“Hygiene is the baseline now”: Soneva’s founder and CEO talks recovery, sustainability and wellness travel
We caught up with Sonu Shivdasani, founder and CEO of Soneva, to find out how the luxe resort chain is picking up the pieces from COVID-19 and putting them back together.
Travel Weekly: What are the occupancy rates across Soneva’s properties at present?
Sonu Shivdasani: In August, we were at around 30 to 35 per cent, which is much lower than normal. However, October should be a stellar month. Soneva Fushi has double on the books than what it had at the same time last year. Soneva Kiri is also well over double same time last year.
Provided that travel is not restricted to the extent that it was in August from our main markets, we will have an amazing October.
TW: Has Soneva been forced to lay off or furlough any staff as a result of COVID-19, or close any of its properties?
SS: We have only had to make a handful of redundancies, thankfully. We have reduced our host salaries on a sliding scale depending on how senior they are in the organisation, with the senior hosts taking a higher pay cut.
We closed Soneva Kiri in May 2020 and will reopen again in October 2020. This period was the low season for Koh Kood anyway. We have thankfully had some guests at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani for most of the year, so we didn’t have to make furloughs or redundancies.
We have a solid business model with strong financial backing, so we are in a good position to ride out one of the worst years for our industry.
TW: How has Soneva adapted its marketing strategy since the COVID-19 pandemic began?
SS: We focused on content for our different stakeholder groups. We are lucky to have a team of ‘digital storytellers’ at each of our properties who have been able to create inspiring, visually beautiful content on an almost daily basis for our social media feeds and our travel partners.
We have retained our contracts with all our PR agencies and our sales representatives, as we believe that now, more than ever, we need to be in contact with our guests and partners.
Our culture at Soneva is very innovative and dynamic, so we were quickly able to move everything (and everyone) online and create virtual FAM trips, weekly live yoga sessions, webinars with guests, press and travel partners and much more. We even hosted some virtual wine tasting events for our repeater guests around the world so they could connect over a glass of wine, albeit remotely.
TW: What’s the take-up been like for Soneva’s ‘island buyout’ offer so far?
SS: We have had interest in island buyouts. Unfortunately, a lot of that interest were damaged by countries restricting travel even after the Maldives borders were open. This is slowly improving with air bridges being set up.
TW: Will luxury travel be the first or last sector to come back, and what shape will it take?
SS: Luxury travel will be the first to bounce back for a couple of reasons.
In these uncertain post-COVID times, it is the brave and independent thinkers that are more likely to take a risk and travel first. It is these qualities that successful wealthy entrepreneurs have used in their past to be successful in the first place.
The wealthy might be poorer, but they are still well off, and it is unlikely that they will have to compromise on travel expenditure. Those less well-off might be concerned about job losses, and other forms of insecurity as a result of this financially devastating pandemic. Also, at a maximum, only 50 per cent of the pre-COVID flights have resumed, so those that have private jets have an advantage.
I think we are in a good position because we offer guests a COVID-19 test on arrival and departure, so guests can feel totally reassured when they stay with us. We also offer a lot of healthy food and wellness activities, and plenty of fresh air and vitamin D.
Luxury travel will remain important and guests might choose to stay a little longer, or also stay at properties who are more active when it comes to protecting the environment and their communities. In both aspects, we are well placed.
TW: Will the wellness travel sector thrive even more as a result of the pandemic? Will ‘hygiene’ become the new ‘wellness’?
SS: I think wellness will just take on more importance – hygiene is the baseline now. The high standards that have been implemented for COVID will need to stay, but hotels need to get better at offering wellness – whether that’s in the choice of menu options, the spa, health club or experiences.
As always, sustainability is key. This is now the opportunity to overhaul old thinking and practices when it comes to sustainability and the way our industry looks at it. It is possible to be sustainable and luxurious, and sustainability can be a profit centre if done in the right way.
Featured image source: Soneva
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
hospitality recovery resorts Soneva Sonu Shivdasani sustainability Wellness travelLatest News
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.
Travel Weekly announces a new team to helm Australia’s No.1 travel trade title
Some shameless self-promotion from us, but we thought you needed to know who's bringing you the news.
IHG reveals plans for Brisbane’s first Kimpton in 2028
Just another reason to book that trip to Brisvegas. But don't jump the gun, it's not open until 2028.
Cruiseabout’s first store in five years opens in Perth
Perth gets a break from being behind the rest of the country with the addition of the first Cruiseabout store.
ATAS complaints process acknowledges non-economic loss
A High Court case win over 'disappointment and distress' on a cruise gone wrong prompts ATIA complaints change.
Cunard previews new Queen Anne
Yep, this one does exactly what it says on the tin.
Bunnik Tours unveils latest expansion to Iceland
Just as the Icelandic vikings did many years ago, Bunnik is expanding into new territories.
Australia’s first glamping retreat turns 25
25th anniversary gifts usually come in silver. Ours comes in the way of a news story.
Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun
If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]
Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs
Turnbull hints her new role will see her staying in the tourism and hospitality industry and who can blame her?
DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign
If agents can put the foot down quick enough and get involved, there are some great prizes to be won.
Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern
Unlike those dodgy scam phone calls you're getting more and more of, there's no strings attached to this deal.
Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips
Can you call it a sober holiday if you enjoy a few glasses of red on the flight? We think yes.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips
The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Sno’n’Ski Holidays unveils 2025 mega famil to Colorado!
Let the games begin - this is certainly not a famil that you will want to miss!
Walk Japan launches Kyoto: Mountains to the sea walking tour
There are two types of people, one who enjoys walking on holiday and another who enjoys sipping Mojitos by the pool.
Which destination had a 48% boost in bookings following 10 MILLION TikTok views?
Here's a clue: it's not Malabar Beach.
Asher Telford appointed General Manager of SeaLink Whitsundays
Telford has plenty of reasons to smile after SeaLink doubles down and makes him GM after buying his tourism operation.
Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak
Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Rail Europe ANZ: making dream journeys come true
Rail Europe's running a lottery! You're not going to win millions, but you might just snag a free holiday.
UPDATE: Bonza hole deepens as administrators investigate financial affairs
Administrators dig deeper as struggling airline unlikely to be revived.
Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]
Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists
Trip A Deal, Virgin and Ignite Travel walk into a bar, blow their cash on travel advertising instead of the pokies.
Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]
Jetstar offers 200,000 return for free flights to celebrate 20th anniversary
Jetstar hits 20 and everyone else gets the presents with free return flights to domestic and international destinations.