Marriott International Acquires Luxury Wellness Brand Lefay Through Joint Venture

Marriott International has completed a transaction with the Leali family to bring Lefay, the Italian luxury wellness resort brand, into its global portfolio through a joint venture.

The deal gives Marriott its first dedicated luxury wellness brand. Under the structure, the joint venture owns the Lefay brand and its intellectual property assets. The Italian real estate continues to be owned by the founders, with the properties operating under long-term management agreements with the joint venture.

Marriott will support the brand's growth through its global development, sales, marketing and distribution platforms, with Lefay properties to be bookable through Marriott's digital channels and integrated into the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme by late 2026.

Lefay was founded in 2006 by Domenico Alcide and Liliana Leali and operates two properties: Lefay Resort and SPA Lago di Garda, which opened in Gargnano in 2008, and Lefay Resort and SPA Dolomiti, which opened in Madonna di Campiglio in 2019. The Garda property has won more than 150 industry awards, with the Dolomiti property securing more than 50 since opening.

The brand is built around the proprietary Lefay SPA Method, which combines scientific research with holistic wellness traditions. Treatments are offered either à la carte or through structured multi-day wellness programmes covering movement, nutrition and preventative health. All Lefay resorts are operated as carbon neutral.

Further resorts are under development in Tuscany, Southern Italy and the Swiss Alps. The Dolomiti property is also notable as Lefay's entry into the Serviced Branded Residences segment, a category where international hotel groups have been expanding rapidly in recent years.

For Marriott, which operates more than 9,900 properties across 146 countries, Lefay gives the group a defined luxury wellness flag without disrupting any of its existing brands. The deal also opens a route for Marriott to add European-rooted wellness credibility to a portfolio that has historically been stronger in city and resort properties than dedicated wellbeing destinations.