NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau has reported signs of recovery for the meetings and events industry in the North East.

From April 2019 to April 2022, the convention bureau has facilitated a 73% increase in confirmed enquires for meetings, events, and conferences, with figures from May this year almost at full recovery from 2019. This is the highest performing month for the value of the confirmed business in six years.

May figures reflect a consistent path to full recovery, coming in at 87% pre-covid levels despite the industry being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

An influx in event bookings for June 2022 resulted in a total of almost 1,000 city centre beds being filled by direct booking through the convention bureau, over a two-week period.

Events pipeline

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), work with partners and local academia to help bring meetings, events, and conferences to the region.

Paul Szomoru, director of business events, NGI, said: “The figures we have received are very encouraging for the steady recovery of the meetings and event sector, and are also testament to the resilience, collaboration, and innovation of our team and each and every venue, ambassador and supplier across the region.

“Having a healthy pipeline of events is crucial to the sustainability of the sector and the recovery and growth of the local visitor economy, by filling our hotels, venues, restaurants and attractions, increasing visitor numbers and spending and supporting jobs across the industry.”

The events that have taken place in the last month span various sectors including international conferences such as the International Lewy Body Dementia Conference, British International Studies Association, UK Council for International Student Affairs and SunnyCon Anime Expo.

Venues across Newcastle and Gateshead were used for the events such as Newcastle United Football Club, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Blackfriars, Newcastle Helix, Wylam Brewery, Discovery Museum and Crowne Plaza.

Newcastle will also see the opening of the new Sage ICC in 2024. “The development is already proving to be a game-changer in the industry, by enabling us to target and attract bigger international events, more national and international delegates and ultimately working towards positioning NewscastleGateshead as the world’s meeting place,” added Szomoru.