Partner Article

Capital growth for conference industry

The body charged with bringing major conferences to Tyneside has predicted a bumper year for the region’s hospitality sector after witnessing huge demand in London.

Last week NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau (NGCB) led a host of Tyneside-based hospitality brands to London for a major event to lure conference organisers to the North East.

The party, which included hotelier Hilton and The Sage Gateshead, was hopeful of attracting new business after the success of the corresponding event last year.

Thank to the endeavours of NGCB at International Confex 2009, next month will see 1,500 people descend on Tyneside for the National Union of Students conference which – coupled with the 2011 conference – will pump an estimated £1.5m into the regional economy.

While it remains to be seen if that lucrative contract was matched at this year’s event, the level of interest would suggest a strong year ahead for Tyneside’s emerging conference industry.

Lynn Waterman, sales director at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, said: “Confex was an extremely busy event with many visitors interested in bringing events to the destination and our hotel.

“Already we have generated strong business leads worth an estimated £300,000.

Meanwhile, Jessica Roberts, head of business tourism at NGCB, said: “International Confex is the UK’s largest meeting conference trade show and provides a vital opportunity for us to cement Newcastle Gateshead’s position as one of the UK’s leading conference destinations.

“There were over 500 visitors to the Newcastle Gateshead stand over the course of the three days and we had many meetings with new contacts which will hopefully lead to new business wins for the North East for future months and years.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .