Million Air Summer 2021

INSPIRE 20TH ANNIVERSARY GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE LUXURY

Hotels

When I began researching for this compilation, I thought: piece of cake. The most luxurious hotels with the most impressive eco-credentials — how hard could it be? Hard is perhaps the wrong word. There is such a vast, wonderful ocean of LEED-certified resorts with pioneering seawater cooling systems, inventive waste reduction programs, solar-powered, ice-powered, wind-powered…all wrapped up in cushy luxury. It is a situation that might not have been the case 20-odd years ago; sustainability and environmental issues were not at the forefront as they are now — although in some instances, this was on certain hoteliers’ minds even when it was not the ‘in’ thing to do. There is an innate desire to protect beautiful places, to leave little to no footprint on the pristine environment and those who inhabit it. Many hotels employ a ‘leave no trace’ mentality, which seeps into every part of the resorts.

by Samantha Coles

SONEVA FUSHI

MALDIVES

Anyone who has visited this heavenly archipelago — one of the most paradisiacal places on Earth — understands why it is so important to protect it. The luxury hotel market in this spot is competitive with a bounty of exceptional hotels to choose from, but Soneva Fushi is a laidback utopia with a serious commitment to environmental and societal initiatives. It has its own recycling center, solar power plant and its very own Soneva Art & Glass Studio, where recycled bottles are used to create glass masterpieces. Located in Baa Atoll, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, the “original desert island hideaway” is surrounded by lush jungle with one- to nine-bedroom thatched villas, some of which are right in the ocean (but never on top of the coral reefs) with a waterslide leading from villa to warm, sparkling sea. There’s a marvelous Six Senses spa with a lengthy list of treatments, including Ayurvedic options. Sustainability and community initiatives are woven into the experience, and guests (especially little ones) are encouraged to participate. The ‘Fishing is a Family Matter’ experience is led by Soneva’s Maldivian fisherman, Rocket. He has been supplying fish to Soneva since the resort was under construction and is an expert in how to fish sustainably. Rocket will take you and yours out to find your own catch of the day, which will then be prepared for dinner using Rocket’s wife’s marinade recipe. When the stars come out, head to the resort’s observatory. It has a state-of-the-art telescope offering 3D imagery of the celestial night sky. Contact Abhishek Sharma, general manager, reservations-americas@soneva.com, +1 855 766 0025, soneva.com