About me
Twenty years,
one industry.
Grounded in experience.
I’m Tariq Khan, founder of Uptic Hospitality. My career began at the front desk, where I discovered the joy of helping guests. Years of leading independent hotels have shaped my understanding of what makes them special—and the work I do today.
My hospitality journey
It began with the joy of helping.
“The more I helped, the more rewarding the work became.”
My hospitality journey began more than two decades ago, working evening and night shifts as a front desk agent. It was there that I discovered the joy of helping guests—arranging a wake-up call, offering directions to Central Park, or sharing information about the theater.
These were everyday requests, but fulfilling them gave me a sense of purpose. The more I helped, the more rewarding the work became. I knew I wanted to build my career in hospitality.
That decision led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree, building on the practical lessons I was learning at the front desk. I wanted to become a thoughtful, capable leader who cared for guests and understood what it took to run a hotel well.
That same purpose guides me today: helping hotels succeed while keeping the people they welcome at the heart of their work.
The record
Two hotels. Twenty years.
2008 — Present
Hotel 17, New York
General Manager since 2017 · 148 rooms · Independent
2002 — 2008
Hotel 31, New York
Front Desk Agent, then Assistant Front Office Manager · 105 rooms · Independent
- BBA, Business Administration
- MS, Global Business & Finance
- Certificate, Hospitality Management · Cornell University, 2023
Why I created Uptic
Helping individuality find its audience.
“Independent hotels have something valuable of their own: individuality.”
My hospitality career has been built entirely in independent hotels. I understand the challenges they face, especially in a city like New York, where large hotel brands bring substantial marketing budgets, established recognition, and extensive resources.
Independent hotels have something valuable of their own: individuality. They have the freedom to reflect their neighborhoods, build personal connections, and create unexpected moments that guests remember. Yet making those qualities visible—and reaching the guests who would appreciate them—can be difficult.
I created Uptic to help independent hotels close that gap. Drawing on my experience running independent hotels, I help connect their digital presence, revenue strategy, and guest journey so that what makes them special is clear before a guest books and felt throughout their stay.
My aim is to help these hotels succeed on their own terms, giving travelers a place to stay, enjoy, and remember as part of the city they came to discover.
Let’s talk about your hotel.
What makes it special, and what would you like to improve? I’d welcome the conversation.
Start a conversation