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What is AHA?

AHA is a Post-Secondary Education Institution. We are licensed by several professional awarding bodies and work with international partner universities to deliver on our campus in Brasov or in virtual format professional higher education study programmes, ranging from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate and postgraduate (advanced) degrees.

AHA is a non-traditional institution, a place of higher education where western career oriented academic programmes and work experience opportunities meet eastern students aspirations to be global graduates.

AHA is also the first institution in Romania to run a TNE (Transnational Education) partnership with a British university. What started as the first international hotel management school in the country 17 years ago is now transforming into a multilayer higher education provider through the addition of new subject areas such as Digital Business, Marketing & Communications or Events Management.

We are different. If you also feel you don’t belong with the crowd, come check us out!

Our Mission

AHA Mission

We believe we are here, in this physical reality, to experience, create and grow as beings and that every one of us has unlimited creative potential. We also believe that Education spurs Imagination which inspires Action which in turn leads to new Creation. That is how humans evolve.

AHA’s mission is to provide a transformational experience and to create an environment which would help people discover and achieve their true potential through education. That is how AHA contributes to human evolution.

Our Vision

AHA Vision

Our vision is to become the ultimate learning organization, students, faculty, and professionals all working together in a continuum and synergistic environment, which generates interaction between different academic and professional levels and ages and stimulates innovation and creative thinking.

Students have easy access to real life industry and industry in turn has easy access to new talent and knowledge, all in a culture of continuous learning, experiencing, creating and growing.

values

Our Values

aha

YOU ARE HERE TO GROW

Believe in Yourself
Be Different
Be Courageous
Be Determined
Identify, Analyze, And Learn from Mistakes
Push Through to Make Things Happen
Stay Positive and Hopeful
Work Hard and Work Together
Walk The Talk
Act with Integrity, Be Fair
Play By the Rules
Be Helpful and Polite

aha

ALWAYS PURSUE GREATNESS

history

Our History

2005

The initial idea was born during several hospitality recruitment events. American and Western European employers traveling to Romania to recruit hospitality interns would often ask about the existence of any local hospitality schools. Since no such schools existed and there was an obvious demand from foreign employers as well as a high interest in employment abroad amongst young Romanians, American Hotel Academy (AHA) was born.

2007

AHA was registered as an LLC company and the soft opening took place on November 5th. Its first intake counted 26 students.

2012

BA (Hons) International Hotel Business Management is validated by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and marks the beginning of the growth stage.

American European Education (AEE), a not-for-profit organization is created in order to replace the LLC in the licensed educational services delivery.

2013

MSc Hospitality & Tourism Business Management is validated by Manchester Metropolitan University.

The lease for the new campus is signed and the school changes its premises from the outskirts of Brasov to the old city center.

2014 – 2020

Numbers grow gradually to reach 400+ students, as new undergraduate programmes are being validated (Culinary Arts and Digital Marketing) and a new satellite campus is set up in New York City.

2020 - 2022

Covid 19 pandemic manifests a severe effect on the school, and AHA switches to hybrid learning for almost two years. On our path to recovery we realize that we must reinvent ourselves in order to still thrive in a changed post-pandemic world.

2023

AHA adopts a new business model by diversifying out of the Hospitality realm to offer applied business management programmes in services related sectors, increases and diversifies the number of degree awarding partners, and adopts new digital learning formats and tools – hybrid and fully online.

legal

Our Legal Structure

**AHA is a brand owned and operated by ‘Asociatia American European Education’ (AEE), which is a not-for-profit organization formed according to Romanian law.**

As a not-for-profit entity, AEE doesn’t have shareholders, it has members, and it is managed by a group of Executive Officers and governed by a Board of Directors elected by the members.

Registration Date: 23.02.2012.

CIF: 29911760.

partners Our Strategic

Partnerships

In order to achieve our mission and strategic goals we work with a network of partners institutions and companies. We are grateful for these relationships as we couldn’t do what we do without our valued partners.

With over 100,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-approved educational institution with its main campus in Erfurt brings together more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s programmes under one roof, which are offered in German or English. Students can choose between dual studies, distance learning and myStudies, which combines online and face-to-face events, and design their studies independently with the help of a digitally supported learning environment.

In addition, IU enables further training and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. The aim of the university is to give as many people as possible worldwide access to personalised education. IU started operations in 2000 and is now represented in more than 30 German cities. It cooperates with over 15,000 companies and actively supports them in the development of their employees.

