A new chapter has opened for AIHM students with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Rosewood Bangkok. This partnership with one of the world’s most respected luxury hospitality brands is more than a formality—it’s a gateway to real opportunities. From first impressions made by our young professionals to long-term career pathways, the collaboration speaks volumes. But how did this relationship begin, and what does it mean for our students’ futures?
We sat down with Chris Meylan, COO of AIHM, to uncover the story behind this exciting step forward.
New MOU Opens Doors for AIHM Students at Rosewood
Last month AIHM signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Rosewood Bangkok, a distinguished property in one of the world’s most respected luxury hospitality brands. This collaboration reflects shared values and a mutual commitment to cultivating the next generation of hospitality professionals.
How have AIHM’s young professionals impressed Rosewood’s management? What does the collaboration mean for AIHM’s budding hoteliers and entrepreneurs?
We spoke with Chris Meylan, Chief Operating Officer of the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management, to explore how this relationship developed and what it means for students and the industry at large.
Q&A with Chris Meylan – Chief Operating Officer, Asian Institute of Hospitality Management
Q: How did the relationship with Rosewood Bangkok begin, and what led to the decision to formalise it through an MoU?
A: It started with one of our students applying for an internship in Rosewood’s Accounting Department. She had a fantastic experience—and so did the Rosewood team. Her professionalism, motivation and language skills stood out. She was able to take what she had already learned at AIHM, unite it with what she was learning at Rosewood, and demonstrate how AIHM’s educational approach allows students to make a strong impact in their internship placements.
That positive first impression was reinforced by the students who followed. Rosewood’s management has consistently praised their confidence, preparation, and ability to engage with guests. It was clear that our students brought something meaningful to the table.
At the same time, Rosewood did an exceptional job of facilitating the development of our students who interned with them. Clearly, the match was working and marked by mutual benefits to both our students’ budding careers and Rosewood’s own business needs.
Personally, I believe these student successes reflect our approach at AIHM as well as the kinds of students we attract. We treat students as young professionals from day one. Our students are highly motivated, and we focus on empowering their growth with real-world practice and mentorship.
Our emphasis on building confidence, strengthening communication skills and developing other soft skills for hospitality starts from our young professionals’ very first week with us. By the time students start their internships, they’re ready to bring this confident foundation to their place of employment. Our first several interns at Rosewood demonstrated this. As trust grew on both sides, formalising the partnership felt like a natural next step.
Q: You’ve said before that AIHM students learn “on the ground, in real settings.” What does it mean for a student to train at a place like Rosewood Bangkok?
A: Our programme follows the Swiss model of hospitality education—hands-on, practical, and deeply rooted in real-world application. Students build their skills in our on-campus hotel and then continue that journey through two six-month internships.
Rosewood Bangkok provides a remarkable training environment. It gives students the chance to work at a high standard of luxury hospitality and learn from a distinctive hospitality culture. These experiences help shape them as professionals. Partnerships such as this also show that our mission—preparing future leaders in Asia —is being realised through a wide range of industry relationships, not only within Minor Hotels.
For us at AIHM, we centre student choice. We’re not trying to create cookie-cutter leaders. Our faculty and mentors help students explore their individual interests, leverage and expand their own talents, and grow into their own leadership style. Students have the opportunity to intern at different types of properties according to their own aspirations. They can stay in Thailand. They can move abroad. They can work in resorts or city hotels. They can choose the departments they’d like to work in. We’re a student-centred institute and we strive to provide the best options for students to choose from.
Q: What does this partnership mean for AIHM students in practical terms? What kind of opportunities will they gain access to?
A: First and foremost, it provides access to internship placements at a globally respected luxury property. For students who are motivated and prepared, it also opens the door to long-term opportunities.
One of our students began at Rosewood Bangkok, later interned at another Rosewood property in New Zealand, and is now being considered for a full-time role after her future graduation. These kinds of pathways exist because our students bring value and because our partnerships are grounded in real collaboration.
