ARTI PATEL, Chief Operating Officer of Pristine Hospitality, represents a new generation of leadership blending diverse expertise with family tradition.
"City planning is my passion and something I'm skilled at. Hospitality, on the other hand, is the family business," Arti tells the Women of Color Power List 2025. "Merging the two has proven to be a valuable asset in a small, vertically integrated company like ours."
This 39-year-old executive oversees operations for four hotels under the IHG and Marriott brands, comprising 420 rooms. But Arti's influence extends far beyond the walls of her family's properties. As an active member and Premier Ambassador of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), she fights for policy changes that benefit the entire industry.
The daughter of Indian immigrants who arrived in America in the 1970s, Arti represents the quintessential second-generation success story. Born and raised in Oklahoma City alongside her older brother, she's built on her family's foundations while carving her own distinct path.
Perhaps most surprising in Arti's journey is her parallel entrepreneurial venture outside traditional hospitality. As co-owner of Waxing the City, she's translated her passion for skincare into a thriving business.
"Since I was a kid, I've always been interested in skincare, which led me to attend Esthetics school to learn more and obtain my license," she reveals. "It's probably the best decision I've made – not just from a revenue perspective, but also in terms of managing a team. This was my first ever business that I started."
This dual-industry expertise gives Patel a unique leadership perspective. At Pristine Hospitality, she has pioneered a culture transformation focused on "work life balance" and a "work hard play hard mentality." Her approach to staff development includes cross-training employees and creating advancement opportunities while remaining "mindful of budgets so that during a downturn we do not have to lay off people."
Throughout her 15-year career with Pristine Hospitality (four as COO), Patel has made mentorship a priority, particularly for Asian women. "In hospitality, I have helped women reach their potential in managerial positions that they might not have thought possible, through training, encouragement, and providing opportunities," she notes.
She champions AAHOA's HerOwnership initiative, which "provides numerous opportunities to network and learn about everything from financing and branding to, most importantly, networking."
"Its influence helps ensure that our voices are heard, which, hopefully, will eventually lead to a seat at the table where we can discuss brand issues or any other matters, for that matter," she adds.
The past year has brought new challenges as Arti focuses on organizational restructuring while maintaining her industry advocacy. But she's also embracing personal growth, "focusing in on health and balancing life to the best of my ability."
For this dynamic leader, the intersection of personal care and hospitality isn't a contradiction – it's her superpower.
