AIHM HIGHER

Happy New Year! There’s something special about the start of a new year, isn’t there? It is a time where we all get a chance to hit the refresh button and start anew. As a new year begins, the world feels full of new opportunities. This is the time to set goals and resolutions, to dream of new horizons, to make plans for the experiences you would like to have in the year ahead.

While things are finally starting to change and organisations such as AIHM are helping to make a difference in Thailand and beyond, the lack of female leaders in hospitality is still a crucial problem. As you read this article, you might be asking yourself, why is a man writing about the lack of female leaders in hospitality?

There’s a massive career opportunity hiding in plain sight, and those who know the secret can reap the rewards. Asia’s hospitality business is one of the region’s fastest growing industries. According to the global business intelligence platform Statista, annual hotel revenue in Asia is expected to reach US$ 144 billion in 2023.

In this AIHM Higher blog post, Matthew Fryar—the General Manager of Avani Pattaya Resort—sits down with Samantha Lauver-Marion—Head of Student Engagement at AIHM—to discuss the Young Talent Scholarship, a fantastic initiative open to graduating high school students in Thailand.

Everyone’s educational journey is different. AIHM understands that. While many of our students are young adults just starting out in the world, we also welcome a significant number working professionals who are early or mid-way through their career and looking for a way to take their achievements to the next level.

Preparing for the start of your university experience is just as important as beginning this next step of your educational journey. It’s a moment of transition and wide-open possibilities. This period is also a prime opportunity to cultivate the skills and habits that will serve you well in your university experience, your future career and your personal life. It’s a time to start becoming the person you want to be.

AIHM’s hospitality management students enjoy internships in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels and innovative resorts. On the AIHM Higher blog, we’ve shared internship stories from the Maldives and student experiences in the United Arab Emirates. Today, we turn our attention closer to home. Read on to discover what our students learned on their internships in Thailand.

Back in the Middle Ages, a book was a rare, priceless object. The art of bookmaking required a team of highly skilled scribes, illuminators and binders. Each book cost a small fortune. Only the wealthiest members of society were able to own books, and even then, the number of books you were able to own or gain access to was limited by practical considerations. As of September 2023, the internet contains 4.3 billion pages of content, accessible to virtually everyone. Those Medieval Europeans would consider today’s wide-sweeping access to knowledge an embarrassment of riches. But knowledge does not equal understanding.

If you find yourself at a crossroads in your professional journey, seeking a path filled with excitement and rewards, let me share a hidden gem with you – the captivating world of hospitality management in Asia and South-East Asia. Regardless of where you are on life's timeline, a career in hospitality management in this region offers remarkable opportunities and a chance to make a real difference.  

Hospitality education comes in many forms, from on-the-job training to MBA programmes. When most people think of hospitality education though, the first thing that comes to mind is a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from a prestigious hotel school. This is a fantastic option for individuals aspiring to a successful career in hospitality management, but it’s not the only option out there.