Four students from the Bachelor’s program Tourism & Hospitality Management at FHWien der WKW win the 18th European Mise en Place Cup (EMCup) in Amsterdam. They beat 28 universities from all over Europe and bring the title back to Vienna.
The internationally renowned competition’s motto in 2026 was “Changing Course – Cranking up the heat in F&B”. Over two days, Europe’s most promising hospitality talents developed forward-looking concepts for the food & beverage sector, worked on real business cases, and presented their solutions to international expert juries and investors.
To Success with “OMA”
The winning team—Laura Viscuso, Anahita Shirbaz, Marlon Geserick, and Veronika Sophia Ober—impressed the judges with their concept “OMA—Opportunity for More Authenticity”.
The idea brings grandmothers into hotel kitchens, where they organize culinary workshops and food experiences for guests. The concept creates authentic moments of enjoyment and promotes personal exchange between generations. At the same time, it gives older people from the region a platform to pass on their stories, traditions, and knowledge.
OMA combines hospitality with social responsibility. The project strengthens the regional community and creates an offering that clearly stands out from standardized F&B concepts.
Strong Performance on the International Stage
“I am delighted with this fantastic success for our degree program and would like to congratulate our team wholeheartedly. Our students impressed with their professionalism, creativity, and team spirit. They demonstrated the high level they have already achieved in their bachelor’s degree program,” said Head of Study Program Florian Aubke.
The students were accompanied and intensively prepared by lecturers Peter Klinger and Andrew Pullen. They provided the team with technical and strategic support throughout the preparation phase and the competition.
With this victory, the students and FHWien der WKW have underscored their international competitiveness. At the same time, this success demonstrates how practical and future-oriented the tourism management program is.
About the EMCup
The European Mise en Place Cup is one of the most prestigious European competitions for students in the field of tourism and hospitality management. Every year, selected universities compete with their best teams. They develop innovative solutions to current challenges facing the industry and present them to experts from business and academia.
The EMCup promotes international networking, entrepreneurial thinking, and practical problem-solving skills—key qualities for the future of the hospitality industry. You can find more information here.
>> More information about the Bachelor´s study program Tourism & Hospitaltiy Management