the sonu & eva story

In the late 1980’s a young Swedish model travelled to the Maldives for a photo shoot. She was a top fashion model who appeared on over 100 magazine covers including Vogue, Marie-Claire and Elle. Here she fell in love with the untouched beauty of a simple way of life. The white sands, clear, aqua water and warm climate also helped. The Maldives was indelibly etched on her memory.

A few years later a young British-born, Eton and Oxford educated man of Indian descent met Eva at the Monaco Grand Prix and soon they fell in love.

And so was a marriage made, which is how Six Senses Resorts & Spas came to be created by Sonu and
Eva Shivdasani.

They spent their honeymoon travelling around the world’s most exclusive hotels and resorts. They had made up their minds that they would like to open a resort like no other, and the honeymoon served as a chance to view what was on offer around the globe.

Sonu had the resources and the management expertise, Eva the style and design concepts. Together they wanted to develop a resort that would satisfy their desires to create the dream destination for those who travel in luxurious style. They also both had an overwhelming desire to protect the environment.

What they conceived was a unique philosophy of simple sophistication and blending luxury with nature. They bought an abandoned resort on a 100-acre atoll (Kunfunadhoo Island) in the Maldives and set about creating their dream, drawing on all their experiences as they planned the resort. Eva took responsibility for the design and even today her initiatives ensure that each resort reflects the Six Senses essence. Her attention to detail is legendary amongst her colleagues.

In 1995 Soneva Fushi was born. Soneva is an amalgam of Sonu and Eva, Fushi is the Maldivian word for island. It quickly set the benchmark for luxury resorts in the Maldives, receiving a wealth of glowing testimonials and industry accolades. Today it remains the favoured retreat for a legion of high-profile and celebrity guests.

The couple discovered they had a flair for designing and running exclusive resorts and they spent the next decade expanding their pioneering concept into the successful global resort company it is today. They currently oversee the Six Senses Group and its brands (Soneva, Six Senses Hideaways, Six Senses Latitudes, Evason, plus Six Senses Spas and Six Senses Destination Spas) in numerous locations around the world.

Sonu and Eva have never compromised their core beliefs of providing the ultimate experiences in luxury travel accommodation and service, whilst balancing this with a love and respect for the environment.