AIHM HIGHER

When I was young, I dreamed of a career that would take me around the world. Today, I’m looking out from my office to the Bangkok skyline. My specific ambitions have evolved over time, but the strong sense of ambition has stayed constant. Over the years, I’ve helmed an exquisite beachfront resort by the Andaman Sea, taught students at some of the world’s most elite hospitality management institutes, and helped steer these institutes and their graduates to success. As the Chief Operating Officer of Minor Education, I’m proud to now lead the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) and its students in helping to define the future of the hospitality industry. None of these career moves happened by chance. I took action to make them happen.

“We weren't just classmates anymore. We had to think, act and deliver like professionals.”

That’s how AIHM student Maya Mariyam described her final Integrated Hospitality Project (IHP) experience at AIHM. It’s a sentiment echoed by many who’ve taken part in this ambitious, real-world learning series. From their third semester onwards, students step into the industry and take on consulting projects for real clients, with real stakes, and real impact.

Shanghai. Danang. Montreux. Macau. Zurich. Cairo. Dubai. Jakarta. Singapore. Geneva. Sydney. Brighton. Munich. Berlin. Bangkok. What do these places have in common? They’re all cities to which Gilles Charlet’s long and storied career has taken him. For students who plan to build a global career, Gilles’ experience and stories are an inspiration.

Want to know more about his journey and the way it impacts his teaching? Read on to discover more about what he brings to the AIHM experience.

At THAIFEX–HOREC Asia 2025, where innovation meets influence, the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM) and Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU) brought a powerful spotlight to the future of leadership in hospitality.

How can the CIHA propel you to new heights? Siraphop Watthanabaramisakun shares how the CIHA has been helping him progress in his career at Minor Hotels in Thailand. Mathew Kiran John talks about how the CIHA has helped him in his career journey at Minor Hotels properties in the Maldives. The two professionals joined AIHM from different countries and different departments—Siraphop from the Rooms division and Mathew from Engineering—both with the desire and motivation to fill in the gaps in their hospitality expertise, to boost their leadership abilities and to reach increasingly new heights in their careers over the years to come.

Read on to learn about how earning the CIHA has impacted their career development.

For AIHM students Julie Khin, Keanu Van Cauwenbergh and Milla Greco, hospitality isn’t just a career path—it’s a family legacy. As they grew up, the budding leaders watched their parents nurture hospitality businesses rooted in care, creativity and community. At AIHM, they’re building on their families’ aspirations and redefining hospitality for the next generation.

For many years, Switzerland has set the gold standard for hospitality management education—and for good reasons. Swiss hotel schools are excellent. That’s why AIHM offers a Swiss-style education in Academic Association with Les Roches. 

The AIHM experience is a special one. As students, we come from a diversity of backgrounds and nationalities—while all sharing many of the same passions and goals. The Student Committee is devoted to fostering and ensuring this special experience for all of us. Together as a Committee, we work hard to enhance student wellbeing and develop a strong sense of community within AIHM. 

Read on to meet our current officers and learn about our plans for the year. 

Leadership involves a distinctive set of skills. You need to learn how to look after and empower your team as individuals—as well as a group who works to achieve goals together. You balance the personal and the collective.

AIHM’s students come from cities throughout Thailand and the world to reshape the future of the hospitality business. They pursue their own individual dreams. They work toward their goals. And, importantly, they learn the foundational skills for creating a sustainable impact on businesses and communities.