A major success for Franziska Maria Goritschnig: The graduate of the Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management impressed the expert jury of the Best Meeting Thesis Austria 2026 with her Bachelor’s thesis on inclusive conference planning.
On October 15, 2026, the Austrian Convention Bureau (ACB) honored outstanding academic papers addressing current challenges and future issues in the meetings and conventions industry. Among five nominated Bachelor’s theses, Franziska Maria Goritschnig prevailed with her thesis on “Inclusive Program Design for Conferences in Vienna — A Qualitative Analysis of Motivation and Networking for Participants with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms.”
How can conferences be made more inclusive?
In her Bachelor’s thesis, Goritschnig examined the impact of conference program design on people with depression and anxiety symptoms. The results show that, in particular, the program’s structural organization and the design of opportunities for interaction can influence participants’ well-being, motivation, and willingness to participate.
In doing so, the graduate provides valuable insights for inclusive event planning that takes diverse needs into account and facilitates access to conferences.
Particularly encouraging: Of the five nominated theses, three were written by female graduates of FHWien der WKW. The Bachelor’s theses by Valerie Ecker and Nicole Slavcheva were also recognized for their timeliness and relevance to the industry. Their work demonstrates how academic research can provide concrete impetus for the further development of the tourism and events industry.
FHWien der WKW extends its warmest congratulations to Franziska Maria Goritschnig on this award!