Moxy Banff’s collaborators on the spirit of hospitality
Everyone knows hospitality is all about creating a welcoming environment for guests and customers. But that spirit of welcome infuses the entire industry, shaping the culture of the designers, builders, and managers at work behind the scenes. We speak with industry insiders Aliya Khan and Matt Berman, who recently collaborated on the Moxy Hotel in Banff, about what they love about their industry, the economic value of good design, and why “luck” in a professional context often comes down to staying open to possibility.
On working where everybody’s welcome
Both Khan and Berman took circuitous routes to their careers in hospitality. Aliya got her start in residential and exhibit design, and Matt transitioned from a career in architectural journalism. But once they found themselves in hospitality, they knew they were finally where they belonged.
“When you walk into a hotel or restaurant, especially when it’s full, and it comes to life, you see the energy, you feel it. It’s no longer just bricks and sticks. It’s an ambience. It’s an environment. It has a soul—and that is intoxicating. That is why people go into the hospitality world.”
— Matt Berman
Khan and Berman value the sense of community and camaraderie in their industry. As Khan puts it, everyone’s welcome in hospitality, which makes the work all the more meaningful.
“I think in a lot of industries, where there’s so much competition, that family quality isn’t always there. But in the hospitality world, it really is.” — Matt Berman
“Even when you’re competing with your peers for the same jobs, there’s still so much respect for other people’s success.” — Aliya Khan
On the value of good design
At Brick & Wonder, we recognize the inherent value of good design. Berman emphasizes that its impact goes beyond the intangible—good design has real economic value. For example, he’s seen his design-forward projects sell for more than comparable properties that put less emphasis on aesthetics.
“What we’re trying to do now is develop a white paper that speaks specifically to the value of design in relation to return on investment. That’s what I like about it—you have something you can hang your hat on. It’s not just us talking about a love of design. It’s tangible.” — Matt Berman
On staying open and creating your own luck
To get to where they are today, both Khan and Berman credit hard work and a little bit of luck. For them, luck isn’t about chance; it’s about staying open to opportunities and making yourself available.
“I think you do get lucky, but you have to put yourself in the position to get lucky. It’s a two-way street. It doesn’t just happen—if you sit on your ass, nothing’s going to happen. You’ve got to put yourself out there. And once you do, where it takes you is a combination of where you want to go and where you let yourself be taken. That unexpected part of the journey is really fun.” — Matt Berman
Openness ushers in unexpected solutions. If you’re working on a project and something isn’t working, Khan says, try stepping back and leveraging your team’s skills.
“You have to be open. And I think being open isn’t always for joy. It’s also knowing that when it goes south, sometimes you have to sit back and listen, and let other people do what they do best.” — Aliya Khan
