContinental Hotel Group) and Soneva—Sonu and Eva Shivdasani didn’t just launch hotels; they pioneered an entirely new genre of high-end travel that came to be known as barefoot luxury. Their philosophy, embodied in the now-iconic motto “No shoes, no news,” challenged the prevailing definition of luxury by encouraging guests to abandon formality, switch off from the modern world, and reconnect with nature in a way few had experienced before.
Where traditional five-star resorts dazzled with marble-clad lobbies, glittering chandeliers, and heavily formalized service, the Shivdasanis introduced something radically different: jungle paths in place of paved walkways, bicycles instead of golf carts, rustic furnishings crafted from natural materials, and bathrooms open to the sky where showers could be taken under a banana tree. Dining barefoot on the sand, watching films under the stars, and enjoying chocolate rooms open around the clock—all these became part of the Soneva and Six Senses identity, creating experiences that felt indulgent yet unpretentious.
Perhaps most revolutionary of all, the couple wove sustainability into the DNA of their resorts—long before “eco-luxury” became a global buzzword. Plastic-free operations, water bottled onsite, organic produce grown in island gardens, and robust recycling systems were not marketing gimmicks but cornerstones of their approach. At a time when luxury hospitality largely relied on importing everything from marble to bottled water, these practices set them apart as true innovators.
This fresh vision quickly struck a chord with discerning travelers, including celebrities and industry tastemakers, who were eager for experiences that combined comfort with authenticity. Their properties became regular winners of global luxury awards, setting benchmarks for the industry and inspiring a new wave of ultra-luxury eco-resorts worldwide. By stripping away excess and replacing extravagance with intimacy, the Shivdasanis redefined what it meant to travel in style—proving that true luxury could be both natural and restorative.
Soneva and the Maldivian Transformation
The Maldives became the canvas for their vision. In 1995, Sonu and Eva opened Soneva Fushi on Kunfunadhoo Island in Baa Atoll, a site that had once housed a failed resort due to poor accessibility. At that time, most Maldivian properties catered to European budget travelers. Sonu, drawing on his global hotel tours in his pre-Soneva days, and Eva, whose Scandinavian design sensibility and modeling background informed much of the resort’s aesthetics, transformed the abandoned property into something unprecedented.
Because reaching the island was so difficult, the couple pioneered creative transport solutions. Initially, they chartered helicopters from Bulgaria, taking advantage of cheap leases after the fall of the Soviet Union. Later, they shifted to seaplanes, laying the foundation for the air services that today define travel in the Maldives. Their approach to design and operations—plastic-free resorts, water bottled onsite, home-grown produce, eco-accountability officers, and waste recycling—was considered eccentric at the time, even by some of their staff. Yet those innovations set the standard for green travel and are now widely adopted across the hospitality industry.
The success of Soneva Fushi not only elevated the Maldives into a luxury powerhouse but also inspired a wave of ultra-luxury resorts that cemented the archipelago’s reputation as one of the world’s most desirable high-end destinations. Over the years, the Soneva brand continued to expand. In 2015, the Shivdasanis introduced the Maldives’ first floating villa, Soneva in Aqua. In 2016, they launched Soneva Jani, a visionary overwater retreat that set a new benchmark for barefoot luxury in the region. And most recently, in 2023, Soneva unveiled its most exclusive project to date: Soneva Secret, an ultra-private collection of just 14 villas in one of the Maldives’ most remote atolls.
The success of Soneva also laid the foundation for Sonu and Eva’s second hotel venture: Six Senses Resorts & Spas, a brand that took their barefoot luxury philosophy and adapted it to a wider, more globally scalable model. Rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, the brand became known for blending eco-conscious luxury with innovative wellbeing programs, including yoga, meditation, and locally influenced therapies. By 2011, Six Senses had become a global leader with 26 resorts, 41 spas across more than 20 countries, and annual revenues of approximately $175 million, establishing itself as one of the most recognized names in experiential travel. The brand’s success soon attracted global investors, and in 2012, the Shivdasanis sold it, paving the way for its continued growth under new ownership; today, it is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where it remains a benchmark for sustainable, wellness-driven hospitality.
Shedding the Old, Embracing the New
Having sold Six Senses in 2012, the couple more recently made the significant decision to part with their majority stake in Soneva, stepping away from operational control of the brand that not only carried their combined name but also defined their legacy in the Maldives and beyond. For many in the industry, this move marked the close of a remarkable chapter—one in which the Shivdasanis set entirely new benchmarks for sustainable, experience-led luxury. Yet for Sonu and Eva themselves, the sale was less an ending and more a necessary clearing of the stage for their next act.
That new venture is Sosei, a brand whose very name, meaning “rebirth” in Japanese, reflects both a professional transformation and a deeply personal one. Unlike their earlier projects, which were largely island-focused, Sosei is conceived as a truly global hospitality platform, designed to merge sustainability, wellness, and creative forms of luxury across a diverse set of destinations. “By the end of this year, we expect to sign several deals,” Sonu revealed in the interview, noting that discussions are already underway in Japan, the Arctic Circle, the European mountains, South Africa, and several locations across Asia.
