Brand profiles

From its beginnings in 1995, Six Senses has been widely recognised for establishing the early benchmarks for the hospitality industry. The brand has a portfolio of six residences schemes operating across the globe and a substantial pipeline of signed deals, eleven of which are actively marketed or to be launched shortly. The brand prides itself on its ethos of wellness and sustainability both for its residences and also for the community.

For Six Senses residence owners, they are able to access all of the amenities and privileges of a Six Senses property. Properties are built using renewable and locally sourced materials and adhere to high levels of energy and water efficiency to minimise environmental impact.

The brand wants to provide a sense of community for the residents, both within and outside the resort. Robin Chalier, EMEA Head of Development for Six Senses, emphasises that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the cost of a luxurious experience. He says, ”We want to promote resident reconnection with themselves, with nature, and with the local community through our commitment to wellness, sustainability, along with a high level of service.”

Six Senses’ ESG strategy involves a three-pronged commitment to people, planet and profit. The people element is extremely important for the brand and encompasses not only the residents and employees of the properties but also the wider community. The company also gives a percentage of the revenues from each property back to the community to support local initiatives.

To minimise its impact on the planet, Six Senses creates low-density developments using local materials, often built to a LEED-certified standard. Chalier continues, “We don’t want to impose design on nature; we want to work with nature, which is why you see smaller properties. Most locations have fewer than 70 keys, which isn’t that many compared to some other brands, but it’s what we need in terms of low density and low impact for sustainability.”

Though the brand originally began with properties in remote locations in Asia to promote a sense of adventure, the brand has been expanding in recent years to more global locations, often nearer to major gateway cities, particularly as more residents are looking to buy closer to home because of the pandemic.

The forthcoming Six Senses Loire Valley is a prime example; it is remote enough to be a destination but is still close enough to Paris to allow for a commute one to two days a week. Six Senses is still focused on choosing locations that have meaning, in order to create a destination feel and demonstrate to residents that they won’t be disappointed by choosing something out of the ordinary.

Kerzner International is a leading global developer and operator of ultra-luxury hotels and residences, entertainment destination resorts and immersive lifestyle destinations. Three of its four brands are, or are soon to be, operating in the branded residences space: One&Only, Atlantis, and SIRO.

Flagship residential developments for Kerzner include One&Only Mandarina in Mexico (below) and the forthcoming Atlantis, The Royal Residences in Dubai. The first residences under the Atlantis brand, Atlantis, The Royal will offer 231 residences in this evolved Atlantis experience, joining Atlantis, The Palm resort, providing an unrivalled destination that will offer unique dining experiences, cutting-edge design and thoughtful use of the elements.

Kerzner focuses on the overall experience for guests and residences alike, from the location selection to the exclusivity of the community, to all of the considered details.

Brett Armitage, Chief Commercial Officer for Kerzner International, says, ”for Kerzner, it is about the DNA of each brand and how it is expressed for residents. Culinary experiences for both brands are key: whether that be from Nobu to José Andrés at Atlantis or Enrique Olvera to Andrew Walsh at One&Only. One&Only has also partnered with wellness pioneers Chenot in some locations for the ultimate in holistic health.”

He continues, “It’s less about the resort concierge, though the private homeowners will have their own individual concierge (‘One Contact’) who is there to provide a seamless experience, from purchasing the home to arranging airport transfers, to ensuring the residence is ready for arrival, to stocking the fridge, completely managing the stay for the residents. As part of our ESG policy, wherever possible, sustainable products and services are locally sourced in accordance with Fair Trade principles.”

Kerzner also wants to be ahead of the curve in terms of amenities. From inception to residents collecting their keys is often a three-to-five-year timeline; Kerzner is always looking ahead.

Fitness and wellness have only become more important as part of everyday life. It’s that forward thinking, global expertise and deep connections to the destinations which differentiates the company and its residential offerings.

As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Hilton is home to more than 6,600 properties across 18 brands in 119 countries and territories globally. Of these 18 brands, eight provide branded residence offerings. From luxury properties at the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts to upscale residences at the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Hilton offers different and distinct products across the chain scales designed for various lifestyles.

It isn’t just luxury that can factor into amenity offerings – many branded residence schemes can meet ESG criteria through amenities and services for residents. From things like electronic recycling points on premises, electric vehicle charging stations, filtered water, LED lighting in common areas, and increasing their number of LEED-certified properties, Hilton is dialling up its green credentials.

The company’s ESG strategy, ‘Travel with Purpose’, aims to promote responsible travel and tourism globally. As part of the strategy, Hilton is committed to doubling its investment in social impact and halving its environmental impact by 2030 by setting targets that are closely aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Complementing the sustainable measures in place, various branded residences across Hilton’s portfolio provide local philanthropic engagements for residents to engage with their community. “It’s important for our branded residential offerings across our portfolio to embrace Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy,” said Jonathan Wingo, Hilton’s Global Head of Residential Programs.

“We know corporate responsibility is top of mind for our residents, and with that in mind, we want it to be as seamless as possible for our residents to feel engaged and informed of how we are supporting our community and reducing our environmental impact.”

Beyond ESG, Hilton also provides versatile amenities and services for residents, from pools and wellness clubs to meeting spaces, additional storage, a multifunctional residents' lounge, and more.

Additionally, and varying by location and brand, residents can participate in community events, from cocktail collaborations to events with local artists and more.

Wingo adds, “There’s a considerable amount of thought that goes into the offering for each location and brand. Hilton wants to provide tailored amenities and services for each location, and the goal is to ensure that what is developed is truly value add for the residents.”

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