Newcastle and Gateshead both provide dynamic backdrops, allowing event organisers to create an unforgettable experience.
Newcastle is a city steeped in 2,000 years’ worth of history in the North East of England. Built up from the banks of the River Tyne, the city’s seven iconic bridges connect Newcastle in the north to Gateshead in the south. The city’s rich heritage is twinned with impressive innovation, world-renowned nightlife, and an exciting independent cultural and food scene. Locals are a canny* lot, bursting with Northern pride and welcome visitors from near and wide with open arms. Find out exactly why Newcastle is increasingly the go-to host city for national and international conferences and business events.
Newcastle benefits from its proximity to stunning coast and countryside, providing venues, accommodation, and social activities for all sector interests. Although one of the northern most cities in England, Newcastle is extremely well-connected with London, Edinburgh, and Manchester all accessible via train in under three hours. The international airport, which was recently awarded Airport of the Year at the Routes World Conference, connects the city to almost 80 destinations worldwide and the ferry port connects the region to northern Europe by sea.
Hosting business events here also makes financial sense. Organisers can expect some of the best delegate costs per person in the UK for accommodation and catering in Newcastle and Gateshead and with over 7,000 city centre bedrooms within a 20-minute walk from major venues, there is ample choice for delegates with ranging budgets. With industrial heritage and world- leading research and industry innovation in digital and tech, health and life sciences and tourism, Newcastle and Gateshead provide a strong backdrop for events that want a cooler, more dynamic alternative that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Organisers thinking of Newcastle or Gateshead for their next conference can benefit from a passionate and experienced team at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau to help them bring their event
to life. The award-winning team are dedicated to helping organisers secure the best rates and venues with a tailored service to ensure delegates have the best possible experience while at conferences in the North East. This can be anything from hosting familiarisation visits, sourcing local support services, venue finding and accommodation sourcing, and even organising red-carpet welcomes.
Earlier this year, the Memory Studies Association (MSA) held their first ever UK conference in Newcastle. Having previously been held in major cities such as Seoul, Warsaw, and Madrid, the event was hosted by Newcastle University in 2023. The city’s strong academic links, varied venues and long history of activism and heritage were key drivers for organisers choosing Newcastle as the host of the conference.
As the home of the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) Newcastle is a world leader in the longevity economy and pioneered Ageing Intelligence, exploring how people can live happier, healthier, and longer lives in an urban environment. This is another key asset which attracts health and life science conferences to the city. Similarly, Newcastle and the wider region’s QCC ‘Outstanding’ NHS Trusts are often attributed as reasons for choosing the area having undertaken the likes of the UK’s first heart transplant performed on a baby and pioneered the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride, a new and innovative minimally invasive treatment for decayed teeth in young children. The latter of which played a key role in bringing the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry Annual Scientific Conference to Northumbria University in September this year.
Looking toward the future, the importance of delivering sustainable and inclusive business events and conferences has swiftly become a key priority. NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau continues to work with hotels and venues in the city to support and develop the accessibility of their businesses for visitors with visible as well as invisible access needs.
The team is also committed to driving and encouraging sustainability in the business events sector, introducing organisers to local suppliers which in turn boosts the social impact of events taking place in the region. BeaconHouse Events, a leading events company in Newcastle and partner of the convention bureau has partnered with environmental charity, Groundwork NE & Cumbria to ethically offset its carbon output as well as drive change in the industry.
In a year which saw the Convention Bureau team generate over £1 million worth of new enquiries, the future is bright for business events in the region. The sector was able to recover quicker than expected post- COVID as the passion and high quality of service from venues and hotels shone through despite the challenges. The entire region and supply chain can also prepare to benefit from the new international conference centre, The Sage ICC which will take shape on Gateshead Quayside in the coming years, sitting in between and complimenting cultural icons of The Glasshouse Centre for International Music and The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
Looking for an exciting and dynamic place to host your next conference? Get in touch with NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau today: Meetnewcastlegateshead. com
*Northern term for pleasant and nice.