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Action-focused, Swiss-style hospitality education in Thailand
Action-focused, Swiss-style hospitality education in Thailand
Luxury hotels aren't just about grand ballrooms and opulent corner suits; they're about creating memories. The unseen heroes behind those experiences are skilled hospitality professionals passionate about making every stay the guest’s best. In Thailand, the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) is where anyone can transform into an essential contributor to the hospitality industry.
Founded by Minor Hotels, a company with over 550 hotels, resorts and branded residences across six continents, AIHM in academic association with Les Roches, a world-renowned leader in hospitality educationgrants students access to the best of many worlds: Swiss-style education with an international perspective, a vast industry network through Minor Hotels (over 35,000 professionals) and Les Roches alumni, and AIHM's innovative programmes.
Traditionally, Asian students seeking a top-tier hospitality education often went beyond their region. AIHM disrupts this trend by offering world-class programmes right in their backyard. Nestled in a country experiencing a surge in tourism (over 23 million in 2023 and 10 million in the first four months of 2024 alone), AIHM has campuses in Bangkok, the most visited Southeast Asian city, and Pattaya, a renowned beach destination. The Bangkok campus resides within the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, with direct access to the verdant Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort. Meanwhile, the Pattaya campus is located inside Avani Pattaya Resort— allowing students to learn from real-world resort operations on campus and through dedicated field trips.
Learning, the Swiss way
AIHM leverages the Les Roches Swiss experiential learning model, ensuring students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical know-how. This includes engaging with industry professionals, honing skills through hands-on activities, and building valuable industry connections — all while remaining close to home.
At the Bangkok campus, students get to observe leading hospitality brands and receive mentorship from top practitioners at Minor Hotels. Similarly, the Pattaya campus, is conducive for field trips to study resort operations. The best part? Students can pursue internships at Minor Hotels’ extensive list of over 500 establishments globally or at the company of their choice to add another edge to their AIHM qualification.
A range of programmes to suit your needs
AIHM offers a variety of programmes to cater to different needs. The flagship programme is the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Global Hospitality Management, a 3.5-year programme mirroring the curriculum at Les Roches. The programme prepares students for global management roles in tourism and hospitality and gives them the skills to start their own ventures.
With two internships required, there’s a lot of learning by doing. There are two internships. The first, at a Minor Hotels property in Thailand, offers an immersive experience, while the second allows students to choose an international placement, ranging from global hotels to
innovative start-ups. This way, students can apply their knowledge and go deeper into their chosen specialisations.
The skills gained through this programme, especially in customer service, are highly valued in many fields. Graduates can work in banks, airlines, and other customer-focused industries.
What initially sparked my interest was that the first year focuses on practical arts, allowing us to gain hands-on experience with real guests. Plus, the school is located inside the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, right next to the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort, which means we practise with real guests. This practical experience is a valuable asset when we join internships later on.
AIHM also provides a highly personalised education with individual mentorship and coaching for each student, thanks to its small size. This approach allows the school to focus more closely on each student, helping them develop their skills and become industry professionals quickly.”
Arnaud Pezzali
Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Hospitality Management
“The Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Hospitality Management combines practical skills with theoretical knowledge about hospitality management across all hotel departments. This comprehensive approach provides an overview and insight into various aspects of the industry, including business theory.
“AIHM has prepared me in significant ways. First, through a comprehensive curriculum that covers both the operational and managerial aspects of hotel management and by providing six months of two internships. The most rewarding experience for me was completing my first internship. Although I had always enjoyed food and beverage service, I was excited to explore the front office and learn from the various teams there. I chose to work as a Villa Host and then as a Butler for six months.
During this time, I gained valuable insights into hotel operations, improved my interpersonal skills, and learned more about people and myself. In short, this experience confirmed my passion and enthusiasm for the hospitality industry.”
Ei Nyein Thu
BBA in Global Hospitality Management
“My favourite class from last semester was the Integrated Hospitality Project. In this class, we worked closely with a hotel and its management team, including the General Manager. We tackled real issues and tasks from the hotel, learning to resolve conflicts and address challenges effectively.
Khemkhaeng Andrew Rohrbach
Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Hospitality Management
I enjoyed this subject because it encouraged critical thinking and teamwork while also providing valuable experience working directly with the hospitality industry.
At AIHM, our seven-semester programme provides a comprehensive learning experience over 3.5 years. In the first semester, we focus on the hotel industry, with hands-
on experience at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel and Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. We often say that the hotels are our "facility" since we frequently move between the ninth floor of our school and the hotels.
After the first semester, we gain exposure to various companies, giving us a glimpse of the real-world hotel industry. In the second year, the focus shifts to business aspects, including sales and marketing, HR, digital marketing, and finance, which helps us understand the backend operations of a hotel and the business side of the industry. Finally, in our third year, we focus on management and leadership, learning about teamwork and leadership principles, and working on projects, as I mentioned earlier.”
Jess owes her achievements to her parents, BISP and the Cruzeiro programme. Her teachers and coaches always have her back, with Lauren instrumental in aiding Jess in the delicate balance of coursework and competition.
Unlike Lauren and Bonnie, Jessica Ann Mitscher (Jess) neither came from a background in football, and nor does she want a football career. In fact, she was a swimmer and wants to pursue veterinary medicine in university. Even though she has different interests, she decided to join the BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy in Year 11 to hone her teamwork and decision-making skills.
Despite her much shorter experience with football, Jess is a natural and plays several positions in the BISP Senior Girls Team. She’s even won a couple of championships while still being dedicated to school. She placed in the top five to 10% of 14,000 students around the world who competed in the British Biology Olympiad.
Jessica Ann Mitscher
BISP student-athlete's unexpected path to football success
“When I first came to BISP, it was a huge jump, especially since football was completely new to me,” Jess admits. “Having somebody like Lauren in my year was great – we had the same schedule and were on the same team, and it felt good to have somebody to talk to about my struggles.”
While she had her challenges taking the IB curriculum, Jess considers it a life-changing experience. “I’ve accomplished a lot since I came here – IGCSE, IB, and definitely growing as a person,” says Jess. “Having to depend not only on other people but on myself, experience situations where I couldn’t turn to my parents, for example – it helped build a lot of reassurance and self-confidence so that when I go to college somewhere else, I would be able to support myself and adapt to things around me.”
