Private home rental specialist Le Collectionist raises €60m of growth funding

Private home rental company Le Collectionist has raised €6­0m of growth funding from investors led by Highland Europe to accelerate the expansion of the business.

The platform was founded in 2014 and offers access to more than 1,800 properties across 30 destinations alongside high-end, hotel-like concierge services.

Le Collectionist said the funding would be used to “accelerate the expansion of the business through selective acquisitions in areas where demand for [its] curation and quality is high”.

The brand also plans to use the investment to open more than 120 positions in 2023 to develop its central office in Paris and existing local offices in the south-east and south-west of France, Barcelona, Ibiza and Switzerland. It also intends to open new local offices in London and New York.

The funding follows a series of key acquisitions for Le Collectionist which have enhanced its standing in the market.

The brand recently expanded its ski offering with the purchase of Swiss ski chalet rental leader Bramble Ski and the rental activity of French Alps real estate company Vallat Group.

It also recently acquired leading Greek property rental company, The Greek Villas, and the top property management company in Ibiza.

Le Collectionist said demand for its properties has risen “four-fold” since 2020. The brand has reportedly tripled its number of new destinations, nearly quadrupled its number of active properties, and generated “a 5.5x increase” in revenue.

The company has properties in destinations including France, Portugal, Italy, the Balearic Islands, Switzerland, Austria, the Caribbean, Morocco, South Africa and Costa Rica, with concierge services able to assist with hiring sailing boats and vintage cars, planning bespoke transport and unique experiences and organising private chefs and at-home spa experiences.

“Holidays are about creating memories and sharing once-in-a-lifetime moments with the people we love,” said Le Collectionist co-founder Max Aniort.

“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.”

Irena Goldenberg, partner at Highland Europe, added: “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.“

Pictured: Villa Deluca Italie