There are resorts in the Maldives that your clients might visit in their dreams but when they wake up, find themselves wincing at the price tag. That’s not Sun Siyam Resorts, which prides itself on offering a homegrown brand of attainable luxury, and latest figures show that the UK market specifically is booming for the hotelier. 

This growth is being steered by Deepak Booneady, chief executive, Sun Siyam Resorts, who speaks to TTG of the need to make emotional connections with guests. “There are some international brands that offer beautiful resorts but people barely say good morning to you. A smile is the basis of the hospitality business,” he says. “It’s the passion and the warmth that you want to transfer to the guest – that to me is luxury.”  

It was back in 1998 that Sun Siyam opened its first resort (Sun Siyam Vilu Reef) and the portfolio has grown to include the four-star Sun Siyam Olhuveli and four five-star properties (Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef and Sun Siyam World), all in the Maldives plus Sun Siyam Pasidukah on the east coast of Sri Lanka.  


UK growth  

Drilling down into recent success, Booneady says the UK now contributes 40% of Sun Siyam’s total business, representing more than 90,000 room nights annually. Bookings for 2026 have already surged 25-30%, indicating significant forward momentum. High occupancy rates (85–90%) are being maintained, even during the traditional low season, when competitors struggle – yet prices remain “extremely competitive”. 

A key driver of this growth has been the introduction of 24-hour premium all-inclusive packages, which feature top-shelf brands and a wide range of dining options – going far beyond the traditional buffet model. Strategic early selling of packages up to December 2026, as well as strong relationships with UK tour operators, have also been instrumental, says Booneady. 

“The UK market has been very significant for us, and it just keep growing and growing. We deliver on our promises – we make sure every guest, who comes to our resorts, leaves happy and so our reputation is very good,” he adds.

Innovation is playing a central role in the brand’s evolution. Launching this month, Sun Siyam has curated a list of 11 Signature Experiences for guests, such as hands-on Maldivian masterclasses from expert chefs, a treasure hunt that offers a villa upgrade as a prize, a floating movie night aboard a traditional dhoni and Insta villas, giving guests an exclusive key card for just enough time to taste some top-shelf luxury and take a few memorable photos. 

From the tricycle version of an ice cream van roaming the resort to pop-up bars in ever-changing locations, they've all been designed to surprise and delight guests.

Never ‘boring’

“We’ve been busy crafting these, in line with our new brand promise, which is that ‘we champion extraordinary experiences’,” explains Booneady. “Everyone [in the Maldives] has a nice beach, nice restaurants, but what makes Sun Siyam more unique?”

Alongside these new products and a brand new website launch, Sun Siyam is renovating and upgrading several of its resorts. This has included the opening of the Maldives’ longest pool (at 210-metres), the remodelling of sunrise and sunset pavilions, plus a new Italian restaurant and pool bar, all at Sun Siyam Olhuveli; the renovation of the water villas and the Italian restaurant at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi; and the renovation of the beachfront Nautilus Bar at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.  

One thing, Booneady promises, is that the resorts are “never boring”. The aim is to create memorable, immersive guest experiences – examples include moonlight cinemas, secret pop-up dinners on the beach, fully integrated wellness and detox programmes, football camps, horse riding and go-karting.  


Sustainability is another focus, with the company pioneering an in-house plastic recycling initiative. Siyam World, in collaborating with CleanMaldives, now has advanced recycling technology to turn post-consumer plastic waste into tables and chairs, preventing items such as oil containers and shampoo bottles from ending up in landfill or being transported further afield for processing. Glass bottles are also used throughout resorts and transportation to minimise plastic waste. 

The resorts are managed by Sun Siyam Group, which this year is celebrating 35 years since Sun Siyam Travels, one of the first DMC’s in Maldives, was set up in 1990, was established in 1990. As part of these celebrations, the Sun Siyam Resorts brand is being “uplifted” with a new logo and a recategorization of the resorts into three distinct collections: Prive (intimate, barefoot, boutique), Lifestyle (big on entertainment and recreation), and Luxury (exclusive, premium service).

Expansion on the cards

Booneady isn’t ready to share details yet, but expansion plans are underway, with the search area being drawn as widely as Mauritius, Zanzibar, Southeast Asia, and India. “Oh yes, we are looking to invest and to buy more land,” he confirms. “Everywhere is booming nowadays.”

But he doesn’t want this growth strategy to water down Sun Siyam’s deep commitment to hospitality driven by heart and sustainability. The group is deeply invested in social impact and education. In partnership with the Maldivian government, Sun Siyam has launched an apprenticeship scheme and is preparing to open its own academy by 2026. This programme will offer hospitality education, especially to underprivileged youth worldwide. 

“I wasn’t a great student,” Deepak admits. “But I learned on the job, cleaning cruise cabins, and that was my step up. We need to change our mindset and give a chance to the school-leaving generation, let them prove themselves.”  

It's not just a future generation of hoteliers that Booneady wants to train up. He also wants to develop teenagers as loyal brand champions for life, by making them fall in love with the guest experience.  

“My purpose is to help people celebrate life,” he says. “And if we do business with our heart, take care of our guests, there’s no way they will not love our brand. A lot of companies fail in this because they can’t do business with the heart.”