A new global AI education council for hospitality, GAIHEC, is being launched as the world’s first international body dedicated to setting curriculum standards, ethical guidelines, faculty development, research initiatives, and cross-border academic partnerships in AI for hospitality.

IIHM frames AI as an enabler that enhances hospitality while preserving core human values, encapsulated in the guiding principle: High-Tech. Higher Touch.

The launch builds on IIHM’s prior initiatives, notably NamAIste – IIHM Hospitality GPT, and formalizes ongoing efforts to integrate technology with hospitality education.

GAIHEC has begun onboarding member institutions from Uganda, Nepal, Jordan, Bangladesh, UAE, and others, with a goal of building a network across 60 countries and signing the GAIHEC Global Charter on February 8, 2027 at the Young Chef Olympiad Grand Finale.

Several countries are already represented among member institutions (Uganda, Nepal, Jordan, Bangladesh, UAE), with plans to expand to a 60-country network and to sign the Global Charter at the 2027 Young Chef Olympiad Grand Finale.

Prominent figures and endorsements underscore leadership and optimism: IIHM founder Dr Suborno Bose, Prof. David Foskett, Anita Mendiratta, NSN Mohan, Kush Kapoor, Prof. James Edmunds, and Chef John Wood emphasize that AI will augment hospitality rather than replace people.

Dr. Suborno Bose has stated that AI should augment hospitality and highlighted the council’s aim to unite top global educators and industry experts to balance innovation with human-centric hospitality.

Supporters include Dr. Suborno Bose, Prof. David Foskett, Anita Mendiratta (UNWTO), NSN Mohan (SKAL International), Kush Kapoor (Roseate Hotels), Prof. James Edmunds (University of West London), and Chef John Wood (KitchenCUT).

GAIHEC operates a three-tier governance model: Governing Board, Academic Senate, and Industry & Patron Advisory Board, all guided by four founding principles.

Founding principles are: Human First, AI Empowered; Global Knowledge, Local Impact; Collaboration Over Competition; and Sustainability for Generations.

The Governing Board is chaired by IIHM, with the Academic Senate drawn from Young Chef Olympiad member nations, and an Industry & Patron Advisory Board comprising hotel companies, tourism bodies, and tech leaders.