Students from the Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management put on an impressive event with the first “Future Dialogue Tourism”. On January 16, 2025, students and industry experts met at FHWien der WKW to discuss the future of the tourism industry. The focus was on future skills – skills and competencies that will be essential in the rapidly changing working world of tomorrow.
Innovative meeting format
The event, organized by students as part of the Event & Congress Design specialization, offered a unique platform for dialogue between experienced industry representatives and future tourism experts. In his introduction, course director Florian Aubke emphasized the importance of this exchange: “Very often we talk ABOUT the young people – but very rarely WITH them.”
Focus on Future Skills
The evening began with a short introduction by Florian Aubke, who introduced the participants to the world of future skills. He explained that this includes not only sustainability and technological skills, but also emotional intelligence and creativity, as well as resilience and adaptability. Transversal skills such as critical thinking, communication skills and intercultural competence were also particularly emphasized.
From knowledge walk to fishbowl
After the keynote speech and an individual reflection exercise, the participants had the opportunity to discuss in small groups as part of a skills roulette. This interactive element enabled students and experts to share and explain their perspectives. The results were then visualized in a knowledge walk. The concluding fishbowl discussion deepened the findings and provided space for further questions and suggestions. The many learnings that professionals and students were able to take home with them were also shared here.
In the discussions, flexibility, a spirit of innovation and an open culture of error were named as key elements for the future of tourism. The need for a value-oriented and transparent corporate culture that attracts and retains young talent was particularly emphasized. Not forgetting the courage to face up to change and to take unusual paths.
A successful start
The students who organized the event under the guidance of lecturer and Managing Director of the Austrian Convention Bureau (ACB) Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch can be proud of the success of this premiere. The first “Future Dialogue Tourism” not only provided important impulses, but also showed how valuable the exchange between students and experienced industry experts can be.
With this successful start, the Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management has laid the foundation for a promising series of events. Further future dialogs on other key topics will follow to actively shape the tourism of tomorrow and equip the industry for the challenges of tomorrow.