LVMH Group has invested in French boutique hospitality group, Les Domaines de Fontenille. The French luxury conglomerate and Anaïs Ventures, the investment fund led by Julien Firmenich, have made a minority investment in the hospitality company.
The investment will help Les Domaines de Fontenille acquire and renovate additional properties. The company’s CEO Linda Hazi and her leadership team will be in charge the collection’s expansion.
The minority investment marks a milestone in Les Domaines de Fontenille’s expansion, both in France as well as globally, particularly in Spain and Italy. Founded by Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Fouche, the experiential hospitality company became the first French hospitality group in 2023 to achieve the status of Société à Mission, strengthening their commitment to combine hospitality with social and environmental impact.
“The arrival of LVMH and Anaïs Ventures marks a pivotal moment, reflecting the quality of work accomplished in a short time to create a strong and unique brand. We are thrilled to continue investing long-term in distinctive destinations that reflect our values while further elevating the quality of our services,” Les Domaines de Fontenille founders said in a statement.
Les Domaines de Fontenille has 11 properties in France, Spain and Italy, which includes 10 openings in the last four years. The group is preparing to open two more projects — a hotel in Perros-Guirec in Brittany, France (currently under renovation and slated to open in spring 2025) and a luxury hotel in Aix-en-Provence, France scheduled to open in 2026.
LVMH’s investment in the company reflects its growing interest in the luxury hospitality sector and diversify its clothing and jewelry businesses.
“This financial investment by the LVMH Group in Les Domaines de Fontenille is an opportunity to explore a complementary realm to the hospitality offerings we provide through our brands. We are pleased to support the founders, Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher, as well as CEO Linda Hazi, in writing the next chapter of the brand’s development,” said Jean-Jacques Guiony, LVMH.
Paris-based LVMH already owns Belmond, the hospitality company that operates luxury hotels and train services such as the Venice Simplon Orient Express, Cheval Blanc and Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Earlier this year, celebrated musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams, who is also the men’s creative director at LVMH, teamed up with Mohari Hospitality and Omnam Investment Group to acquire Hôtel Saint-James & Albany, the historical hotel in Paris’ 1st arrondissement, for an undisclosed amount.
