At AIHM, our young professionals take what they learn in the classroom and put these lessons to the test in real-world hotel environments. Each BBA student completes two different internships as part of earning their hotel management degree. These internships take them around the world, enhancing their global perspectives and giving them practical experience and insights they can highlight in their CVs when they graduate and embark on their career paths.
The first internship takes place very early in our young professionals’ studies—the second semester to be exact. During this first placement, students typically experience a front-of-house role in operations, such as working the Front Desk, Food & Beverage Service or Housekeeping. During this operational internship, they learn first-hand what it takes for hospitality teams to deliver a fantastic guest experience, especially in front-line customer service scenarios. While their careers will most likely take them in the direction of senior management roles, understanding what it takes for all team members to thrive and experiencing this first-hand is invaluable to their future successes.
We caught up with four young professionals who have recently completed their operational internships—Tyler Nathan Tong, Mya Thazin, “Eiipe” Nang Thin Zara and “Caspian” Ye Linn Htun—to find out what it’s really like to work in a front-of-house role, what surprised them, and what stuck with them long after check-out.
Tyler at Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas
Tyler interned in the Food & Beverage Service department at the stunning Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas. He emphasised how much fun he had while he was learning hands-on: “I really enjoyed learning how to make cocktails. It felt creative, like building a product. I could experiment, add my own little twist, and improve over time. That made it fun—and something I want to keep exploring.”
During his time in customer service, Tyler came to appreciate just how much skill it takes to work in hospitality, especially when it comes to handling different types of guests.
“You meet people with so many different personalities,” he said. “Some are easy-going; others are demanding. It takes skill and knowledge to be able to adapt and tend to so many different types of individuals.”
He explained the importance of this adaptability: “I really found it interesting to learn to vary my approach and tactics to different people’s personalities and motivations. Over time, I learned how to adapt, and it became something I enjoyed and something that really broadened my perspective on guest service in the hospitality industry.”
Tyler’s internship at Anantara Koh Yao Yai deepened his understanding of what it means to offer genuine hospitality, especially in terms of tailoring customer service in the luxury sector—a lesson that’s sure to prove invaluable in his future management career.
Mya at Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara
Mya’s internship took her to the breathtaking Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, where she worked as both a Guest Service Center Staff and Lobby Hostess. The location was beautiful—but the challenges were real and brought new understanding of the specific difficulties many resort locations can present behind the scenes.
“The harsh desert climate and the cultural differences were not easy,” Mya noted. “But those difficulties helped me grow. I became more resilient and worked harder than I ever have.”
One of these difficult moments came early on, when a guest called about a problem with the hot water in their room.
“I didn’t know how to help precisely and struggled to understand the guest’s accent, so I transferred the call to a senior colleague,” she said. “In retrospect, I realised I could have handled it better. That moment pushed me to improve my product knowledge of the resort and to prepare myself to be more confident answering guests directly and solving their problems with quick action. I understand that delaying a satisfactory solution could be frustrating to guests and that customer service excellence in hospitality means being able to solve issues promptly and seamlessly.”
Her efforts paid off. Mya received recognition from the resort’s Front Office and Management Team, who praised her performance and work ethic. Mya explained, “That kind of appreciation made me feel truly valued. It motivated me to keep learning and pushing myself. I gained a lot of technical skills and became very proficient in the Opera and VICAS systems, but more importantly, I developed a lot by gaining new insights in the soft skills of management and hospitality—handling complaints promptly, staying professional, collaborating with colleagues in your team and other departments, and ensuring guest satisfaction.”
Eiipe at Conrad Koh Samui
Eiipe completed her internship in the Food & Beverage department at Conrad Koh Samui, where she also received barista training and gained valuable hands-on experience.
“At first, I was nervous, but working with the team and taking care of guests helped me grow. Over time, I felt more comfortable and confident in my role,” said Eiipe.
Thanks to her Practical Arts studies at AIHM—which included training at Anantara and Avani—she felt well-prepared to enter a real hotel environment. “I already had training in how to serve guests the right way, how to work with a team and how to speak professionally. That made a big difference when I started at Conrad. I was able to hit the ground running and grow quickly.” While she arrived at her internship with a good foundation, the real-world application of what she had learned in the classroom allowed her to develop rapidly. Eiipe explained, “During this internship, I feel like what I improved the most was my understanding of customer service and communications skills”
Eiipe’s manager noticed her progress, too. “They told me, ‘You’re improving so much since your first day. You’re hardworking and always learning.’ That really motivated me to keep going.”
Outside of work, she made the most of her location. “On my days off, I loved exploring the island. One of my favorite memories was watching the sunset over the ocean from a scenic viewpoint. It was truly unforgettable.”
Caspian at Rosewood Bangkok
Ye Linn Htun, who goes by “Caspian”, interned as a Concierge at Rosewood Bangkok—a hotel acclaimed for its exceptional service. For an international student unfamiliar with Bangkok, stepping into a front-of-house role that demanded deep local knowledge was a real challenge.
“At first, it was intimidating,” Caspian admitted. “It was an adventure. I didn’t know the best restaurants to recommend or where to send guests for spa treatments. I had to study the hotel’s destination guide and Michelin recommendations over and over.” His solution? He created a new destination guide personalised to his needs to help him more seamlessly answer guests’ questions with confidence and insight. “I created a tool that helped me quickly cater to our guests, to suggest when, where and why.”
The effort paid off—especially when a guest mentioned him by name in a glowing review, praising him for the special assistance he provided when arranging limousine transportation for her family. “Moments like that from these past six months make me proud,” he reflected. “It reminds me that a bit of extra effort, of expressing genuine care for guests, really matters and can transform their entire experience.”
Business Lessons Beyond the Classroom
These four students each took a different path, in diverse locations and roles, and they all came away with something in common: a deeper understanding of the hospitality industry and a new sense of confidence in their own abilities.
From learning to listen carefully to guests, to staying calm under pressure, to discovering unexpected passions, the front-of-house internship is a foundation for future growth. For Tyler, Mya, Eiipe and Caspian, that foundation is already impacting their future careers in hospitality.
See More Student Stories
Want to see more highlights from our young professionals’ internship experiences? Browse our Instagram to see internship posts from around the world. Follow AIHM on Facebook. Check out the excitement on TikTok. Explore the reels posted by our Student Ambassadors.
We also encourage you to scroll through the AIHM Higher blog; it’s filled with internship stories and a great place to dive deep into the AIHM experience.
