On demand: meal pre-orders at the Geosciences Assembly
- Best Practice
- Event Insights
- Innovation
- Sustainability
Our exclusive catering partner, MOTTO, introduced a meal pre-order option for the first time at EGU 2025. Using the system, congress participants were able to pre-order hot meals and enjoy them their own way. Besides adding a new layer of convenience to the visitor experience, this pilot project also helped to optimise internal processes while preventing food waste.
Queuing up for a hot meal at a congress? Especially during breaks, time is of the essence. But now, a new online meal pre-selection system is cutting waiting times and making resource planning even more sustainable.
How the meal pre-order system works
Efficient, high-quality catering is essential at an event of this scale – the EGU General Assembly attracts around 20,000 participants to Vienna each year. One week ahead of time, all registered attendees were sent an email with a link to the catering webshop. This convenient online pre-ordering service let them order and pay for hot meals.
Meals ordered using the service were available for collection via a fast lane, with special serving points set up in an attractive chalet village on the square in front of the Austria Center Vienna. This allowed participants to save time and enjoy their meals on traditional beer hall benches right away. The new service was highly appreciated by guests. High-quality, meat-free meals – straightforward, simple, and fast.
The new service was complemented by a breakfast stand and additional on-site F&B options.
Benefits of the new service
Advantages for participants:
- high-quality hot meal at lunchtime without the wait
- pre-ordered and pre-paid
- guaranteed availability of preferred dishes
- more time for breaks and networking
Advantages for organisers:
- sustainable portion planning
- avoidance of food waste
- reduced catering staff requirement
- satisfied participants
About Motto-Catering
Our exclusive catering partner MOTTO creates high-quality custom culinary concepts that are characterised by attention to detail. MOTTO is all about authentic craftsmanship, and even makes its own bread in its own bakery. Creative formats such as street food tents, food trucks and live cooking stations provide culinary variety. Sourced from local providers, growers, and fish farms, the regional and organic products ensure sustainability and outstanding quality. The pre-order system is another step towards modern, sustainable, and visitor-focused catering at congresses.
