Got a business idea brewing? This is your chance to pitch it.
The AIHM Business Plan Competition invites high school students in Thailand to design an original hospitality business idea, present it to real industry professionals, and compete for cash prizes, plus something great to add to a college application or resume.
Grand Prize: THB 40,000
Submission deadline: 12 February 2027
Who is eligible to enter
The AIHM Business Plan Competition is open to:
- Students in their final three years of high school
- Teams of 3 to 4 students
- Students currently studying in Thailand, able to show a valid student card at the finalist stage
Your Business Challenge
Your challenge is to identify an opportunity for a new venture in the hospitality industry. It could be a product or service for anything from F&B and events to youth hostels, glamping, or even pop-up restaurants.
Working as a team, you will need to:
- Carry out basic market research
- Analyse feasibility
- Develop a business model
Judges are looking for hospitality business ideas that are completely original and that balance creativity with real-world viability.
How the Competition Works
Round 1: Video Submission (Elevator Pitch)
Present your business concept in a short video, no more than four minutes, covering:
- An overview of your business concept
- Your value proposition
- The target market
- Key activities and offerings
Format is up to you. Use PowerPoint, Prezi, animation, voiceover, whatever gets your idea across persuasively. Submit your video as an MP4 under 100MB, with an opening slide naming your business, team members, and school.
Deadline: Friday 12 February 2027
Finalists announced: Wednesday 17 February 2027, on the AIHM Facebook pageRound 2: In-Person Presentation
Finalist teams deliver a 20-minute business plan presentation in person at AIHM, with every team member taking part. Your presentation should cover:
- An overview of your business concept
- Your value proposition
- The target market
- Competitive analysis
- Marketing plan
- Break-even analysis
- Implementation timeline
Afterward, be ready to answer questions from the judging panel. Use visual aids such as slides, images, or video, and keep them clear and easy to follow.
Date: Saturday 27 February 2027, at AIHM
Competition Timeline
Masterclass workshop:
Saturday 30 January 2027
(an optional prep session to help you sharpen your pitch)
Video submission deadline:
Friday 12 February 2027
Finalists announced:
Wednesday 17 February 2027
Final presentation at AIHM:
Saturday 27 February 2027
Prizes
1st prize
THB 40,000
2nd prize
THB 20,000
3rd prize
THB 10,000
1st prize
THB 40,000
2nd prize
THB 20,000
3rd prize
THB 10,000
The winning team also receives an AIHM trophy, and every finalist receives a certificate.
Judging Criteria
The judging committee will evaluate each presentation on:
- Originality
- Творчество
- Viability
- Presentation skills
Competition Rules
- All team members must be in their final three years of high school and studying in Thailand, with a student card ready to show
- Video entries over four minutes will not be considered
- All entries must be submitted via the AIHM website
- Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered
- All work must be original with proper referencing; plagiarised ideas will be disqualified immediately
- In-person presentations will be cut short if they run over 20 minutes
- The judging committee’s decision is final
- Copyright of video presentations remains with students; AIHM retains the right to publish and use them for promotional purposes
How to Enter
Ready to pitch your hospitality business idea? Fill out the application form below to register your team for the AIHM Business Plan Competition 2027.
Submit Your Application
