In mid-May, seven students from the full-time Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management at FHWien der WKW, as part of their “Hotel Management” specialization, visited the Mandarin Oriental in Vienna together with their lecturer, Hani El Sharkawi.
The visit offered the students the opportunity to gain practical insight into the operations of an international 5-star hotel and to engage in conversation with managers from various departments.
During the visit, Fiona Howett (People & Culture Coordinator), Marie-Theres Rünzi (Director of People & Culture), Insta Stöckmann (Director of Sales) and Patricia Riegler-Pospischil (Director of Purchasing) spoke about their daily work. The focus was on topics such as collaboration between different hotel departments, current challenges in the luxury hotel industry and career paths within the sector. The students also gained insights into the Mandarin Oriental brand and the hotel group’s international history.
The City’s Newest Hotel
The Mandarin Oriental, Vienna opened in December 2025 and is located in Vienna’s First District. The hotel is housed in a historic Art Nouveau building, originally used as a commercial court. Today, the property combines historic Viennese architecture with modern design and international luxury hospitality. The hotel features 138 rooms and suites, as well as several restaurants, a spa and event spaces.
>> More information about the Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management