How AIHM’s First BBA Graduates Write Their Own Hospitality Stories

AIHM’s very first BBA graduates are stepping into the world of hospitality with inspiring stories to tell.
From managing live events to leading real hotel consultancy projects, they shaped their futures while building AIHM’s legacy. Backed by Swiss academic excellence and real industry access, their journeys are nothing short of remarkable.

Curious to see where passion and opportunity have taken them? Discover their stories in our latest blog.

How AIHM’s First BBA Graduates Are Writing Their Own Hospitality Stories

Every hospitality school promises opportunity. However, when AIHM’s first BBA students arrived, they stepped into something rare: the opportunity to help build a legacy while launching their own futures. As a young and innovative institute, AIHM didn’t yet have a long alumni list or decades-old traditions. It had Swiss academic excellence reimagined for Asia’s fast-growing hospitality markets—and an education model that goes deep, embedding real hotel operations, consulting projects, live event management, and global internships into each student’s journey. AIHM’s first BBA cohort stepped forward as students, and as pioneers.

Backed by AIHM’s academic association with Les Roches, access to the Minor Hotels network, and a campus embedded within a fully operational hotel, these students engaged with the industry from day one. They immersed themselves in hospitality management while developing their own individual professional identities.

From Legacy to Leadership: Khemkaeng ‘Andrew’ Rohrbach

Hospitality runs deep in Andrew’s family. His grandfather worked at the legendary Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, and his parents built careers in hotels and F&B. Andrew arrived at AIHM aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps as a chef.

As his studies progressed, new possibilities emerged.

“The more I explored, the more I saw how every department plays its part in creating guest experiences,” he said. “Learning about hotel operations during Practical Arts, moving from theoretical frameworks to practical application, handling real-life hotel consultancy projects, and understanding how different departments collaborate—these learning experiences all broadened my perspective.” As he gained new experiences in the hospitality industry, he eventually came to the realisation that his true career goal is to become a hotel general manager.

The Integrated Hospitality Project (IHP), a signature element of AIHM’s BBA curriculum, was a turning point. Serving as Project Manager in his final IHP, Andrew led his team through research, data analysis and strategic presentations to hotel executives. “The IHP tasks you with working alongside management-level officers in a hotel, providing an invaluable glimpse into the inner workings of the industry. The privilege of serving as the Project Manager allowed me to hone my leadership skills and underscored the dynamics of teamwork and collaboration in achieving success.” Managing a real-world hospitality project gave Andrew a thorough glimpse into life as a hotel GM.

He also embraced leadership beyond academics, serving as President of the AIHM Student Committee. In this role, he led initiatives that created a vibrant student community, including organising student-led clubs, cultural events, community service projects and networking opportunities. “The committee makes sure every AIHM student has the most memorable time here within a safe and supportive environment, being a dream-maker, building upon each other’s strengths, supporting each other as a family, and giving students a chance to showcase their passions and skills.”

“Being part of the first cohort was something special,” Andrew reflected. “We started with just nine students. Witnessing AIHM grow year after year and being among the pioneers who paved the way has been a tremendous honour."

Now, Andrew has returned to where his family’s hospitality story began. He has launched his career at  Mandarin Oriental Bangkok as a Rising Fan Leader in Training—the same property where his grandfather once worked. As he steps into leadership, Andrew carries forward both family legacy and personal ambition.

Operational Mastery with an Entrepreneur’s Mindset: Suphaphit ‘Ham’ Phanratanamongkol

Named valedictorian and recipient of AIHM’s Award for Academic Excellence, Ham distinguished himself academically while building broad industry exposure. His studies covered everything from Front Office operations to gastronomy, international relations and global hospitality.

The Bangkok Riverside Fest offered a proving ground for leadership. Prior to the event, Ham and his classmates completed an intensive two-week Events Management seminar on event theory, sponsorship, budgeting and operational planning. They then joined the festival’s full setup process and assumed responsibilities across multiple key stations during the event, including VIP service, food and beverage management, ticketing, stage coordination, and sustainability presentations. With over 3,000 guests attending each day, the scale demanded constant coordination and fast, real-time problem-solving.

“It was an amazing opportunity to work with people from different perspectives and it really reminded me that in the real world, you don’t get to choose your colleagues. Despite the differences in our approaches and ideas, we put our differences aside and came together as a team to make the event a success.”

Beyond academics and events, Ham reflected on his personal growth at AIHM. “In just three and a half years, we’ve become more confident, adaptable and determined individuals with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. The programme equipped me with the skills and confidence I need to succeed in the hospitality industry and beyond.”

Ham had a clear vision from the start of his degree studies: “From the beginning, my ultimate goal was to open my own hotel. Studying here not only reinforced my determination but also equipped me with the confidence and knowledge necessary to pursue it.”

Soon after graduation, Ham joined the pre-opening team at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok as a Guest Relations Supervisor. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most exclusive luxury hotel brands, Aman demands an exacting standard of personalised service. Supporting the opening of the Bangkok property allowed Ham to step directly into a highly selective environment where the precision, adaptability and service mindset developed at AIHM were immediately put into practice—a strong early move laying the foundation for long-term growth in the hospitality business.

Financial Expertise with a Strategic Edge: Siraphop ‘Butter’ Hirunuran

Butter stepped into a finance role immediately after graduation, becoming an Accounting Officer at Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok. His professional experience builds directly on the applied consulting work and cross-departmental exposure he gained during his studies.

“From day one, I was working directly with the Director of Finance, applying advanced analysis and contributing to strategy,” he explains. “AIHM equipped me with a solid foundation in business principles, financial analysis, accounting principles and effective communication—which are crucial in my responsibility to achieve budgeted results and expected outcomes.”

The Integrated Hospitality Projects played a major role in building that readiness. Over the course of the three IHPs, Butter evolved from guided problem-solving to managing full client engagements. “By Semester 6, we weren’t following templates anymore. We were making real consulting decisions—conducting interviews, developing solutions, and presenting directly to hotel leaders with actionable strategies.”

Beyond technical readiness, Butter emphasises adaptability as a long-term success factor: “In the global hospitality industry, circumstances shift constantly. You need to stay agile, adjust to diverse people and situations, and manage the small decisions that ultimately shape both personal growth and the company’s progress.”

With a strong professional start in place, Butter is already positioned on a path that combines financial expertise, strategic thinking and cross-departmental collaboration—laying the groundwork for long-term growth in the international hospitality sector.

Building Futures Before the Ink Dries

By the time they crossed the graduation stage, Andrew, Ham and Butter had already built substantial professional experience: leading client projects, managing live events, representing AIHM as student leaders, and navigating real operational challenges. They left AIHM with degrees and with portfolios of real-world experience and career momentum already in motion. With these foundations in place, each has entered the industry well-equipped to thrive in their current roles, and with a powerful capacity to advance and lead in the years ahead.

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