Elliot March Speaks at Global Hospitality Talk Los Angeles on Branded Residences

Elliot March, co-founder of MAWD | March and White Design, took the stage at the Global Hospitality Talk 2026 in Los Angeles on January 29, joining a distinguished panel of industry leaders to discuss the dynamic evolution of branded hospitality and residential living. The session titled “From Five-Star Hotels to Private Sanctuaries: The Evolution of Branded Living” explored how luxury hospitality brands are redefining high-end residential experiences by blurring the traditional boundaries between hotels and private homes.

Ahead of the conference, Global Hospitality Talk hosted an intimate evening cocktail reception, bringing together speakers and invited guests for an informal exchange of ideas. The MAWD team joined industry peers for the evening, the reception provided a refined and inspiring backdrop for thoughtful, design-led dialogue. Set within de Gournay’s newly unveiled Los Angeles residence, exquisitely designed Hollywood Hills pied-à-terre adorned with the brand’s renowned hand-painted wallpapers and hand-embroidered textiles.

Hosted at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, Global Hospitality Talk brought together influential voices from global design, development, and hospitality sectors, offering a platform for thought-leading conversations on the shifting landscape of curated, brand-led living environments.

Elliot joined fellow panelists including Julie Wagner, Aliya Khan, and Alex Woogmaster, with the discussion guided by moderator Michelle Guss. Together, they examined how branded living is emerging as a critical intersection of lifestyle, service, and design; an evolution driven by discerning global clientele seeking holistic, seamless experiences that extend the ethos of luxury hotels into their residential lives.

The panel unpacked how leading hospitality brands are leveraging their heritage and operational expertise to cultivate private living environments that reflect both individual identity and elevated service standards. Elliot shared insights rooted in MAWD’s global practice, highlighting how integrated design strategies and experiential storytelling are transforming branded residences into immersive, place-specific sanctuaries that resonate emotionally with residents.

A central theme of the conversation was the continuously shifting expectations of luxury consumers, from purely aesthetic sophistication to deeper priorities around privacy, personalization, and wellbeing. The panelists reflected on how this trend demands design thinking that anticipates lifestyle aspirations and anticipates service-oriented performance typically seen in five-star hospitality.