New head for business events in NewcastleGateshead in the UK

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), in the north-east of England, has appointed Jen Rea (pictured centre) as its new head of business events and travel trade. Caroline Reed (right) has also been promoted to the position of senior manager of business events and Allison Curry (left), accommodation and events coordinator, joins full time. NGI is the destination and inward investment agency that delivers for Newcastle, Gateshead, and the wider region. Rea, who took up the position earlier this month, will be reviewing the destination’s strategy for attracting and maximising new opportunities. “The business events sector in Newcastle and Gateshead is worth approximately £149m (US$164.9m) to the regional economy and we are now looking ahead to how we can grow this figure and continue to support our longstanding business events community,” said Rea. “As a destination and already award-winning convention bureau, we have a world-class offer to delegates and event organisers which will only be enhanced by investments such as The Sage International Conference Centre,” she added. “We are now focusing more than ever on widening our remit and exploring future opportunities for bringing an increased number of international visitors to the region by working closely with travel trade and key partners such as VisitBritian, Newcastle International Airport and North East Hotels Association.”