Rethinking Real: Aliya Khan on Design Without the Gimmicks
The VP behind 30+ Marriott brands unpacks her Tokyo epiphany and why “authentic” needs a rebrand.
I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last decade working alongside—and being introduced to—some of the sharpest minds in travel. People who challenge how I think about this industry. No fluff, no gimmicks, and definitely no recycled takes. When they speak, I listen. And now, I want you to be able to tap into their brains too.
Next up: Aliya Khan.
Aliya is the Vice President of Design Strategy at Marriott International, where she leads the creative direction for over 30 brands—yes, 30. That spans legacy powerhouses like Westin and Sheraton, newer soft-branded boutique darlings like Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio, and now, an ambitious expansion into new categories like outdoor lodging. Her influence touches everything from lobby flow to brand identity to what hospitality feels like in 2025 and beyond.
She recently checked a major dream off her list—her first trip to Tokyo. But of course, this wasn’t just a vacation. I wanted to hear what it was like to finally walk the streets of a city she’s imagined since childhood—and how that experience is reshaping what she’s seeing, sensing, and designing for across the global travel landscape.
A few highlights from our chat:
→ Tokyo rewired her creative perspective—and reminded her that design finesse lives in the smallest, quietest details.
→ She’s rethinking the word “authentic” and asking how design can support a sense of place without over-curating it.
→ Her next personal trip is design-rich and sun-drenched—with a packing list that reads like Oscar Niemeyer meets Copacabana meets Iguazu.
→ Why Moxy Banff stands out for its sense of place, playful design, and community vibe.
Let’s talk about your most recent trip. Where’d you go, and what made it meaningful?
Ever since I was five years old and my father taught me how to count to ten in Japanese, I have wanted to visit Tokyo. Decades later it finally happened. I don’t believe anything I have read, watched or heard prepared me for the creative realignment the city offered.
