The Soneva Group, the new company formed following the sale of the Six Senses and Evason brands, has revealed that it plans to focus on developing resorts with private residences.
The move will see the Soneva Group relinquish management of Soneva Gili, with the Maldives resort being sold Capital Holdings and HBOS to a new owner.
The Soneva Group will now focus on developing the private residence portfolio at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives and Thai resort Soneva Kiri, as well as opening new privately-owned resorts in the future. Soneva Gili was the only Soneva resort that does not contain private residences.
A deal to sell the management contracts of the majority of Six Senses- and Evason-branded resorts and spas is expected to close within the next few weeks.
Commenting on the release of the Soneva Gili Sonu Shivdasani, chairman and CEO of The Soneva Group said; “This is in keeping with our decision to focus on developing private residences at Soneva-branded resorts. Soneva Gili did not offer that potential. We will also focus on developing further Soneva resorts that will include a significant number of residential options.”
Shivdasani added that Soneva is looking at other “remote but accessible islands” on which to create a new resort in the Maldives. The Soneva Gili, which has 17 years left on its lease, is located close to the capital Male and surrounded by new developments. The new Soneva will be positioned on an atoll “with less traffic and greater potential for developing private residences in tranquil surroundings”, according to Soneva.
