The Asian Institute of Hospitality & Management (AIHM) was founded by Minor Hotels, a group with over 560 properties in 58 countries. It offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Global Hospitality Management taught in academic association with Les Roches — a QS five-star, New England Commission of Higher Education-accredited school consistently ranked among the top globally in hospitality education.
Together, this partnership offers the best of many worlds. Where students elsewhere earn a degree, an AIHM student learns, leads, and grows. This, plus the partnership with Minor, was what first sparked Khemkhaeng Andrew Rohrbach’s interest in AIHM’s BBA in Global Hospitality Management. “I could see that this could give me a career path where I can grow in the hospitality industry,” he says.
At AIHM, students gain hands-on, industry-ready skills from day one through a student-centred approach and flexible study options, preparing them for global hospitality and business careers. Source: Asian Institute of Hospitality Management
Learning by doing, the AIHM way
Challenges in real hospitality settings rarely happen in neat, scheduled silos. Recognising this, AIHM lectures are designed to include many group activities and debates. Case studies mirror real-world scenarios and teamwork is constant.
“These exercises really stimulate your brain and push you out of your comfort zone,” Andrew says. “For example, no one likes being asked to give a presentation on the spot — it can be confusing or unexpected — but that experience really develops your critical thinking and prepares you to face obstacles quickly.”
In hospitality management, the core idea is that good managers need practical mastery. Hence why, from day one, students get many immersions and engagement on the ground, becoming proficient in everything from cooking and bed-making to customer service and concierge tasks.
“The whole programme is designed to give you practical experience as well as academic knowledge,” Andrew says. “You get exposure to all areas of the industry — kitchen, F&B, front office, rooms — while learning management theory and concepts that can be applied in hospitality. Combining these two aspects has helped me understand both management and practical operations in real life.”
Understanding the daily challenges a team faces makes communication more effective and solutions easier to find. For Andrew, this perspective is proving valuable at Mandarin Oriental in Geneva. “I’m able to apply those academic learnings to real work situations, which is very helpful,” he says.
During his first year in Bangkok, Andrew rotated through concierge and front desk roles in the room division. He has since transferred to MO Geneva, where he works as a housekeeping supervisor. Source: Asian Institute of Hospitality Management
Industry-ready leadership
Strong leadership, clear communication, and risk management are essential in the hospitality industry. AIHM lets students build these skills through committees that organise events and manage activities.
Andrew, the first student president, found the role both fun and rewarding. “Being able to lead and perform in this way, along with being a student ambassador, helped me learn how to work with a diverse group of students,” Andrew says. “This experience really prepared me for the hospitality industry.”
Courses support leadership and teamwork in other ways. For instance, the People, Conflict, and Negotiation course gave Andrew strategies to guide teams and resolve issues effectively. Meanwhile, the Integrated Hospitality Project course taught him how to apply these skills in real projects, such as improving housekeeping standards.
Sandi Davies, another BBA in Global Hospitality Management graduate, was chosen to lead a team of 20 to organise a cultural event night for an event management class. This challenged her to coordinate tasks and ensure everyone stayed on track. “Managing that many people and making sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to do — that experience really prepared me and also enhanced my leadership skills,” Sandi says.
Growing up in Thailand, Sandi was exposed to tourism early on. Unsure of her path, she saw hospitality as a strong career option and decided to apply to AIHM. Source: Asian Institute of Hospitality Management
Personal and professional growth
Through Minor Hotels’ network of more than 560 properties worldwide, students can train across eight hotel brands, including Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks, and Tivoli. Each student completes two internships: one in the first year and another in the third, with the option to stay local or work abroad, and is closely supported by industry.
For Sandi (middle), the programme’s curriculum stands out because studying in a hotel environment gives students direct exposure to real operations and helps them understand how everything works. Source: Asian Institute of Hospitality Management
Working with some of the biggest names in industry is a chance many can only dream of. Through these internships, students end up discovering more about themselves, finding career clarity. They see their strengths and weaknesses, with advisors who help them hone and improve each respectively. When they look back, weeks or months, they know they’ve grown, ready for their next step whatever that may be.
These experiences shaped Sandi’s early career. She completed her first internship as a marketing intern at Anantara the Palm Dubai, followed by a guest service role at Sofitel Bangkok. “In the first internship, I learned how to collaborate in a professional environment, how to be professional, and how to attend professional events,” says the current corporate management trainee at Minor Hotels. “That really matured me in my first year.”
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