NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau set sights on new business at international event

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau is preparing to head to IMEX in Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading international exhibitions for business events, in a bid to attract international conferences.

Hosted at Messe Frankfurt, 31st May – 2nd June, IMEX will see more than 15,000 delegates from around the world gather to network, exhibit and attract business.

Over three days, the NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, will be profiling the North East as a go to destination for business events, meetings and conferences.

Conference and development manager, Caroline Reed, said, “it’s fantastic to be able to showcase Newcastle and Gateshead on an international stage once again. Events like IMEX are crucial to continuing and building the pipeline of events we have coming into the region and are vital to the sustainability of the region’s visitor economy.

“With the recent £360m investment into the Sage ICC, an international conference centre with a capacity of more than 12,500, we are now able to attract a whole new level of events that have perhaps never considered Newcastle and Gateshead as a destination before.

“We have a strong and distinctive offer as a destination, and the recent investment only solidifies that and acts as a catalyst for the size of events and conferences we can bid for and attract, which will ultimately have a positive impact on the number of bookings our hotels, venues, restaurants and experience providers will receive.

“Pre-covid, business events added £150m to the region’s visitor economy. We are seeing a steady incline back to these figures, and attending events like IMEX is an important part of our effort to not only build back the economy, but to help it be sustainable and grow.”

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau will be attending as part of the MeetEngland stand, alongside other destinations such as the West Midlands, Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool.