A host of national and international medical associations are flocking to NewcastleGateshead this summer, helping cement the destination’s reputation as the place to hold scientific conferences.
This week, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) brought 500 delegates to the destination’s flagship venue, The Sage Gateshead, for its Annual Spring Meeting (11-12 May). Amongst the themes discussed are vaccinating against STIs, changing behaviour, and the future of genito urinary medicine in the new NHS.
Keith Radcliffe, President of BASHH, said; “We are delighted to be bringing the BASHH Annual Spring meeting to the twinned destination of Newcastle and Gateshead. NewcastleGateshead is a vibrant place, and with its array of hotels, restaurants, shops and clubs, as well as the fantastic conference facilities that The Sage Gateshead has to offer, it is the perfect place to bring our colleagues together to discuss the latest developments in our field.”
The event follows two other medical conferences held in the destination earlier this month and precedes a further three that will take place in June and August.
Jessica Roberts, head of Business Tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau said; “This May we have already welcomed the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies at Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park and the Neuroanaesthesia Association of Great Britain and Ireland to The Sage Gateshead, bringing a further 500 delegates to the ‘twin cities’.
“With two world-class universities, at the forefront of research in a range of scientific and technological fields, NewcastleGateshead is well placed to attract conferences of this kind, and is an increasingly popular choice for international associations.”
The British Elbow and Shoulder Society bring their 2011 conference and 450 delegates to The Sage Gateshead 22-24 June; Newcastle Civic Centre hosts an Advanced Course in Pain and Symptom Management 22-23 June; and the International Symposium on Dental Morphology will bring 150 global delegates to Northumbria University 23-24 August.
Combined these conferences are expected to contribute an estimated £1.7m to the local economy.
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Media Contact
Shelley Staines, Media and PR Manager, NewcastleGateshead Initiative
T. 0191 440 5739 E. shelley.staines@ngi.org.uk
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Notes to Editors
• NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead. Its mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading European destination for leisure and business visitors through cultural programming, event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity. Created in 2000 by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council as a publicly and privately funded business, NGI has developed a strong brand for the area – promoting it nationally and internationally as a place at the forefront of innovative culture-led regeneration and a world-class place to live, learn, work and visit.
• NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau uses local knowledge and expertise to help organise conferences, meetings or events in NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area. It provides a free service including arranging everything from venue sourcing and booking to accommodation, transport and entertainment for delegates. With a huge choice of state-of-the-art venues NewcastleGateshead is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular destinations whether it’s for a meeting of 10 people or a conference for thousands.
• United by seven bridges across a spectacular riverscape, Newcastle (a city on the north bank of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (a town on the south bank) form a single, diverse and extremely vibrant destination for leisure and business tourism visitors. World-class conferencing facilities, award-winning dining, inspiring heritage and acclaimed architecture are combined here like nowhere else, by the famous Geordie spirit which is symbolised by Antony Gormley’s iconic Angel of the North as it welcomes travellers to the area.
• It is estimated that visitors to NewcastleGateshead from around the UK and overseas contribute £1.23bn to the local economy.
• Press releases and copyright-free hi-res images on NewcastleGateshead are available from our website www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Meet