Soneva Secret appoints Akira Shiota as General Manager

Soneva has appointed Akira Shiota as General Manager of Soneva Secret, its 13-villa resort in the remote Makunudhoo Atoll of the Maldives.

Shiota brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience, including leadership positions across the Maldives, Japan and Indonesia. His background spans resort openings, hotel operations, food and beverage, commercial strategy, revenue management, asset management and property development.

Before joining Soneva, he served as Cluster General Manager of Kudadoo Maldives Private Island and Hurawalhi Island Resort from August 2024 to February 2026. He previously held general manager positions with Aman in Bali and Kyoto, alongside leadership roles at The St. Regis Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Shiota began his hospitality career as a mixologist before moving into restaurant management, food and beverage leadership and hotel operations. His career has included assignments in London, China and several Japanese cities, as well as work with restaurants that received Michelin recognition.

Announcing the appointment, Soneva said Shiota’s approach to hospitality aligned with the philosophy of Soneva Secret.

“He sees a hotelier’s work as creating intangible things, unexpected moments, and the kind of memories people carry with them for life,” the company said. “He believes, too, that those who care for guests are also custodians of the natural world, with a responsibility to protect and renew it.”

Shiota’s professional philosophy focuses on creating experiences that extend beyond physical products and services. In his profile, he describes hoteliers as creators of “unexpected experiences and enchanting memories”, while emphasising employee development, working environments and the creation of teams whose members can think and act independently.

He also regards hospitality professionals as guardians of the natural environment, with a responsibility to develop and implement systems that support its protection.

Soneva said the philosophy reflects its “Just What Matters” promise and Soneva Secret’s emphasis on privacy, intuitive service and environmental stewardship.

Opened in 2024, Soneva Secret is located on a private island in Makunudhoo Atoll and is the only resort in the atoll. Soneva describes the property as its most intimate resort, comprising 13 beach, overwater and Sea Loft villas surrounded by largely undeveloped waters and coral reefs.

The resort’s Sea Loft villas are positioned away from the main island and can be reached only by boat, while its overwater and beach villas are designed to connect indoor spaces with the surrounding lagoon and island landscape. The resort can also be reserved in its entirety for private groups.

Soneva Secret was developed around a highly personalised service model. Each villa is supported by a dedicated team, including a Barefoot Guardian, a Barefoot Assistant and a private chef who can prepare individual menus for in-villa dining or meals at selected locations around the island.

Facilities and experiences include private sandbank picnics, dolphin cruises, marine encounters, snorkelling, stargazing and ocean ziplining. The surrounding waters are home to manta rays, dolphins, turtles and coral reefs, while wellbeing treatments and practices can be provided at guests’ villas.

Dining is arranged according to guests’ preferences, with private meals offered across the island and beneath the night sky. The resort also includes The Living Room, which combines dining with a library and boutique, alongside Soneva’s ice cream, chocolate, cheese and charcuterie rooms. Other venues include the Out of This World dining tower and the So Primitive firepit dining experience.

The appointment comes as Soneva advances a series of ownership, management and brand changes. In May 2025, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Soneva Group after initially investing in the company as a minority shareholder in 2019. Neil Gallagher was appointed Chief Executive Officer to lead the group’s next phase.

Soneva expanded its management team in September 2025 with the appointments of Joanna Flint as Chief Commercial Officer and Chris Whitehouse as Chief Financial Officer. Abhishek Sharma was promoted to Chief Operating Officer after previously serving as Group General Manager and overseeing operations across Soneva’s three resorts.

The group also opened a global headquarters in Dubai, intended to strengthen its relationships with industry partners, provide access to international talent and support engagement with key feeder markets.

In June 2026, Soneva introduced “Bare Luxury” as the next evolution of the “Barefoot Luxury” philosophy it established with the opening of its first resort in 1995.

The updated positioning focuses on removing elements that do not contribute to what Soneva describes as “Just What Matters”, including nature, space, presence, connection and wellbeing. The brand evolution also introduced a refined Soneva logo and the Soluna monogram, derived from the Latin words for sun and moon.

Under Shiota’s leadership, Soneva Secret will continue developing its personalised guest experience within the group’s evolving hospitality philosophy and management structure.