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

What the report says

BusinessLine carried a PRNewswire release reporting that the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) launched the Global AI Hospitality Education Council, or GAIHEC, in Kolkata. The announcement was dated July 20, 2026, and said the launch took place on July 16, coinciding with World AI Day. According to the release, the council brings together hospitality educators, universities, industry representatives and institutions from more than 60 countries to focus on artificial intelligence in hospitality, culinary arts and tourism education.

The release described GAIHEC as an international council dedicated to responsible and industry-relevant AI education for hospitality. It said the council will work on curriculum standards, ethical AI guidelines, faculty development, research initiatives and cross-border academic partnerships. IIHM framed the effort around the idea that AI should support, rather than replace, the human-centered nature of hospitality.

The announcement linked GAIHEC to IIHM’s earlier AI initiatives, including NamAIste – IIHM Hospitality GPT, which the release described as an AI platform for hospitality education. It also said the council adopted a manifesto and will operate through a three-tier structure: a Governing Board chaired by IIHM, an Academic Senate tied to hospitality and culinary institutions from Young Chef Olympiad member nations, and an Industry & Patron Advisory Board including hotel, tourism, technology and strategic partners.

Named participants and supporters in the release included IIHM founder and chief mentor Dr. Suborno Bose, International Hospitality Council chairman Prof. David Foskett, UN Tourism special adviser Anita Mendiratta, SKÅL International’s NSN Mohan, Roseate Hotels & Resorts CEO Kush Kapoor, University of West London’s Prof. James Edmunds and KitchenCUT founder Chef John Wood. The release said member onboarding had begun in countries including Uganda, Nepal, Jordan, Bangladesh and the UAE.