3 universities building the hospitality leaders of tomorrow

Good hospitality is found in the heart and soul of an organisation – in the people behind your stay. The dedication of the staff in creating an impeccable and enjoyable time is what makes a trip go from good to excellent. It is how some hotels stand out from others. From a smooth hotel booking to ensuring a faultless experience during your time there, nothing is unaccounted for, as every action is intent-driven to provide the best.

A comprehensive hotel management programme will cover all that and more. Between the practical know-how and the necessary business management skills, the courses equip you with the skills to contribute to this distinction. 

The Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) in academic association with Les Roches

At the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM), their approach to hospitality business is immersive, dynamic, and global. The institute is founded by Minor Hotels,  an Asian-born hospitality company now expanding across the globe, in academic association with Les Roches, a global leader in hospitality education, students benefit from a world-class education, an international outlook and a network of over 35,000 hospitality professionals when they graduate.

Programmes offered here include a 3.5-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Global Hospitality Management, a Certificate in International Hotel Administration (CIHA) and Advanced Certificate in International Hotel Management (ACIHM), the 18-month programme with 1 year at the AIHM Campus in Bangkok and a 6-month work-based project or internship. There are Executive Education courses that are designed for busy modern professionals who want to stay at the cutting edge of their field in hospitality and beyond as well.

Being based in Thailand, which welcomed 23 million tourists in 2023, AIHM has one of its two campuses in the bustling capital city, home to four of the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023.  At our Bangkok campus in Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, with Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort next door, students will get to observe top hospitality brands in action. Experience hands-on learning and valuable mentorship from Minor Hotels’ best practitioners. Meanwhile, the Pattaya campus, based at another one of Thailand’s tourism hubs, is designed for field trips to study resort-like operations.

As the only programme in the world with this set-up, AIHM reflects the latest developments in global business and hospitality best practices through Swiss-style education uniquely combines practical and theory, allowing students to gain real-life experience from the beginning while being close to home. Students have two opportunities to intern at Minor Hotels’ extensive list of over 500 establishments globally or at the company of their choice to add another competitive edge to their AIHM qualification.

Connect with a student to know what it is like to study at AIHM or learn more about the programme and the curriculum on its website.

The Macao Institute of Tourism Studies ranked #10 for Hospitality and Leisure Management by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. Source: Macao Institute of Tourism Studies.

Macao Institute of Tourism Studies

The Macao Institute of Tourism Studies (IFTM) has always strived to be a leading higher education institution in the tourism and service industry. IFTM’s Bachelor in Hotel Management was the first hospitality programme introduced in what’s known as the “Las Vegas of the East” in 2002, and it has since grown and expanded to cater to the evolving wants and needs of the industry.

The programme’s multidisciplinary courses highlight the importance of customer service-driven operations and the development of operational skills. They pair theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Field trips to highly reputable international hotels and guest lectures provided by professionals from well-known hospitality groups happen regularly to expose students to the global hotel business.

Through these efforts, IFTM has earned the title of being the world’s first higher education institution to pass the International Quality Review (IQR) from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in 2022. Recently ranked #10 for Hospitality and Leisure Management by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, IFTM continually pushes for outstanding results and standards.

The institute prides itself on its overall quality assurance policy. From the academic and administrative standards, the design and review of the programmes, the quality of student learning, teaching and assessment to the extensive support for students and staff, IFTM assures it all.

Le Cordon Bleu may be known best for its command of all things culinary, but the institution’s hospitality expertise is also widely recognised. Source: Le Cordon Bleu Australia

Le Cordon Bleu

Le Cordon Bleu, with its illustrious history spanning back to 1895, is long known as the top education provider in cuisine, patisserie, hospitality management, and gastronomy. But today, it is far more than just a culinary school in Paris. Through bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, it is nurturing students around the world to thrive in an even wider range of globally-focused, multi-skilled careers in the hospitality sector and beyond.

Today, Le Cordon Bleu is the largest network of culinary and hospitality schools in the world with more than 35 institutes in 20 countries. There are campuses in Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Asia, in locations such as Manila, Madrid, Sydney, Shanghai, and more. No matter which campus, each is the perfect place for students looking to explore the limitless potential of their culinary visions and gain the business acumen to thrive in today’s competitive industries. It’s an equally apt choice for aspiring leaders.

For students who’d like to study in the Asia Pacific region, Le Cordon Bleu Australia is a great choice. Led by a faculty of accomplished experts, Le Cordon Bleu Australia’s academic programmes are delivered across four state-of-the-art campuses in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Each is filled with cutting-edge facilities to help students refine their skills, harness their creativity and strengthen their confidence.

Hence why, with a Le Cordon Bleu education, doors swing open to a world of extraordinary opportunities and limitless prospects. An impressive 95% of graduates secure employment within six months of completing their studies.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International