Women in Transport and Tourism Association (WTTA), the world’s first international association dedicated to the empowerment of women within the sector, has held a “Marching Forward” conference in Bucharest. The event celebrated women in the industry, recognised their leadership and successes, provided networking opportunities, and addressed the ongoing debate around work-life balance.
Claudia Tapardel, WTTA President and former Member of the European Parliament — opened the event with a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership. In a statement to Travel Tomorrow, she said the conference served as “a call to action for all women in transport and tourism.” Women, Tapardel says, can unite “their energy, strength, and vision to shape a better future, both on an individual level and for the broader economic environment.”
Women make “indispensable contribution”
Corneliu Bodea, CEO of Adrem and President of the Romanian Energy Center, emphasized the need to support women’s entrepreneurship and stressed the importance of gender equity to competitivity.
Taking part in the panel discussion on “Leadership and Life”, senior figures from Bucharest’s hotel industry, as well as aviation and business development professionals, shared insights on achieving an optimal work-life balance through what a press release called an “integrated approach to excellence.”
Enjoying tourism as experts and consumers
Tapardel told Travel Tomorrow that her personal takeaways from the session included the understanding that achieving balance is “a dynamic journey” that “begins with setting clear objectives and prioritizing projects that resonate deeply with my vision—while also having the courage to say “no” to what doesn’t align with my goals.” She added that “exploring new destinations and enjoying the world of transport and tourism both as an expert and as a consumer transforms challenges into opportunities for creative inspiration. A supportive family and partner are essential, creating a harmonious environment where work is left behind during those precious moments that truly recharge us.”
During proceedings at the Grand Continental Hotel Bucharest, the future of Romanian tourism was also on the menu. Three emblematic figures of Romanian tourism — Simona Constantinescu, President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR); Dragoș Anastasiu, Founder and CEO of Eurolines România and honorary advisor to the Interim President of Romania for Business Environment, and Călin Ile, Board Member and Honorary President of FIHR — stressed that strong partnerships and mutual support are fundamental to generating positive change and transforming Romanian tourism into an innovative and sustainable industry.
Through events such as the “Marching Forward” conference, the WTTA is staking a claim for women as part of that transformation, as they help to establish firm foundations for transport and tourism’s significant contribution to the Romanian and European economy, and beyond.
