PARIS – Continuing its expansion into hospitality and experiences, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has invested in Les Domaines de Fontenille, the French boutique hotel group co-founded by a former fashion executive.
The French luxury conglomerate has made a minority investment in the company alongside Anaïs Ventures, the investment fund led by Julien Firmenich, a former senior executive at Swiss fragrance and flavors supplier Firmenich, the hotel group said in a statement.
Specializing in eco-responsible destinations, Les Domaines de Fontenille was created in 2016 by Frédéric Biousse, who led high-street brand Comptoir des Cotonniers and accessible luxury group SMCP, and Guillaume Foucher, who together with Biousse founded the Galerie Particulière art gallery in Paris.
Led by chief executive officer Linda Hazi, it now groups 11 properties in France, Spain and Italy, with two new projects underway: a hotel in Brittany, expected to open in spring 2025, and a five-star hotel in Aix-en-Provence, slated to bow in 2026.
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“With this new investment, Les Domaines de Fontenille plan to acquire and renovate additional exceptional properties. Each project will adhere to the same guiding philosophy: upholding the highest environmental standards while preserving the heritage and terroir that define these unique destinations,” it said in a statement.
“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,” said Jean-Jacques Guiony, chief financial officer of LVMH.
The group’s Belmond division groups 29 hotels including Hotel Cipriani in Venice and the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to trains, boats and safari lodges.
It also owns the exclusive Cheval Blanc properties and earlier this year invested in the Orient Express brand, with ambitious plans to add more trains, sailing ships and hotels.
Les Domaines de Fontenille last year received an investment from French public institution Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and became the first French hospitality group to achieve the status of “société à mission,” reflecting its commitment to combining hospitality excellence with positive social and environmental impact.
“Fontenille is the story of a lifetime. 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,” Biousse and Foucher said in a joint statement.
