Together with his wife Liliana, a graduate in Architecture, they founded the airline Air Dolomiti in 1989 which aimed to provide a high-quality service to business people offering connection services from the main Italian airports to the major European destinations. As a direct result of its reputation as a high-quality company and to the strategic nature of the target market, Air Dolomiti drew the attention of the industry’s major operators: In 1992 it signed a partnership agreement with Crossair, a pioneer of regional transport in Europe, and in 1994 with the German airline, Lufthansa. As a result of the agreement with the German carrier, Air Dolomiti entered into the world’s largest alliance, the Star Alliance. The partnership with Lufthansa was strengthened in 1999 with Air Dolomiti’s entry into the share capital. In 2001, Air Dolomiti entered into a new phase of growth with its listing on the stock exchange and the extension of its fleet with new regional jets. The Air Dolomiti experience ended successfully in March 2003 when Alcide Leali decided to sell the company to Lufthansa.

Following the worldwide recognition obtained with Air Dolomiti, the entrepreneurial couple decided to launch an innovative brand in luxury wellness hospitality through the creation of high -end accommodation featuring unique locations, low environmental impact, cutting-edge wellness offers and the integrated management of services. In 2006 Lefay Resorts was founded. In 2008 the first building of the Collection, the Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda was opened in Gargnano on the Western shore of Lake Garda.

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda continued to enhance the experiences offered to Guests: in 2013, the Royal Pool & SPA Suite (featuring a total area of 600 square metres) and the new Meeting Area were introduced. In 2016 Lefay SPA was enriched with the new Charme D’Orient Area, reaching a surface of 3,800 sqm and becoming one of the biggest wellness area in Italy. Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda soon obtained major international awards that culminated in the same year in the award as “Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination” at the prestigious “World SPA & Wellness Awards”. The Company also proceeded in the commitment towards sustainability, confirming the most important international green certifications such as ISO 14001, Green Globe and “Being Organic and Ecological SPA” by Ecocert. In 2014 the Group published its first certified Sustainability Report.

Thanks to a unique wellness experience, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda confirmed its identity as a global SPA Destination with two additional awards: “Best SPA in the World” at the World Boutique Hotel Awards and “Best SPA in Europe” at the European Health & SPA Award. An original philosophy that is also found in the renewed Lefay SPA Cosmetics Line, created with full respect for the environment and certified Vegan OK and Cruelty Free. During the same year, the construction of the second Resort of the Collection, Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti began. The Property is located in the Madonna di Campiglio ski area, in Pinzolo.

On the tenth anniversary of the first Resort, the Group took its first steps into the “Serviced Branded Residences” within the new Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, becoming the first Resort in the Italian market to offer residences of this kind within a SPA Destination and their sales started in July of this year. On Garda Lake, the first Property is reconfirmed “Best SPA Destination” at the European Health & SPA Award and is recognised as “Europe’s Most Sustainable Hotel” at the World Boutique Hotel Awards, gaining more than 60 international acknowledgements in ten years.

After the announcement of the works for the second Property in January 2018, reservations for Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti opened in April. On August 1st the second jewel in the Lefay Collection was unveiled to the Guests. The Resort won its first international award at the Prime Travellers Awards in the category "Best New Openings". Meanwhile, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda has been acknowledged as reference SPA destination of international importance and has received other awards, including the title of "Best SPA in Europe" at the European Health & SPA Award and was included into Condè Nast Traveller's "Top 30 SPA Destinations in the World".

Despite the uncertainty that has hit the tourism industry over the last two years, the Group decided to completely transform the first Resort in the collection, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda. Between 2021 and 2022, all suites, the reception and lounge, as well as the food & beverage outlets have been renovated, Lefay SPA has been extended with a new "Adults Only" area and three new Sky Suites with an incomparable view of the lake have been introduced. The new gourmet restaurant "Gramen" is also unveiled, offering an innovative culinary concept that focuses on the vegetable element and its natural beneficial properties. In October 2022, Lefay announces the first Resort in management contract abroad, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.