Atlantica Hotels & Resorts’s philosophy, as one of the leading Hotel companies in Greece and the biggest owned Hotel chain company in Cyprus, is based on meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations in delivering an opulent variety of differentiated products.

With over 40 hotels around Cyprus, Greece and Egypt (CS Management) and with over 400.000 customers yearly, Atlantica Hotels & Resorts promises to continue offering holiday experiences which are unique, exclusive and specially designed for their individual customers.

Atlantica is AHA’s exclusive partner for the countries of Greece and Cyprus, which allows our students to undergo summer practical training with a close supervision from both partners.

International Trainee Network (ITN) is a cultural exchange organization based in Los Angeles, California with over 20 years of experience with the J-1 Visa Exchange Program.

Thanks to our network of 5 international ITN offices, 40 international partner universities and over 170 partner hotels, ITN is currently the largest provider of J-1 luxury hospitality programs in the United States. Our mission is to provide culturally immersive experiences and world-class hospitality training to students and young professionals from around the world.

ITN and AHA have entered into an exclusive partnership for the market of Romania, which grants AHA students the unique opportunity to access some of the best internship and training programs in the world.

aha

Our People

We're a community of around 300 individuals, including students, full-time staff, and collaborative faculty, united by our dedication to lifelong learning. We share values like integrity, collaboration, innovation and we honour everyone’s contributions and perspectives. Every day, we connect, learn, and support each other, creating an energetic environment where our shared goals and values thrive.

Marketing and Admissions Team

Meet the heart of our recruitment process — the Marketing and Admissions Team. They're the guiding force behind your journey to American Hotel Academy. From your initial interest to your enrollment, they've been your compass, ensuring a seamless transition into our education institution.

Teodor Berszan

Senior Admissions Counsellor

In 2011, I joined the AHA team as one of its early members, and I have no regrets about it.

Anca Georgescu

Marketing & Admissions Director

I’ve had the pleasure of being part of the AHA family since 2013. My role here as the Marketing and Admissions Director involves orchestrating our marketing strategy and managing admissions.

Alina Borş

Admissions Counselor

I’m someone who truly values connecting with others and making a positive difference. Having worked in hospitality, both locally and internationally, I’ve come to appreciate how meaningful it is to create experiences that bring people joy and comfort.

Zsolt Makai

Hospitality Postgraduate – PR & NGO Coordinator

Provide support for PR, press and media relations, facilitating connections with professional organizations and industry NGOs in Romania.
Former Executive Director with extensive experience in the tourism industry since 1998, M&A consultancy since 2004, and marketing/branding since 2015.

Academics Team

Our Academics Team forms the backbone of our educational institution. They are dedicated to empowering students, facilitating their growth, and ensuring a fulfilling academic experience within our institution. Each member plays a pivotal role in cultivating an environment where knowledge thrives and aspirations turn into achievements. Meet our Registrars, the curators of your academic records.

Cleopatra Baciu

Registrar

I have been a lecturer for the academy since 2020, teaching Front Office Operations, Room Division Management and Hospitality Operation Strategies. Now I am also the link between the students and the academic team within the registrar’s office.

Ioana Netcu

Programme Coordinator BA Digital Business

After completing both my bachelor’s degree and MBA in the United States, I felt a strong drive to come back home and offer students the same opportunities, resources, and support I found abroad.

Ioan-Constantin Enache

DHA Programme Leader

I am a dedicated educator and marketing professional. My academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Marketing from Transilvania University of Brasov, earned in 2012.

Ioana Țurcaș

AHA BA Programme Leader

I have a degree in Business Administration, completed by a Master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Industry provided by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ramona Costin

Taste Programme Leader

I’m a dedicated professional with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, starting my journey back in 2000. My extensive background in this field is one of the driving forces behind my role at the American Hotel Academy.

John Fenby

AHA Postgraduate Programme Leader

I am an Education and Business Consultant, Professor of Management Education at AHA, formerly the Dean of a Swiss University College and prior to that a Principal Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ada Terea

Academic Director

I am one of the creative leaders behind our higher education programs, designing educational experiences that keep our programs connected to the industry and of value to our students.

Andrei Buruiana

Academic Associate

Andrei’s career path started at American Hotel Academy being a student among the very first promotion…

Andrei Stupu

Academic Associate

My life mission is education. I am an entrepreneur, business consultant, trainer, coach, and researcher –…

Bogdan Barzescu

Academic Associate

Bogdan Bârzescu graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest and, since 2011, has been…