What sets Sosei apart from its predecessors is its ambition to extend beyond remote paradises: for the first time, the Shivdasanis are envisioning intimate boutique retreats in major cities, allowing them to bring their unique blend of barefoot-inspired philosophy, eco-conscious design, and personalized wellbeing into urban settings where travelers increasingly seek sanctuaries of calm. In this sense, Sosei represents not just a new brand, but the evolution of the Shivdasanis’ entire approach to hospitality—taking lessons learned from decades of innovation in the Maldives and projecting them onto the global stage.
A Personal and Professional Rebirth
Sosei’s launch comes at a profoundly personal moment for the Shivdasanis. In January 2024, Sonu was diagnosed with lymphoma—a life-altering challenge that forced him to step back and confront his own health while reflecting on the future. After undergoing successful treatment, he now continues with immunotherapy, approaching both life and business with renewed vigor and clarity of purpose. For Sonu, the symbolism of Sosei—the Japanese word for “rebirth”—could not be more fitting. He describes the brand not only as a new professional chapter in hospitality innovation but also as a mirror of his own journey of resilience, renewal, and rediscovery after illness.
This deeply personal rebirth comes on the heels of public recognition. In 2023, Sonu was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), acknowledging his decades-long contributions to tourism, sustainability, and philanthropy. The honor underlined the transformative impact that he and Eva have had on global hospitality—turning isolated islands into luxury sanctuaries and showing the world that environmental responsibility could coexist with indulgence.
Reflecting on the skepticism they faced in the early years, Sonu recalled: “People used to say: If it’s sustainable, it can’t be luxurious. Or if it’s luxurious, it can’t be good for you.” Their work, from the creation of Soneva Fushi to the growth of Six Senses, overturned that conventional wisdom, proving that luxury could be immersive, restorative, and environmentally conscious all at once. With Sosei, the Shivdasanis intend to push those boundaries even further, ensuring that sustainability and wellness remain at the core of what true modern luxury should mean.
Reimagining the Future of Luxury
The Shivdasanis’ earlier ventures were never just about luxurious villas and turquoise waters—they stood out because of the sense of wonder and playfulness woven into every stay. Guests at their resorts could indulge in 24-hour chocolate rooms, wander into ice-cream parlors with endless flavors, or even experience paragliding as a form of check-in, setting a tone of discovery that balanced indulgence with fun. These elements transformed their properties from simple resorts into fantasy-like escapes, where the luxury was not only in the surroundings but also in the joyful, unexpected experiences. In doing so, they echoed the disruptive spirit of Aman Resorts’ Adrian Zecha, who, in the 1980s, reimagined high-end travel by showing that understated design and authentic cultural immersion could rival the most opulent traditional hotels. Like Zecha, the Shivdasanis attracted a devoted following of elite, experience-driven travelers who valued authenticity, creativity, and a strong sense of place over conventional trappings of status.
Now, with Sosei, Sonu and Eva stand once again at the threshold of redefining what luxury travel can mean in the modern era. Their new brand promises to push boundaries by marrying spectacular comfort with imaginative, unexpected touches, while staying firmly rooted in the principles of sustainability, wellness, and local connection that have long defined their work. Unlike their earlier island-centric ventures, Sosei will embrace both secluded retreats in far-flung destinations and intimate sanctuaries in major cities, responding to the growing desire among global travelers for experiences that combine escapism with accessibility. In this way, Sosei represents not only the continuation of the Shivdasanis’ legacy but also its evolution—an ambitious attempt to once again shape the future of high-end hospitality for a new generation of travelers.
Legacy and Looking Ahead
Though their attention is now turning toward the creation of a new brand, the Maldives will always remain the heart of the Shivdasanis’ story and legacy. It was here, on a once-abandoned island in Baa Atoll, that they introduced a radical reimagining of luxury travel—barefoot luxury—that forever altered the course of the nation’s tourism industry. The foundations they laid with Soneva—open-air bathrooms, “no shoes, no news” philosophy, sustainable operations, and whimsical touches that blended indulgence with play—didn’t just transform the islands into a magnet for high-net-worth travelers; they also set the tone for the global eco-luxury movement that followed. Even as they step back from Soneva, its pioneering influence will continue to echo across the Maldives, ensuring the islands’ status as one of the most aspirational travel destinations in the world.
Yet, with Sosei, the Shivdasanis are widening their scope far beyond the Indian Ocean. Unlike their earlier ventures, which were tied to remote islands, Sosei is envisioned as a global canvas, encompassing everything from intimate urban sanctuaries to spectacular retreats in the Arctic, the European mountains, South Africa, and Asia. It represents the culmination of decades of innovation in sustainability, wellness, and design—fields in which Sonu and Eva have repeatedly proven themselves to be ahead of the curve. With their hallmark blend of eco-conscious architecture, holistic wellbeing programs, and imaginative experiences, they have consistently challenged and reshaped expectations of what luxury should be. Now, as they step into this new chapter, Sosei is poised not only to build on that legacy but to redefine the very future of luxury travel on a global stage, reaffirming the Shivdasanis’ role as two of the most influential visionaries in modern hospitality.
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