At “Caring for the City”, taking place at FHWien der WKW in late September, the focus will be on sustainable urban and tourism development. Lectures and guided walks invite participants to get involved.
Vienna, September 1, 2025 – FHWien der WKW is hosting the conference “Caring for the City: Entangled Challenges for Sustainable Urban and Tourism Development” from September 24 to 26, 2025, on its campus. The event is organized together with the Sociology of Cities and Social Inequality sections of the Austrian Sociological Association. It will bring together experts in urban research, tourism, administration, and business from Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States, and beyond. The conference also addresses all those interested in how cities can become livable places for both residents and visitors. Registration (fee required) is possible online until September 5.
Vienna – a model for sustainable tourism
Vienna is considered a pioneer of tourism that takes into account the needs of residents, visitors, and the economy alike. “Vienna is an example of best practice for a sustainable travel destination in international comparison,” says Cornelia Dlabaja, Endowed Professor of Sustainable Urban and Tourism Development at FHWien der WKW. “With this conference, we want to foster dialogue between tourism and urban planning, academia and practice, as well as politics and society,” adds Dlabaja, who is also providing academic support for the Vienna Tourist Board’s Visitor Economy Strategy.
High-profile dialogue as kick-off
The conference opens on September 24 at 5:00 p.m. with three short keynotes and a panel discussion under the motto “Caring for the City – in Times of Multiple Crises.” Participants include Norbert Kettner (Vienna Tourist Board), Ulrike Rauch-Keschmann (Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy), Cornelia Dlabaja (FHWien der WKW), Dominic Schmid (Vienna Chamber of Commerce), Julia Girardi-Hoog (City of Vienna), Wencke Hertzsch (Democracy Capital), and Christoph Stoik (Austrian Sociological Association).
How public spaces become livable places
The conference concludes on September 26 at 5:00 p.m. with a keynote by Ethan Kent from New York, followed by a roundtable discussion. Kent specializes in placemaking—the collaborative design of public spaces with local communities to create livable places that truly meet people’s needs.
Experiencing urban development in practice on guided walks
In addition to keynotes and panels, the program includes guided city walks with experts from academia, administration, and business:
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“City at Night”: On September 26 at 8:00 p.m., a guided tour through Vienna by night.
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“In Circulation!”: This program point takes place the day after the main conference, on September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in cooperation with the association Landluft. The walk explores sites and buildings in transition, including Vienna’s Funkhaus broadcasting center.
The registration link (fee required, available until September 5) and the detailed conference program can be found on the FHWien der WKW website:
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“Vienna is an example of best practice for a sustainable travel destination in international comparison,” explains Cornelia Dlabaja from FHWien der WKW at the announcement of the conference “Caring for the City”, which will take place in Vienna at the end of September 2025.
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Copyright: Luiza Puiu
FHWien der WKW – University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication
FHWien der WKW is Austria’s leading university of applied sciences for management and communication. Its Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs offer around 2,900 students a practical academic education. Two-thirds of the lecturers come directly from the business world. The close cooperation with local companies in teaching and research prepares students optimally for their careers. Since its foundation in 1994, FHWien der WKW has already produced more than 15,900 graduates.
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