This week I had the joy of welcoming our newest young professionals for a turning point in their lives. If you’re one of our new students, you already deeply understand that this week is the start of something BIG.
You’ve taken a major step forward in shaping your future. The lessons you learn while with us, the friends and connections you make, the opportunities you can take advantage of, these things can and will be life-changing. I’m excited to see how much you’ll grow and where your education will take you.
That said, your education isn’t like a sleeper car on a train or a chauffeur-driven limousine, where you can just hop on, relax or chat the ride away, and then get out at your destination. To me, the best way to think of higher education is to treat it like a bicycle. A bike helps you get places faster and more efficiently than walking. A bicycle is an amazing tool that propels you forward. If you don’t put any effort into pedaling the bike, you don’t go anywhere. If you do put energy into it, that bike will take you further and faster on your journey. That’s what higher education is designed to do: transform your energy into momentum.
I’m proud to welcome you on this journey. My fellow lecturers and AIHM colleagues are always happy to help you make the most of it, to give you some guidance on how to steer, to help you choose the best paths to take to reach your goals. So are your fellow students. Over the coming months, you will share ideas and perspectives with each other. You’ll collaborate, make new discoveries together, develop new skills alongside each other, and create fantastic memories along the way.
In just one week, you’ve already started to build connections and find your balance. The ride has begun. I’d like to take this opportunity now to pass on more words of inspiration and encouragement from some of the individuals you’ll get to know closely during the rest of the ride.
Our Academic Dean, Warren Stanworth, oversees and supports your educational journey. You’ll find him to be kind, empowering and a perfect person to go to when you’re trying to make decisions about academic tracks, internships and career paths.
As you begin this first term, he has the following insight and advice:
“Hospitality is about people, passion and professionalism. Our programmes are carefully designed to combine rigorous academics with real-world industry experience. You’ll engage in internships, group projects and global experiences that set you apart in a highly competitive industry. Remember, this is your moment to challenge yourself, ask questions and embrace every opportunity.”
Those words capture the dual promise of AIHM: a world-class curriculum in association with Les Roches, and a living classroom that stretches from Bangkok into the global hospitality scene. You’ll study theory, yes. But you’ll also roll up your sleeves, tackle projects and step into the world’s leading hotels where theory meets practice.
At AIHM, you’ll grow alongside your fellow young professionals. Alison Stanworth, our Head of Student Engagement, puts it beautifully:
“Welcome to AIHM, a community where we grow, learn and succeed together. Living #AIHMHigher means striving with kindness and respect. Remember, uncomfortable is good; it sparks growth and new possibilities. With support from faculty, staff and peers, you’ll create friendships, memories and achievements that last a lifetime.”
You’ve already begun building this community during your orientation week with icebreakers, Bangkok explorations, creative workshops and moments of laughter. Those early experiences are a lot of fun. They’re also the first AIHM lessons in collaboration, resilience and cultural intelligence. You will grow during your time with us—in ways you expect and in ways you’re yet to discover. The spirit of surprise, of unexpected passions and new goals will keep your journey with us feeling fresh and transformative.
No one knows the AIHM journey better than the students who have already been on the bike for a few years. Two of them offer advice worth keeping close:
“Be open to new opportunities and experiences, even if they push you outside your comfort zone, because that’s where real growth happens. And remember, you’re never alone. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. AIHM is a community built on supporting and lifting each other up.”
— Mariyam Maya, AIHM Student President
“As a senior, my advice to new students is to stay open-minded, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Get involved, build connections, and balance your studies with experiences. You’ll grow both personally and professionally.”
— Kanyarat Sitthilersjanya, Semester 6 BBA
Both students above speak from lived experience. Furthermore, they both highlight some of the factors that define success at AIHM: curiosity, courage and connection.
AIHM takes a student-centric approach to learning and building community. Your voices matter from the very first week. Here’s what some of your classmates are already saying about their first days:
“I think AIHM is a very fun learning environment. It feels and looks like home. Everyone is nice. You can see the teachers love their job and love teaching people. That’s what I like about AIHM so far.”
— Logan Walkinshaw from South Africa
“AIHM has a really good learning environment. The teachers are really welcoming. And they’re really nice.”
— Vinto Schmid from Phuket
“My first impression of AIHM is that it’s very collective. And the sense of community is great.”
— Smera Sethi from Bangkok
Thank you Logan, Vinto and Smera for sharing such warm impressions!
So what does the road ahead look like? The bicycle analogy holds true. The more dedication you put into the ride, the further you’ll be able to go. Yes, studying and doing your work diligently are a big part of this dedication. But you have so many other ways zoom ahead:
Take advantage of these! The life-changing moments and opportunities will be different for each you, but I promise: the doors AIHM opens for you are as valuable the skills and knowledge you’ll gain with us.
While here, you’ll also discover Bangkok itself. This city bursts with energy and opportunities. Think of Bangkok as your extended classroom, where the lessons of hospitality play out in real time. No other city in the world offers the same mix of possibilities. You’ll be surrounded by some of the globe’s most famous hotels and its most innovative hospitality companies. Even if you’re from Bangkok, you’re going to discover sides of the city that are fresh and new to you.
As a hotelier and educator, I’ve walked hotel corridors around the world, taught in classrooms from Switzerland to Thailand, and seen generations of students grow into leaders. In charting my own personal journey and in guiding others, I’ve found one constant lesson: no one coasts their way to success. You pedal, you push, and sometimes you wobble, but that’s where the growth happens.
At AIHM, you’re not pedaling alone. You’ve got peers beside you, faculty guiding you, and an industry waiting for you. This is your moment to put in the effort and let your education carry you further, faster, higher.