Meet the uninhabited island that will soon be a luxury resort

The Six Senses hotel brand is synonymous with luxury and beautiful locations.

Six Senses announced this week that it will open its first Greek resort in partnership with Grivalia Hospitality.

The new resort will be located on a white-sand cove on currently uninhabited Megalonisos, one of the 10 Petalioi islands - which have been dubbed “Greek Maldives”.

Six Senses Megalonisos will be a short boat ride from the port of Rafina, just across the mainland from Athens, or Marmari on Evia’s west coast.

There will be 75 guest villas and 20 branded residences for sale, all blending into the contours of the bay, which is protected by prevailing winds to make it an ideal location for a mooring site for yachts, the PR blurb says.

Athens is an easy day trip destination.

The development will be powered by its own solar electric farm and will feature three restaurants with all-day dining, a beach bar and grill, and a specialty sunset bar. There will also be a pastry café.

The Six Senses Spa will offer multiple treatment rooms, including four double sensory suites, a watsu for a range of hydro therapies, and a Hammam for a warm herbal steam and body scrub.

“Six Senses Megalonisos offers a unique opportunity to step foot on a Greek island that even the Gods left undiscovered,” says Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses.

“We look forward to welcoming our guests with emotional hospitality that encompasses pioneering wellness, sustainability, and meaningful experiences.”

The target opening date has been set for the end of 2027.

Water and wine a winning combo for Six Senses

Leading wellness travel operator Six Senses has announced it is to make its debut in California's wine and weed capital: the Napa Valley.

Six Senses is to transform the Aetna Springs resort facility in Napa County, home of some of the most sought-after cabernets in the world.

The mineral springs resort was founded in the late 1800s but has fallen into disrepair.

It had thrived until the 1970s as a natural spa destination, with Aetna Mineral Water also sold.

“Six Senses Napa Valley will marry the region’s beauty with the unique natural resources of the original Aetna Springs,” said Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs in a press release.

“Working with Weller Development Partners, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and committed sustainability partners, we have the right energy in place to revitalize this precious jewel in the Napa crown as a destination to rewild our guests back to a connection with nature, each other, and ultimately themselves.”

I'm not sure what rewild means, but I'm sure you get the message.

The revamped resort is a two-hour drive from San Francisco and Six Senses says existing structures will be sensitively preserved, and the landscape regenerated.

There will be a choice of 95 rooms and suites, including 10 tent-style structures. There will also be 16 residences, which will be serviced by Six Senses and, alongside all the resort amenities, enjoy access to a dedicated lounge.



Programs will include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, visiting practitioners, and various treatments and therapies.

The historic mineral springs will be revived with indoor and outdoor thermal experiences and bathing.

So like Evian, but surrounded by vines.

There will be four food and beverage outlets and Well will entice guests to an informal al fresco space to celebrate the history of Aetna Springs with mineral water bottling and distilling. To dilute all that water will be the region's best wines, including Napa’s famed cabernets.

Six Senses operates 20 hotels and resorts in 17 countries and has signed a further 34 properties into its development pipeline.

Why plastic is far from fantastic at Six Senses

Six Senses resorts are celebrating not only the holiday period, but also a successful year in helping protect the environment.

Six Senses has set a goal towards plastic freedom and says it is committed to weaving long-term positive change into the fabric of every property.

Following its pledge as a founding signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative in 2019, efforts to eliminate single-use plastic are on track, the hotel group says.

This includes eliminating the brand’s “18 Most Unwanted” items, everything from guest amenities to behind-the-scenes material such as coffee pods and fruit packaging. It also means sourcing plastic-free products, arranging packaging take-back and bottling drinking water on property.

By the end of 2022, Six Senses will have:

# Eliminated all unnecessary plastic packaging of bathroom amenities, room amenities, and retail spaces.

# Introduced more reusable solutions in the kitchens to replace cling film and plastic packaging of fresh products.

# Sourced naturally compostable packing and other materials where appropriate by engaging with suppliers.

# Worked with other hotels and industry partners to share best practices, supplier recommendations, and other information to help all stakeholders move away from plastic.

# Eliminated more than 1.5 million plastic bottles each year by bottling its own drinking water in reusable glass bottles.

# Used natural materials to substitute everything from plastic straws to toothbrushes, and also crates, cloth bags, bottles, and containers that can be reused and refilled.

“When the world woke up to plastic straws, we realised we need to go much further to continue to lead on sustainability in the hospitality industry, so back in 2017, we set the audacious goal of eliminating all unnecessary plastics,” says Jeff Smith, VP of Sustainability at Six Senses.

“This journey began with an inventory of all remaining plastics, once straws and bottles had been eliminated, and now continues with supplier engagement, seeking natural materials, and adopting circular solutions. Our solution to plastic waste is to avoid it before it happens.”

Six Senses reveals plans for first Australian resort

Leading international hospitality group Six Senses will open its first Australian property at Burnham Beeches, a heritage mansion and 22-hectare estate in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne.

Designed by architect Harry Norris in 1933 for the Nicholas “Aspro” family, the property is located 40 kilometers from Melbourne. The mansion is one of the finest examples of domestic Art Deco in Australia.

Burnham Beeches has been on the Victorian Heritage Register for over three decades and adjacent Alfred Nicolas Memorial Gardens are managed by Parks Victoria.

With an initial 43 guest accommodations and hospitality venues, the facility will include a restaurant with outdoor seating, a library bar, and a rooftop retreat.

The guest rooms will be spread over the mansion’s three main wings with the aim of creating a "decadent retreat" with quirky touches.

The vibe will be "rustic luxe" and there will also be a separate two-bedroom cottage with interconnecting one-bedroom suite within the site’s Hilltop Retreat.

Subject to planning applications, the masterplan will incorporate a premium glamping offer.

The Six Senses Spa will be on the lower ground level of the mansion with a tea lounge, treatment rooms, gym, hydro area and sauna, and relaxation spaces.

“For Six Senses Burnham Beeches to be regenerative, it will not be a static place,” says Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs.

“We’ll evolve and respond to bring the rich heritage of Burnham Beeches to life, inviting moments of exploration, discovery, connection to nature, and delight through interactive gastronomy, wellness, and sustainability experiences.”

Trenerry Consortium announced its acquisition of Burnham Beeches in early 2021.

Subject to receiving the support of all stakeholders, Six Senses Burnham Beeches is slated to open in mid-2025.