Connection is central
Six Senses Bhutan
Neil B. Jacobs — Chief Executive Officer
Neil B. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Six Senses shares his passion for wellness, sustainability, making travel purposeful and what he’s most excited about.
Under his leadership, the company has opened resorts in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations including Bhutan, Fiji, India, Israel, Portugal, Turkey, and the Seychelles, with new properties confirmed in Belize, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, the Galapagos, UAE and the UK. He has sought to enable people to experience Six Senses in gateway cities with Rome, Lisbon and London on their way.
Neil, what does the pyramid logo mean?
Our brand was born from the belief that to live is to connect and our logo originates from the blessing marks made by the fingerprints of Buddhist monks on auspicious occasions in Thailand. It represents six blessings, with the bottom of the pyramid representing sight, sound and touch, the middle representing taste and smell, and the apex representing the sixth sense – intuition.
We try to take guests beyond the destination into new experiences that enable their natural intuition to take over, leaving them more open to reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them.
What would you say the five pillars are that distinguish the Six Senses brand of hotels?
Being Six Senses, we have six pillars, or values, that inform everything we do. And also how we do it from the heart – it’s fair to say our hosts are the most heart-warming element of our brand! Our actions are underlined by local sensitivity, global sensibility; responsible and caring; crafted experiences; pioneering wellness; emotional hospitality; and not taking ourselves too seriously to ensure we remain fun and quirky.
When we uphold these values as story-doers, we build trust and mutual respect with each other and our guests, and our messages become more compelling as storytellers too.
Six Senses Svart
What’s new in the world of sustainability and thought leadership at Six Senses?
Before we look forward, it’s worth pointing out that Six Senses has been serious about reducing disposable plastic for many years, going back to the 1990s with our signature water bottled in glass. In 2020, Six Senses was one of the first signatories of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, which unites the sector behind a common vision and targets to address plastic waste and root causes. This goes way beyond single-use plastic. Our Plastic Free 2022 goal means we’re eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging from our guest rooms and service areas while introducing more reusable solutions in kitchens.
Why is it important to ban plastic and not just recycle it? Much of the pollution occurs during production, extraction, use and disposal, so when we recycle plastic, half the damage is already done. As the effects of climate change become increasingly dire around the world, hosts and guests are supporting and even demanding action.
Today’s problems call for creative solutions, and I’m most excited about projects that have a net-zero environmental impact without sacrificing decadence or indulgence. Six Senses Svart, our first Norwegian project, demonstrates how futuristic design, innovative thinking, and superior craftsmanship leads to off-grid, carbon-neutral, and zero-waste living. I never want to stop pushing boundaries.”
Let’s talk Wellness. What are some experiences that make Six Senses a leader in this space?
Just as sustainability is integrated into our operations, so is wellness, because they directly influence each other. Pioneering wellness is central to the Six Senses DNA. This means the design, where, for example, non-invasive touchless technology will adapt the room to the guest’s state of mind and health at Six Senses Svart. It encompasses cutting-edge treatments, for example, to restore tired legs after skiing, through the Stretch Pod and Biohack Recovery Lounge at Six Senses Crans-Montana. And it also challenges us to move outside our current offer, as is the case with Six Senses Vana, which combines Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine, and Yoga as part of an intentional wellness retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas in India.
Described 5,000 years ago in ancient Vedic texts, these comprehensive healing systems are still very much in use the world over, which is a testament to the wisdom they hold. Leadership in this space means recognizing the high-touch as much as the high-tech.
Six Senses leads a series of Virtual Events? What are these and how can our members learn more?
As I said, the connection is central to what we do. Our Virtual Events are an invitation to connect with our community and delve deeper into wellness with global experts and Friends of Six Senses. We’ve tackled everything from reprogramming immunity with our favorite therapist Marisa Peer to navigating modern life with lion tracker Boyd Varty. Physician and nutritionist Mark Hyman has talked about how to age backward and how genetics and lifestyle can influence our health span.
Living by the message of “Be Your Own Hero”, the kind but ferocious Kung Fu Nuns led a Women Empowering Women masterclass and demonstration from their Amitabha Drukpa Nunnery in Kathmandu Valley. From spirits to psychedelics and breathing to biohacking we’re pretty open minded when it comes to this stuff.
Six Senses London
What are you most excited about for 2023 and beyond?
What you’ll start seeing more of is how we will translate our vision into different places and spaces, such as urban locations. Following on from our urban resort in Istanbul, we’ll be opening Six Senses Rome early next year followed by our hotel and residences at the former art deco Whiteleys department store in London. Naturally, a fifteenth-century Palazzo in the heart of the Eternal City is going to give off a different vibe than our stilted and thatched hideaways in Vietnam’s Ninh Van Bay but it doesn’t mean we can’t apply the same principles when it comes to out-of-the-ordinary experiences, a fierce commitment to sustainability, building a community, and love of wellness.
Residence at The Forestias Bangkok
Six Senses recently launched, Six Senses Residences. Can you tell us more about these?
Sure. If you like staying with us, why not live with us? Your home is your private villa or apartment, but you can access all the unique amenities and services of the Six Senses hotel or resort. You can choose from beachfront retreats on a private tropical island to chalet-style ski resorts or downtown heritage buildings. We try to stay in tune with where we are, whether that means an indoor-outdoor lifestyle that is typical for Belize, or ‘stealth architecture’ blended into the granite landscape of Félicité in Seychelles. But we also move things on. Our residences at The Whiteley in London, for example, express different values to the traditional luxury property sector. Everything we do there will bring connection and sustainable living into an urban environment to bring people together and celebrate good times as a community.
What are some examples of how Six Senses interacts with local communities
Of course, when it comes to local communities, we feel a great social responsibility. We live on shared earth and learn a lot when it comes to examples set by local communities. This goes beyond philanthropy, supporting local causes, or simply getting along. We want to get a sense of these communities, feel inspired by them, and hopefully become an active part of them. Our work at Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan to rewild the area around the property will remove invasive plants, restore the water table, and bring back jackals and leopards, which is great, but it must be done in partnership with the village and cattle owners. The Maldivian government is instrumental in setting up the Marine Protected Areas that the Maldives Underwater Initiative at Six Senses Laamu has been lobbying for. Restoring the seagrass meadows has been a case of changing hearts and minds. It’s not easy. But now other resorts are seeing the benefits in terms of attracting marine life.
The diversity of cultures, but also what connects them – their pride, dignity, strength, and resilience – is humbling. It ultimately inspires us all to consider what it is to be human.
What do you want Four Hundred members to know about Six Senses?
We’re growing! Both in terms of our property pipeline and expanding our ambitions into urban locations, residences, wellness retreats, and even multi-generation forest communities such as Six Senses Residences The Forestias in Bangkok. Hospitality is never just a place to stay and everything we offer is an opportunity to explore more, whether that means deep within you or going out and about.
Over the years, I haven’t had much chance to nap on the job.
Six Senses Kyoto
What is the one experience you have never had a chance to do but would love to at a Six Senses property?
I’m excited about our entry into Japan, so how about a Six Senses take on the Japanese Ryokan in Kyoto? I’d love to experience a true kaiseki dinner in my room after a deep soak and scrub in the spa, followed by a Japanese Zen-style relaxation treatment. Slightly less relaxing perhaps, but I’ve been reading up on the benefits of cold therapy. I’ve heard the ice bath is great once you’re in. And the greatest challenge for me, how about a week-long Vipassanā silent retreat in the comfort of a Six Senses resort? Hmm, maybe not that last one.
Contributor — Four Hundred by Design
