European organisers in NewcastleGateshead for educational showcase

A group of international association conference organisers from across Europe have been exploring NewcastleGateshead in the North East of England as part of a visit organised by the local convention bureau and VisitBritain. The group flew into Newcastle International Airport for a packed itinerary of venue visits, including Sage Gateshead, the international music, conference and event venue, as well as Newcastle Civic Centre. The six European buyers stayed at The Hilton Newcastle Gateshead and The Crowne Plaza in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter. Experiences included a four-course dinner on the stage of the Northern Rock Foundation Hall in the Norman Foster designed Sage Gateshead after drinks at By The River Brew Co, an urban shipping container community beneath the Tyne Bridge. There was also a tour of the Palace of the Arts which is now home to Wylam Brewery and tea with the Lord Mayor. One of the attendees, Jof Calstas, came to NewcastleGateshead to find out how the destination could support a future conference for the International Christian Organisation of the Media. He said: “NewcastleGateshead is a hidden jewel in the English countryside. It is beautiful, elegant and compact. Everyone I met was extremely friendly and open-minded. The city is a precious treasure and has shown itself as an excellent host for our meetings and events that are planning to come to NewcastleGateshead in the coming years.” Paul Szomoru, Director of Business Events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “NewcastleGateshead has a great track record of hosting successful international conferences and events. We’re undergoing significant investment into our already spectacular business events offering, with the UK’s newest £250m conference and events centre opening in 2023 offering a 12,500-seat arena, 2,800sqm of meeting space and 6,300sqm of exhibition space and two brand new hotels – we’re set to attract even larger conferences and associations. Szomoru noted that Newcastle’s international airport now had routes from 80 destinations and new LNER Azuma trains from the Central Station means faster, quieter and greener journeys.