Marriott Organizational Announcement | Karim Khalifa, Senior Vice President of Global Design Strategies, to Retire

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After 18 years with Marriott International, Karim Khalifa, Senior Vice President of Global Design Strategies, is retiring, effective late January.

Karim’s contributions to Marriott International over the last two decades have covered most every aspect of global design. Karim started his relationship with Marriott as an owner’s representative, then Marriott hired him in 1999 to build several high-level hotels.

Karim opened the Global Design office for Europe & MEA in 2003, then returned to Bethesda to lead the Select Service and Extended Stay group as the Americas’ Senior Vice President of Design and Project Management. Karim worked to update old systems, shorten build times, engage with owners and reduce costs. Most recently, Karim established the Marriott Global Design Strategies group, the team responsible for distinguishing the design of Marriott’s 30 brands and for maintaining design standards.

Karim was responsible for creating Marriott’s Innovation Lab — The UNDERGROUND, piloting and launching modular construction, creating the Internet of Things (IOT) guest room, and serving as Global Design’s lead for the Starwood integration.

Karim’s keen interest in innovation, and drive to push new ideas has led him to a Google startup company called Sidewalk Labs where he will be working on “Smart Cities”.