Today’s guest is Aliya Khan, the recently named Vice President, Architecture, Design & Construction for IHG’s Luxury, Lifestyle, and Managed Hotels, whose path from architecture school in Pakistan to Pratt Institute and into global hospitality is a study in adaptability, curiosity, and courageous choices.

Aliya Khan is a global design leader with nearly two decades of experience shaping hospitality brands, portfolios and experiences at the intersection of design, strategy and business. Her career has been closely tied to the creation and evolution of some of hospitality’s most influential brands. Early on, she contributed to the global expansion of W Hotels and helped shape the pioneering, design-led approach of Aloft Hotels.

Aliya’s story traces childhood moves that taught her how to form new relationships fast, a detour out of industrial design and into a serendipitous role at Starwood, and bold career pivots—from New York to Bethesda, from Marriott to a new chapter at NeueHouse back to Marriott. Along the way she learned to make “smart yes” decisions, to lean into immersion and the people around her, and to treat closed doors as invitations to something better.

Trained in Architecture and Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, Aliya brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work, balancing creative ambition with operational and commercial realities. She remains deeply engaged in the broader design conversation, drawing inspiration from travel, art and architecture around the world. Her work reflects a belief that design is not simply a visual language, but a strategic force for innovation, business performance and brand growth.

In this episode, Aliya shares how mentors pushed her to grow, how she builds culture by showing up fully, and how she turns setbacks into lessons to pass on.

Welcome to Exit to Enter.