Ever-Expanding: Marriott International's Aliya Khan on a Global Perspective, Scales in Design, and Growth in Challenge
By Julia Gamolina
Aliya Khan, Vice President Global Design Strategies at Marriott International, is an award-winning practitioner, and the driving force behind the disruptive and forward-thinking design approach for Marriott’s Lifestyle portfolio. In her role, Aliya helps to define the foundational elements of Aloft, AC Hotels, Autograph, Element, Le Meridien, Moxy, Renaissance, Tribute and Westin, distinguishing each with a clear design personality and focus.
Aliya began her career in hospitality design with the iconic W Hotels in 2003. Aliya holds degrees in both Architecture and Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute. When not on a plane, Aliya resides in her eighth city, Washington D.C. In her interview, Aliya talks about her global upbringing and finding her calling in hospitality, advising those just starting their careers to seek discomfort and challenge themselves.
JG: Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up and what did you like to do as a kid?
AK: I was lucky enough to grow up all over, quite literally — I lived in Hong Kong, Houston, and Singapore before eventually making my way to my native Pakistan. My dad worked for Exxon, so the life of global movement was not uncommon for me from a young age.
I loved the adventure of new places, the prospect of a new school, and being introduced to new foods. Watching my parents unpack and settle us into a new home — which involved the hanging of art — was a welcome ritual. I also loved living in hotels and befriending the housekeepers and lifeguards and trying to learn a new language. In hindsight, I certainly understand where specific habits that I have now, were formed.
AC Hotels Art Development
Aloft Prototype
You studied architecture, and then industrial design, at Pratt. What did you learn, and why the industrial design focus?
After graduating with a degree in Architecture from Pratt, and then I went back to Pakistan and practiced residential architecture. I was fortunate enough to work with the best of the best, but with every project that opened, walking away from an architectural experience and not being able to impact the nuanced details of the interior really bothered me. I would go into those homes and mentally re-hang the art, re-focus the lights, and re-plan all of the landscaping. I would want to design custom furniture, especially for those spaces and for use by them and not just shop for something from a catalogue.
When I came back to Pratt for Industrial Design my primary focus was furniture. Once I got to the program, the exposure to so much more opened the aperture for me — tabletop, automotive, jewelry, and exhibit design, as well as strategic storytelling. Scales and methodologies collided and mentally the possibilities of what could be grew.
You started as an architect and early on, focused on the hospitality industry and have created an amazing career in it. Tell me about the focus and how it came about for you.
I fell into hospitality by accident. The day I finished graduate school, a friend of a friend offered me a freelance assignment in hotels. What was supposed to be a three month assignment became a twelve year run.
Almost immediately it was like seemingly disparate life interests came together into one place as a job. When does that ever happen? Art, architecture, culture, food, fashion, tradition and watching people and how they travel became everyday pursuits. The hours were long, and the pace was relentless — but it was an exciting time to be in hotels that were more than a bed, shower, and damask drapes.
“I hope what comes through is that the best parts of anything we do are the people we do it with. How do I show up for people the way they have shown up for me? How do I show up for the newer generations of designers who works with me so that someday they feel the way that I do? How do we build and nurture communities?”
Tell me how your work in hotel design evolved, and you with it.
I started at W Hotels which was everyone’s darling at the time. These were the early days of the brand, with only ten hotels open with an exciting global pipeline in place. As someone who had no hospitality background, I now realize how lucky I was to work on a brand that was experience-forward. The brand echoed the way I thought. All I had to do was listen and learn from the incredible leaders who inspired us all to solve problems differently.
When Starwood decided to launch Aloft Hotels, then positioned as the sibling of W — I knew I wanted to be a part of it, especially once I learned of the dynamic energy that David Rockwell would bring. There is no school or program that can teach you all that I learned next, like how to create the first select service hotel brand that was design and experience forward without blowing the bank. Or, how to create something affordable that could roll out and operate with consistency from Lexington to Langkawi and every place in between. The brand needed to be relatable in multiple cultures and destinations to people across the globe without compromising the core brand DNA. My involvement was so deep that I used to dream about the smallest details.
