France: Luxury holiday rental brand Le Collectionist has announced that it has raised €60 million in a growth funding round to accelerate the expansion of the business through acquisitions.
The investment was led by private equity firm Highland Europe, while experiential luxury specialists, OLMA, X Ange and Famille C, Swiss banks Pictet and Lombard Odier, investment company Kostogri, business angels Fabrice Grinda, Nathalie Le Roy and Xavier Romatet, and existing investor Red River West also participated in the round.
Founded in 2014 to redefine luxury as the art of sharing, Le Collectionist seeks to bring together a community of homeowners, experience providers and travellers by curating an exclusive collection of exceptional homes, villas and chalets, and personalising them with the best services and experiences in each of their destinations.
Experiences and concierge services provided through the platform include sailing boat and vintage car rentals, walking treks, Michelin star chef dinners, ski lessons and private spas.
Claiming that only three per cent of homeowners that apply to its platform make the exclusive list, Le Collectionist offers around 1,800 properties across 30 destinations including the French Riviera, the Balearic Islands, Tuscany and more.
The company’s global expansion has been supported by the acquisitions of chalet rental brand Bramble Ski and the rental activity of French real estate Vallat group, and Greek property management company The Greek Villas.
In 2023, Le Collectionist will also use the funding to add more than 120 positions in Paris, the south of France, Barcelona, Ibiza and Switzerland, as well as to open new local offices in London and New York City.
Le Collectionist co-founder Max Aniort said: “Holidays are about creating memories and sharing once-in-a-lifetime moments with the people we love. This is what lies at the heart of everything we do at Le Collectionist.
“We want our guests to be given the best experiences and the attention they deserve to embrace and share precious time with family and friends. It’s great to have Irena and Highland Europe on this journey, as we share the same philosophy of excellence and leadership in everything we do,” he added.
Irena Goldenberg, partner at Highland Europe, said: “Le Collectionist has become a beacon for luxury, experiential holidays. It’s a testament to the team and their unique and tailored approach to curating holidays that the company is now the world’s leading luxury experience provider, and a trusted brand, with the leading customer satisfaction metrics across the entire industry.
“The team is as selective about the owners they partner with and the experiences they offer as their customers, and we’re thrilled to be joining them,” she added.
