A day in the life of an AIHM student

Easy decision for aspiring hospitality leaders

From a young age, Emy knew she wanted to be in the hospitality industry. At just 10 years old, she confidently told her parents, “One day, I’m going to open my own hotel.”

At 18, she began her hospitality studies in the Netherlands. In her second year, she landed an internship in Bangkok, Thailand — a decision that changed everything. While in Bangkok, she discovered AIHM and was immediately drawn to its Swiss-style education. Knowing that Switzerland is a global leader in hospitality, she found it exciting to experience the same high standards in one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

"It's really special to have this in Asia, as you can experience the best education style while being in one of the top tourist destinations in the world," she says.

After completing her internship, Emy decided to stay in the City of Angels and join AIHM. One key reason is the small class sizes, which create a close-knit learning environment where students can collaborate and build strong relationships with their lecturers.

"AIHM also has a very up-to-date curriculum," she says. "For instance, in our marketing class right now, we’re learning about platforms like TikTok, which is quite new and something other hotel schools might not cover yet. AIHM stays very current with what they teach, which is one of the reasons I chose to study here."

Learning by doing

AIHM follows the Les Roches Swiss experiential learning model, blending theory with real-world applications. "We are located inside a hotel, which makes it really special because we have to be professional every day — real guests are walking around, so we must represent ourselves and the school well," Emy says. 

Beyond campus, AIHM students gain a competitive edge through global internships. With access to Minor Hotels’s network of over 560 establishments worldwide, they complete two internships — one in their first year and another in their third. Whether staying in Bangkok or exploring opportunities abroad, students receive strong industry support to build real-world experience.

Another key component of AIHM’s experiential learning is the Integrated Hospitality Project. Students work directly with hotel General Managers (GMs) on real business challenges. 

"On the first day, you have a meeting with the GM of a hotel in Bangkok," Emy says. "The GM presents an assignment explaining what they want to improve in the hotel. "You then have a few weeks to work on the project and conduct research. We have to present our findings to the GM, which allows us to discuss our insights directly with them. I think that’s exciting."

A day in the life of an AIHM student

Where ambitious students are supported all the way

At AIHM, the lecturers are dedicated to student success. "They are always supportive and approachable — you can go to them anytime with questions, and they’ll help until you fully understand the material," Emy says. 

Beyond academics, lecturers actively assist students in securing career opportunities. They leverage their professional networks to help students find internships, personally reaching out to contacts to explore potential openings. This career-focused support is complemented by AIHM’s robust student services, including a dedicated coach or “trust person” on campus who provides guidance whenever needed. For international students, the school handles visa processes and necessary documents, easing the transition to studying abroad.