Students arrive at AIHM for different reasons. Those who decide to take advantage of AIHM’s transfer pathway to Les Roches also come to that decision through varying motivations. While they all graduate with a Les Roches degree in hand, the academic journey and personal benefits take a different trajectory for each and every young professional. The journeys open different doors.
To understand this experience from the inside, we spoke with three students—Phyu Shin Thant, Mew Kotchapun Kongthawornwat, and Amy Prapasirikul Siriprawatkul—who followed the AIHM–Les Roches transfer route. Each came in with different expectations, different strengths, and different questions about what studying across two countries might offer their futures.
Their stories reveal how the transfer pathway can support very different ambitions. Discover how a dual education can expand perspective, networks, and career possibilities in one-of-a-kind ways for each individual.
Phyu: From Regional to Global
For Phyu, the move from AIHM to Les Roches was about expanding her framework: academically, socially and professionally. Both learning environments offered invaluable lessons and opportunities that she wouldn’t have benefited from had she stuck to a single university campus.
At AIHM, she valued the intimate campus environment immediately. Smaller class sizes meant closer interaction with lecturers and classmates, and a sense of being known within the academic community. As she puts it, “the smaller class sizes allowed for more personalised attention and a closer-knit learning environment.” That foundation mattered when she later stepped into a much larger, more international setting.
Her first impression of Les Roches was shaped by people as much as place. “I was immediately struck by the vibrant and diverse international community,” she recalls. Classrooms filled with students from dozens of nationalities brought a new scale to discussions—different cultural assumptions, different hospitality contexts, and different career aspirations all in the same room.
“While I do miss the intimacy of AIHM’s classes,” Phyu said, “the broader, more diverse environment here at Les Roches offers its own unique advantages. Smaller classes are great for fostering deeper discussions and personalised support, but the opportunities and global connections at Les Roches are incredibly valuable as well.”
What changed most for Phyu was perspective. Studying in Switzerland widened the scope of what she learned in Thailand. She began to see hospitality as a global ecosystem, where brands, standards, and talent move across borders, and where international experience is a real asset.
That shift also affected how she thought about her future. Through exposure to global hospitality brands and early interaction with industry professionals on campus, career paths became more visible and more attainable. Looking back, Phyu describes the journey as one that strengthened her confidence and broadened her outlook by connecting what she was learning in the classrooms to a much wider professional world.
Mew: From Hands-On Learning to Career Clarity
Mew chose AIHM with a clear intention: she wanted hospitality to feel real from the very beginning
“I chose AIHM because it allowed me to study in Thailand while gaining practical experience in the hotel,” she explained. AIHM students learn in the world’s only hotel management school set within an actual luxury hotel. Learning alongside real operations shaped how she understood the industry early on. Concepts discussed in class connected directly to what she saw on the ground—how hotels function, how teams operate, and how guest experience is managed day to day.
When she transferred to Les Roches, that practical grounding stayed with her. Academically, the transition felt familiar. “It felt similar to AIHM, just with more advanced resources and technology,” she said. That continuity meant instead of catching up she could focus on taking advantage of what Les Roches offered.
One of the defining aspects of her experience in Switzerland was career exposure. At Les Roches, industry access and recruitment activities form a significant part of campus life. “At Career Day events, top hotel brands come to campus, and we can interview directly with HR,” Mew pointed out.
Those encounters made careers feel concrete. Instead of imagining what a hospitality career might look like, she could speak directly with employers from a variety of brands, ask informed questions, and see how her skills aligned with real roles available in specific departments. Studying in both Thailand and Switzerland helped her turn her education into clear career direction and prospects.
Amy: From Academic Preparation to Professional Confidence
Amy’s experience is defined by readiness and what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
At AIHM, she built a strong academic base that travelled with her. “AIHM helped me build a strong foundation in the hospitality business and time management,” she says. When she arrived at Les Roches, that preparation showed. Coursework structure, expectations and workload felt familiar enough to allow her to engage fully from the start.
What changed most for Amy in Switzerland was independence. Les Roches and its larger campus pushes students to take initiative. “Students are encouraged to balance academics with real-world exposure,” she explains, describing an environment that expects maturity, responsibility and self-direction.
Living and studying in a new country accelerated her growth. Managing life in Switzerland, collaborating with international classmates, and navigating a more autonomous learning culture all contributed to a stronger sense of self-trust. She strengthened the kind of self-confidence that carries directly into professional environments and allows individuals to thrive by stepping up and taking action.
At the end of her BBA journey, Amy describes leaving with more than new knowledge. “This experience has given me not only academic knowledge, but also cultural awareness and confidence,” she reflected. Studying across two countries reshaped how she saw herself. The dual experience at AIHM and Les Roches shaped her into a globally minded professional, ready to step into the hospitality industry and make a meaningful impact..
Take the First Step on Your Global Journey
Chart your own global path. Are you a high school student exploring universities? Does the idea of a two-country journey excite you? Want to double your career opportunities?
Contact our AIHM Admissions Team to learn more.
