With over 450 Members, Partners, and speakers joining us in Romania’s vibrant capital, this year’s conference was a true celebration of collaboration, ambition, and human connection. From our warm welcome party to powerful keynotes and unforgettable evenings, Bucharest 2025 proved that it’s not just about the journey, but who you journey with.
Familiar Faces, Warm Welcomes
After everyone arrived at the hotel and checked into their rooms, we kicked off the conference with a relaxed evening at the stunning Olea Garden Restaurant, an open-air setting ideal for reconnecting. Over welcome cocktails, as the BBQ sizzled and the DJ set the tone, Members caught up with familiar faces and eased into the days ahead. It was the perfect start to our time in Bucharest.
Insight, Inspiration & Impact
Day 2 opened with a packed programme of main sessions, featuring a variety of engaging topics and interactive discussions. Highlights included:
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Keynote with CEO Gary Lewis & Chief Commercial Officer Vim Vithaldas – Gary and Vim opened Day 2 with key updates, insights into market trends, and exciting plans for the year ahead. Their session set the stage for the conference with a clear vision of the opportunities and challenges shaping the travel industry.
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Winning Hearts, Creating Journeys Panel – Six inspiring Members shared stories of business growth, resilience, and community impact.
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Inspiring Guest Speakers – This year’s conference featured two outstanding guest speakers, each bringing powerful stories and lessons.
Our Special Guest Speakers
Lord Sebastian Coe KBE
Sharing stories from his Olympic career, Sebastian delivered an inspring keynote filled with leadership lessons, teamwork insights, and personal reflections that resonated with every member in the room.
Ryan Parke
Ryan led a powerful session on male wellbeing and emotional resilience in business, offering practical advice and strategies to support mental health and maintain balance in a demanding industry.
The Welcome to Bucharest Party
The Welcome to Bucharest party celebrated the rich culture and traditions of Romania. Guests enjoyed local delicacies, folk dancing, and live music, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.
Later, the fun continued at our late-night karaoke bar, where members showcased their singing talents, and some lucky attendees even walked away with long-haul tours as karaoke champions. The night was the perfect blend of culture, laughter, and connection, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Business Partner Forum
The Business Partner Forum and newly introduced Destination Hub gave Members the chance to connect directly with global suppliers, tourist boards, and hoteliers, opening up valuable conversations around emerging products, destinations, and future collaborations. Alongside these sessions, a series of workshops equipped Members with practical strategies around cruise sector growth, understanding customer behaviours, and supporting personal wellbeing.
Our 4 Promises to Members
As the conference was coming to a close, the focus turned to what lies ahead. Building on the energy, insights, and connections of our time in Bucharest, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Members in meaningful and practical ways. At the heart of that commitment are four clear promises, each designed to empower your growth, strengthen your business, and support you personally in the months to come.
1. Building & Retaining Emotional Connections
Strong businesses are built on strong relationships. That’s why our top priority is helping our members create meaningful, lasting connections with their customers, teams, and with us as their network.
2. Business Development Action Plan (BDAP)
Members using the BDAP are seeing average growth of 23%. It’s a proven, practical tool that helps you identify opportunities and stay focused. We’ll also continue supporting our members with hands-on guidance throughout the year.
3. Embracing AI: Your New TTNG Digital Assistant
The new TTNG Digital Assistant is designed to make life simpler for members. Fully secure and travel-specific, it is tailored to individual memberships and supports everything from customer queries to business advice, whenever it is needed most.
4. Supporting the Person Behind the Professional
Following Ryan’s talk, we’re expanding resources on The Hub to help prioritise the wellbeing of our members, including new video content, workplace policies, and easy access to mental health and inclusion support. Because when you’re well, your business thrives.
Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony
The Gala Dinner was held at the iconic Palace of Parliament, offering an elegant setting for a night of recognition and celebration. Guests were greeted by a live string quartet for our pre-Gala Dinner drinks before enjoying a delicious gourmet meal and celebrating all of the well-deserved award winners. The evening then concluded with a high energy performance by the RPJ Band, keeping the dance floor full well into the night for our after party.
Until Next Time!
The 2025 Winning Hearts, Creating Journeys Conference was more than just an event, it was a celebration of ideas, collaboration, and community. Whether attending in person or engaging from afar, every member played a part in making this journey extraordinary. The inspiration, connections, and shared vision from Bucharest will continue to shape what’s ahead, and together we look forward to building on this momentum in the months to come.
