Matt French

Matt French began his career at Kor Group, the influential boutique hotel company in Los Angeles, where he developed a lasting interest in design and in building places with a fresh, distinct point of view. That led him to acquire the Pioneertown Motel in 2014 with his brother and business partner, Mike, drawn to the raw character of the high desert and the chance to reimagine a piece of Old West history.

That project became the foundation for Life & Times, the hospitality company Matt and Mike now run together, which has since grown to include the Red Dog Saloon and The Copper Room. In 2019, the brothers took the same approach north, acquiring Captain Whidbey, a 30-room, century-old lodge on Whidbey Island outside Seattle.

Matt is now focused on expanding the Pioneertown Motel as well as building a ground up geothermal resort in Desert Hot Springs.