More Than 60 Nations Unite as IIHM Launches GAIHEC, the World's First Global AI Hospitality Education Council

On World AI Day, IIHM unveils a global movement to ensure Artificial Intelligence strengthens hospitality's greatest asset—its humanity.

KOLKATA, India, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry it touches. Yet in hospitality—an industry built not on machines but on warmth, empathy and human connection—the question is no longer whether AI will change the future. The real question is how that future should be shaped.

Seeking to answer that question on a global scale, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) , on 16 th July 2026, launched the Global AI Hospitality Education Council (GAIHEC), bringing together hospitality educators, universities, industry leaders and institutions from more than 60 countries to collectively define the future of Artificial Intelligence in hospitality, culinary arts and tourism education.

Announced on World AI Day, GAIHEC becomes the world's first international council dedicated exclusively to developing responsible, ethical and industry-focused AI education for hospitality.

The launch marks a significant milestone in IIHM's long-standing commitment to integrating technology with hospitality education. Following pioneering initiatives such as NamAIste – IIHM Hospitality GPT, the world's first AI platform created specifically for hospitality education, GAIHEC institutionalises that vision through an international collaborative framework that will develop curriculum standards, ethical AI guidelines, faculty development programmes, research initiatives and cross-border academic partnerships.

Rather than treating Artificial Intelligence as a disruptive force, GAIHEC positions AI as an enabler—one that empowers professionals while preserving the emotional intelligence that defines exceptional hospitality.

At the heart of the Council lies IIHM's philosophy: 'High-Tech. Higher Touch.' While Artificial Intelligence will increasingly influence guest engagement, revenue management, sustainability, operations and business intelligence, genuine hospitality will continue to be measured by empathy, creativity, cultural understanding and authentic human interaction.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Suborno Bose, Founder and Chief Mentor of IIHM and Indismart Group said:

Artificial Intelligence is not here to replace hospitality—it is here to enhance it. Hospitality has always been, and will always remain, about people. Through GAIHEC, we are bringing together the world's leading educators and industry experts to ensure that AI becomes a force for innovation while strengthening the human values that define our profession. We are not starting from scratch. We are building this global council on the strong foundation created through our AI initiatives, international collaborations and NamAIste Hospitality GPT.