Having played at two ends of the price spectrum, I was then able to move around and touch a variety of brands and project types. However, everything I did was always with an eye to the contemporary. So, being assigned to guide the renovation of the iconic St. Regis New York was definitely not where I would have picked my next focus. Quickly though, it became apparent that it was an exciting opportunity to meld the bones of the graceful icon with the needs of a new luxury consumer who was young, stylish, and worldly. This hotel became the platform for several design partnerships with world class luxury brands including Bentley Motors. In time this developed into a full blown range of award-winning suites not just in New York, but in Istanbul and Dubai too.
Moxy Miami South Beach
Moxy Prototype
You then were at NeueHouse before coming to Marriott. Tell me about that.
I felt like it was time to challenge myself and learn more. Design-forward hotels were on every block, everyone had an activated public area, and everyone had the cool DJ booth. I was bored and needed more. Co-working seemed to be the new thing that was causing buzz.
I was lucky enough to join the founding team at NeueHouse, a co-working space for creatives, as they were getting ready to launch LA and potentially beyond. I call this timeframe the business degree I did not know I was going to get and did. It was fun. And crazy. Being a leader in an exciting hot start up, and partnering with and learning from the best in-the-know yet quiet talent of NYC as we grew this baby, was a thrill. The range of a day could go from spending hours in design and curation of a table setting to problem-solving an acoustic challenge with a contractor. Design, construction, programming, feasibility, art curation, styling — you name it and our mighty little group did it.
But, I missed hotels. So when Marriott acquired Starwood and my old boss called me, I could not resist.
Where are you in your career today? What is on your mind most at the moment?
I feel very inspired and engaged. The forced time-out that all of us went through these past few years has been interesting. Every day, things that drove me before vanished overnight and left a gaping hole. Yet what replaced it was far more powerful — the power of humanity. Of people showing up for one another. People connecting from a million miles away to say, “Hello. I miss you and I care about you.” People coming together in the face of some of the most outrageous adversity our generation has seen.
With this, people are what is on my mind most. Even as you read about my experiences, I hope what comes through is that the best parts of anything we do are the people we do it with. How do I show up for people the way they have shown up for me? How do I show up for the newer generations of designers who works with me so that someday they feel the way that I do? How do we build and nurture communities? How do I as one small voice in this big world help to grow these communities to be broader, richer, wider, fearless, more embracing, more diverse, and more inclusive?
“What I would say specifically for women is: show up. We are here because people before us did, and we owe it to the generations of talent ahead of us to do our part in this evolving story.”
Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you manage through a disappointment or a perceived setback?
Challenges and setbacks are like project criteria. The longer the list, the more compelling the project. Constraints make us stronger. They push you to be a more adept problem-solver. They teach you to think on your feet. Sometimes, when something doesn’t work out, a perceived failure becomes an open door to what is next. So, show up, believe in yourself, and always look ahead. Just never forget what is behind you.
What are you most excited about right now?
My brand new American passport and all that it represents. You thought the uncertainty of travel over the last two years was hard. Try an anxious life of visas, work permits, bureaucracy and waiting for twenty years. There is a confidence that comes with the security of knowing that this is now home in every way. I cannot really explain how it feels — but if you have been there, you know what I mean.
I was an international student and have had many a work visa, so I understand.
More playfully though, the timing could not have been better. The bonus scent of spontaneous travel is a fitting metaphor to end the past two years.
Who are you admiring now and why?
The incredible women on our team today. They have grown, loved, cared for, and nurtured their families over the last two years all while delivering some of the best work this group has ever seen. They show up for themselves and for each other. Their energy is infectious, they kick-ass, and they inspire everyone around them.
Renaissance NY Chelsea
Marriott Bethesda
What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?
If I have done anything as a designer that has connected with people, or if the spaces I have contributed to created a positive memory, or made some part of your day, life, or experience better, I would consider that success.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?
Do not chase the money. If you love what you do, it will show in your work and the money will follow. However, you need to challenge yourself to push harder and to think differently. Be brave, listen, and get out of your comfort zone. Do things that make you uncomfortable — because with that comes growth. And once every so often when you fail, get comfortable with what that feels like too, as it will make you better. What I would say specifically for women is: show up. We are here because people before us did, and we owe it to the generations of talent ahead of us to do our part in this evolving story.