An Interview with Maxwell Waitt
The BLLA Events Team sits down with Maxwell Waitt, Founder & CEO of Orli La Jolla, and one of our facilitators from the 2023 Boutique Hotel Owners Conference on October 10-11, 2023.
BLLA: How did you come to enter the hospitality industry?
MW: While studying Business Administration at the University of Southern California, I noticed that I became tremendously intrigued with the hotel industry. I had always loved traveling and the unique experiences various hotel products offered but never imagined I would dive headfirst into the industry at such a young age. While wrapping up my last year at USC, I began to work for Relevant Group, a development company based in Hollywood that developed the Dream Hollywood as well as the Thompson and Tommie, plus various other hospitality and nightlife projects. Even though I truly valued my time with Relevant Group, I became fascinated with boutique properties as I felt there was something so special and unique about them. With that in mind, I moved back to my hometown of San Diego and began to work on a novel hospitality concept with my older sister, Hailey. Six months later, we acquired our first property and would then spend two years restoring it and rebranding it under our own brand, Orli.
BLLA: What is the mission statement of your company?
MW: Our mission is to empower the modern traveler through thoughtful design, local discoveries, and an effortless experience — from start to finish.
BLLA: What does boutique mean to you?
MW: Boutique is independent, intentional, and innovative. Boutique is at the cutting edge of hospitality as we are nimble, efficient, and creative. Boutique is passion, energy, and curiosity.
I believe in boutique as I feel there is far more creativity and uniqueness compared to the cookie-cutter alternatives that our guests have grown tired of. Despite being rather new to the industry, I have found that travelers are seeking much more than they ever have and are looking for properties that offer a new way to stay - one that feels more personal and far more intentional.
BLLA: What are the top three trends that you see in the boutique hotel technology space?
MW: The top three trends I see in the boutique hotel owners' space include incorporating design-driven spaces that go against the norm, technology-enabled offerings that allow guests to experience the property as they wish, and an extremely personal stay where the onsite team acts more as a friend who can assist in curating the guest's perfect stay - from hyper-local experiences to wellness-minded offerings that leave our guests feeling recharged and inspired for years to come.