Member Article

Growth in corporate events business boosts Sage Gateshead

The conference and corporate events business at Sage Gateshead has grew significantly over the last half of 2013.

Bosses at the iconic international music venue say confidence is returning to the corporate bookings market as 217 corporate conference and event enquiries were received in the second half of the year, compared with just 69 in the same period in 2012.

Anna Eyres, head of conference and events at Sage Gateshead said: “Our commercial efforts were affected by the economic recession at the same time that funding was dropping off and people had less money in their pockets to support causes they believe in.

“As we are for any support, we remain enormously grateful for all the grants and donations we received during recent times.

“Fortunately, the outlook is now brighter, we’re delighted that business is picking up in our corporate events wing, because every booking we secure guarantees a percentage of money for our programmes in the community.”

Ken Ellington, joint chair of the North East Hoteliers Association, said: “Sage Gateshead contributes significantly to the commercial economy within NewcastleGateshead, with key events having a very positive impact on local hotel occupancy and resultant spend within the city.

“Whilst as a hotelier community we remain hopeful that the essential exhibition hall extension may yet become a reality in the future, consolidation of promotion of the current facilities remains key to maintaining the city’s position as a leading venue provider.”

Conferences and events are particularly important for Sage Gateshead’s strategy to become a more commercially sustainable organisation.

As a charity - managed and programmed by North Music Trust - outside funding plays an important part in allowing the venue to develop its hugely successful performance programme and learning and participation programmes.

Bringing music to a huge cross section of people, from children to over-50s, people with learning disabilities and young people facing challenging circumstances, is at the heart of Sage Gateshead’s community work.

Grants, funding and donations play a vital role in supporting this work. The double whammy of public funding for the arts being dramatically reduced in the Government’s spending cuts has placed an even greater emphasis on fundraising and commercial income.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .