Going Green To Go Further

Soneva founder says hospitality operators need to think of the environmental and social impact of their work beyond Covid-19.

- Adeline Wong

Good fortune has its roots in disaster. This saying by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu has been a guiding light during crises he has faced, says Sonu Shivdasani, founder and CEO of luxury resort brand Soneva. Amid the crisis the hospitality industry is mired in due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this quote is certainly germane.

“This period is very difficult, but the most important thing is that we do not lose our values and our humanity,” says Shivdasani, who has not strayed from his commitment to environmental and social responsibilities since opening Soneva Fushi in the Maldives in 1995.

The brand – which also includes Soneva Jani in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand – has been described in the media as a visionary, having embarked on green practices that were only more recently embraced by hotels and resorts. For instance, Soneva banned plastic straws in 1998. Since then, it has branched out into an array of other initiatives with far-reaching environmental, social and economic impact under the umbrella of the Soneva Foundation.

These efforts underline Shivdasani’s stance that sustainability complements luxury, and he believes working in harmony with nature is the way forward for hospitality operators.

In a post-COVID-19 future, he is hopeful that greater strides will be made in environmental sustainability. “The current global pandemic has highlighted how interconnected we are, and how important it is that we collaborate to preserve life on earth as we know it.”

Shivdasani, also the founder of the award-winning Six Senses Resorts that was sold in 2012, elaborates on how sustainable tourism is the cornerstone of Soneva and the link between travel and conservation.