JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the opening of the first Marriott International luxury hotel in St. Maarten: JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa. Nestled in a tropical haven exuding multicultural charm, JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa embodies the brand’s mindful ethos, offering travelers an enriching Caribbean retreat that nourishes the mind, body, and spirit. “JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa marks our debut in this striking corner of the Caribbean, not only punctuating our incredible growth in the region, but also strengthening our global presence,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “JW Marriott is committed to anchoring in premier destinations worldwide and this property seamlessly blends JW Marriott’s guiding wellness principles and luxury amenities, with locale-forward complements and tropical warmth closely in tow. We are poised to reimagine the hospitality landscape in St. Maarten and are eager to welcome guests to our newest jewel.”
The Opening Of Soneva Secret 2024: 30 Years In The Making
20.02.2024 - 16:33 / forbes.com
Forget underwater villas, private dining under the stars and medical-led spa treatments, the Maldives has gone one better when it comes to exclusive offerings, with the opening of Soneva Secret 2024.
Some 30 years in the making, and found in Haa Dhaalu, the Maldives’ most remote atoll, the new exclusive resort, which opened last month, has a focus on ‘rare experiences’ and could now be the most ultra-luxe destination to book in the region. With just 14 villas, its concept is based on what Soneva, the brand, is already known for—sustainability, bespoke service and nature-inspired design—just ramped up a notch.
As well as vast villas with roofs that open to the stars, dedicated assistants for each villa and curated, one-of-a-kind experiences, you can also choose to book one of the lagoon Crusoe Villas, accessible only by boat, or the Castaway, the Maldives' first floating villa.
Guests can expect bespoke menus courtesy of their own private chef (there are 14—one for each villa) as well as standout dining experiences, such as at Out of This World, a castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar in the lagoon, reachable by zipline; a toes-in-the-sand firepit dining experience at So Primitive; and The Living Room, the island hub and casual dining and lounge venue, which is also home to a library, boutique and ice cream, chocolate and cheese and charcuterie rooms.
Exclusively for Forbes, the founder of Soneva, Sonu Shivdasani, reveals more about the inspiration behind Soneva Secret 2024
What was the impetus for opening Soneva Secret 2024?
The idea behind Soneva Secret 2024 is something that we have had in our minds since the early 2000s. We realized there had been a demographic shift. When we opened our first resort back in 1995, our focus was largely on couples and not families. In fact, there was a year or so when we did not encourage children under 12 at Soneva. Our target market was honeymooners and those who were towards the end of their careers with more time on their hands.
Towards the end of the 1990s, as a result of ‘Reganism and ‘Thatcherism’, the advent of the BRICs, and the internet revolution, we found that the people who could afford to visit Soneva were now in their late 30s and early 40s and they would tend to return year after year. They were having children at a later age. As a consequence, there was a demand for larger residences, and a greater variety of things to do.
As Soneva evolved, creating new experiences for our guests that were innovative and dynamic, we also realized that, as we developed our resorts further, we were losing some of the ‘Untouched Robinson Crusoe’ element of our original vision. We also realized that there were locations that were a bit more remote and
For years, I dreamed of overwater bungalows in destinations like the Maldives and Tahiti. Then, I found one just a 6-hour flight away in Belize.
Waking up to ocean waters lapping underneath me, a breeze rustling through a thatched roof, and sea salt coating my skin is my vision of an ideal tropical vacation.
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