The National TravelWise Association’s annual conference and gala dinner this year was hosted for the first time by the South West region and took place in one of the region’s most prestigious venues: the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel.
The theme: ‘Challenging Assumptions and Maintaining the Momentum’ with a focus on ‘think transport, think lateral, think outside the box’, proved to be popular.
Stimulating debates and inventive workshops provided delegates with a fresh way to learn and share. However, it was motivational speaker Dr Norman Croucher OBE who stole the show with his amazing stories of mountaineering. Despite walking on two below-knee artificial legs, he took up mountaineering and eventually fulfilled his ambition of climbing one of only 14 mountains in the world which are over 8,000 metres high.
His achievement, a near impossible dream, impressed the audience but not as much as joining “the Five Mile High Club”!
Donald Kent, the National TravelWise Association’s Acting Chair said, “This conference attracted the most delegates we have ever had. The South West region produced an event which really wowed the audience. The awards also attracted the most entries which we have ever had and the standard was exceptional. The event also enjoyed the most sponsorship it has have ever had; liftshare were our main sponsor but we also received a generous contribution from the South West Regional Development Agency. The National TravelWise Association conference is now the ‘not to be missed’ event”.
The conference dinner and awards were held aboard Brunel's ss Great Britain - the world's first great ocean liner launched in 1843. And the themes for the evening were – think momentum, think networking, think camaraderie, think outside the box and think first class!
Feedback
It was the best conference I have ever attended. I thoroughly enjoyed all
aspects of it (especially the evening bash!) No, seriously, It was great to meet so many people who were passionate about their roles and passionate about promoting sustainable travel.
Stuart Aldridge
Cycling Development Officer
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
The Bristol TravelWise conference was very good, both great fun and educational! Top class speakers, particularly from the Mountaineer and the Marketing Man - both inspirational in their own ways.
Robbie Watson
Marketing & Information Manager | Highways and Transportation | Essex County Council
Many thanks for the conference last week - it was brilliant! It's the first time I've been to an NTWA event - it was so well organised and such good fun too. I enjoyed every minute and found it very useful to meet so many people with the same aims and interests.
Lisa Hargreaves
Acting Sustainable Transport Co-ordinator
The University of Huddersfield
I would also like to compliment you on Thursdays conference. All the speakers…were motivational, educational, inspirational and entertaining, a rare combination. The debates were also an excellent opportunity to talk with other colleagues from across the country. Well done! ss Great Britain, the meal and awards where all first class the meal and the awards where all first class, a testimony to your attention to detail and the hard work to all involved.
Paul McConnon.
School Travel Plan Advisor,
East Riding of Yorkshire County Council.
TravelWise Excellence Awards Citations
Profiles:
Speaker and workshop Leader Profiles
Presentations:
Prof Stradling Transport Research Institute Napier University
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