Networking is often seen as a critical component of an MBA. At AIHM, we take things one step forward and integrate these kinds of productive networking and exploratory opportunities into the BBA degree programme. The hospitality industry in Asia Pacific is marked by high mobility. Managers move from property to property, brand to brand. There’s a distinct recognition of the benefits of intra-industry collaboration, the power of bringing in new ideas, and the understanding that your colleagues today could easily be your colleagues again in the near future, even if it happens to be in another hotel in another city or country.
The lessons students learn while interning at Rosewood and the relationships they make are assets that will continue to pay dividends in their professional lives no matter where their careers take them in the years ahead.
Q: What kind of student thrives in an environment like Rosewood?
A: The ones who thrive are detail-oriented, confident and highly professional. They understand what luxury service requires: precision, presence and emotional intelligence.
At AIHM, we build those traits intentionally. From early coursework to operational training, students develop the mindset and habits that prepare them to excel in refined environments like Rosewood.
Success in the hospitality industry requires knowledge, but even more so, it’s about attitude. Especially in the high-end luxury sector, the people who thrive are the ones who are able to interact with guests and other stakeholders with confidence, interpersonal intelligence and a nuanced understanding of what it means to provide high-level, personally oriented service.
Q: Have you seen a shift in how industry leaders are viewing talent pipelines and educational partnerships? Where does AIHM fit into that evolving landscape?
A: There’s a growing need for talent that can operate at an international standard while staying deeply connected to local context. This is especially true in Asia. Employers want professionals who understand the expectations of diverse guests and who can lead multicultural teams effectively.
AIHM was designed with that vision in mind. We serve students from across the region—and increasingly, from Europe and beyond—who want meaningful exposure to Asia’s hospitality landscape. We follow a Swiss hospitality management education model right here in Asia so that we can provide the industry with aspiring managers who know not just international standards but who also deeply understand the local markets and local cultures. We’re empowering young professionals to unite an elite business education with a strong understanding of how to cater for local, regional and international guests. We’re bridging the gap and developing highly trained professionals who are particularly well placed to thrive with a clear grasp on the cultural dynamics of their teams and local business partners.
At AIHM, we’re becoming a strong partner for brands that care about talent development and future leadership, especially in some of the industry’s fastest growing markets.
Q: Every AIHM BBA student completes two six-month internships. What, to you, is the difference between training someone for a job—and shaping someone for a career?
A: Job training focuses on specific skills. Career development goes further. It helps people grow into adaptable, thoughtful professionals.
As I’ve mentioned, we follow the Swiss hospitality education philosophy. This approach originated with EHL many years ago and is now championed and put into practice by other prestigious schools like Les Roches. In this model, if you want to become the General Manager of a hotel, you need to have a strong basis in the fundamental aspects of creating an impactful guest experience. You learn the practical aspects of running a hotel as well as the more advanced commercial and strategic aspects.
Our students gain exposure to key hotel departments, from F&B and Kitchen Operations to Guest Services and Housekeeping. Following their Practical Arts studies and operational internship, they develop through a second internship. The second posting is more strategically oriented; students spend time in a department such as Sales, Marketing, Public Relations, Learning & Development, or Finance. The value of these two internships goes beyond technical understanding. Our young professionals also learn how to interact with guests, adapt to high expectations, and carry themselves as future managers.
This kind of growth prepares them for leadership roles across the service industry, not only within hotels. That’s the long-term value of the AIHM approach.
Do You Want to Be One of AIHM’s Young Professionals?
A Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Hospitality Management from AIHM unlocks opportunities in some of the world’s most prestigious brands. Find out more about the BBA degree now.
Do You Want to Hire One of AIHM’s Young Professionals?
Are you a hospitality industry leader seeking to recruit well-trained interns or graduates? We welcome a conversation with you to explore the possibilities. Connect with Samantha Lauver-Marion, Director of Global Partnerships at AIHM. She’d be delighted to chat with you to explore how AIHM can be of service.