LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director, Diane Davody.

In an exclusive interview in the latest edition of Spa Business, Davody reveals the aim for the brand’s spa division is to partner with “the most spectacular and prestigious hotels in the world.” Read the interview here.

“Markets where we don’t already have facilities are of particular interest,” says Davody. “We only have one spa in mainland China, at the PuXuan in Beijing, so that’s a country where we want to grow, for example.”

She outlined that geographic diversification is a priority and opening spas at properties in Italy is part of that plan. These include recent launches at Belmond Villa San Michele in Florence and Les Airelles Venice.

There is also a 500sq m Guerlain spa aboard the Orient Express Corinthian, the luxury yacht created in partnership with Accor and cruise liner developer Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The yacht is currently making its way to the French Riviera for its inaugural Mediterranean season.

Davody also spoke about last year’s launch of Guerlain’s largest spa at the Waldorf Astoria New York, US, and what makes the contract so special.

When asked about the strategy for the brand’s spa portfolio growth, Davody said: “Growth means pursuing the most exceptional projects in the world – in the most beautiful settings – with hotel partners who are a perfect match in values, standards and ambitions.”

Guerlain currently has a portfolio that includes 38 hotel spas and 13 standalone institutes, but Davody hinted that some of the brand’s top projects are yet to come: “This is only the beginning: some of our upcoming spa projects will be true statements of boldness and imagination.”