Marriott International and Lefay to grow together luxury wellness offerings

Marriott International and the Leali family, founders of Lefay, announced their plans to enter into a joint venture to bring the highly awarded luxury wellness hospitality brand Lefay into the Marriott portfolio.

This collaboration combines Lefay’s approach to holistic well-being with Marriott’s global scale, and the power of its award-winning Marriott Bonvoy loyalty platform. Lefay will be the first brand in Marriott’s portfolio dedicated exclusively to luxury wellness.

Founded in Italy in 2006 by Domenico Alcide and Liliana Leali, Lefay is known for its immersive resorts in natural settings and its proprietary Lefay SPA Method, which blends scientific research with holistic wellness traditions. The brand’s philosophy centers on space, serenity, and sustainability and aims to redefine modern luxury through well-being and authenticity.

The Lefay portfolio currently features two luxury resorts in Lago di Garda and in the Dolomites, Italy, both located in nature‑rich leisure destinations. Additionally, the brand’s pipeline includes three properties under development in Tuscany, Southern Italy, and the Swiss Alps.

Lefay’s existing and pipeline resorts will operate under long-term hotel management agreements with the new joint venture, to which Lefay will contribute existing brand and intellectual property assets. The Italian real estate assets will continue to be held by the brand’s founders. Together, the parties intend to grow the brand around the world, leveraging Marriott’s powerful development capabilities.

“Marriott is thrilled to collaborate with the Leali family as we grow our luxury wellness portfolio,” said Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International. “Luxury is increasingly defined by wellbeing, purpose and meaningful experiences. We are excited to introduce Lefay to our customers around the world and thoughtfully expand Marriott’s presence in the luxury wellness space.”

A heritage brand embracing global well-being

“Our family founded Lefay nearly twenty years ago with a clear vision: to create destinations where well-being, nature and health come together authentically,” said Domenico Alcide and Liliana Leali, founders of Lefay. “We are deeply honored to begin this collaboration with Marriott and to further advance our vision of bringing the Lefay brand to the world.”

Each Lefay property is designed as an eco‑resort, emphasizing architectural harmony with the natural environment, expansive indoor‑outdoor spaces, sustainable materials, and wellness programs that integrate movement, nutrition, and preventative health. Guests may choose from à‑la‑carte treatments or structured multi‑day wellness programs, all rooted in Lefay’s holistic philosophy.

Strengthening Marriott’s luxury portfolio and wellness offerings

Lefay will complement Marriott’s existing Luxury Group portfolio – such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION and The Luxury Collection– while appealing to a rapidly expanding global audience seeking transformative travel experiences focused on health and longevity.

“Lefay represents a new expression of luxury, one that is wellness‑first, deeply experiential, and emotionally resonant,” said Tina Edmundson, President of Luxury, Marriott International. “As guest expectations continue to evolve, our collaboration with Lefay will allow us to thoughtfully extend our luxury offerings into a space where well-being is not just an amenity, but the heart of the travel experience.”