In the King’s New Year Honours 2023 Overseas and International List, Sonu Shivdasani, the founder of Soneva resorts and the chief executive of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, was recognized as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to tourism, sustainability, and charitable work.

Sonu was raised in England and attended Eton College before earning his degree from Oxford. He met his Swedish-born wife Eva while he was a student at Oxford, and the two of them fell in love with the Maldives. Their first resort, Soneva Fushi, debuted in the Baa Atoll in 1995 with a ground-breaking idea that combined opulent hospitality with consideration for the environment. The original “castaway” resort later helped the island nation reinvent tourism.

The Evason hotel group, which has a number of iconic properties spanning Southeast Asia and Europe, was established in 1997 after Sonu and Eva launched Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in the same year. In 2012, Sonu and Eva’s “One Owner, One Operator, One Philosophy” strategy saw the sale of management contracts for both businesses.

“Receiving an OBE is an incredible honour and I share it with all of Soneva’s friends and family. This recognition reinforces our founding vision, which is placing purpose over profit,” explained Sonu Shivdasani, Founder and CEO of Soneva. “We believe that true luxury is about time well spent, so we strive to make every moment memorable for our guests without losing sight of our intention to contribute to communities near and far and protect our precious planet.”