NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau attended The Meetings Show 2016 in London last week with an unmissable six metre high golden yellow stand, promoting NewcastleGateshead and the wider North East England to meetings and event organisers from across the globe.
The Convention Bureau saw significant success, receiving new event enquiries worth an estimated £4.5m to the local economy during the show.
The Meetings Show is a meetings and events exhibition, organised by meeting professionals for meeting professionals. The show took place at London Olympia on 14-16 June – attracting more than 3,000 delegates over the three days of the event.
Several businesses and associations in the life sciences and healthcare sector, including three pharmaceutical conferences, a medical charity and a large conference focusing on the ageing agenda, are looking to NewcastleGateshead to hold their future events – drawing on the destination’s and universities’ strengths in these areas.
Paul Szomoru, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The Meetings Show 2016 has been exceptionally successful with some strong enquiries from organisers looking to NewcastleGateshead to host their conference or event.
“In particular we have seen a large number of enquiries from the life sciences and medical sector – mirroring NewcastleGateshead’s research and industry strengths. We strive to ensure conference organisers utilise the most of the destination’s expertise whilst here, but also give back to the city through collaboration and knowledge sharing.”
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau’s success at The Meetings Show falls in a busy month, as the destination sees twelve events, secured by the Convention Bureau, held throughout June – bringing an additional £1m into the local economy.
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau was joined by six major venues from across North East England at The Meetings Show 2016. The partners who join the Convention Bureau were:
- Sage Gateshead
- Newcastle Crowne Plaza – Stephenson Quarter
- Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
- Newcastle United Football Club
- Metro Radio Arena
- Sunderland Association Football Club