Having just shut the door on their autumn conference, the Liberal Democrats are already looking ahead to 2012 and their annual spring conference which will be held for the first time in NewcastleGateshead.
Exhibiting at the Liberal Democrats autumn conference in Birmingham last week, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau met with delegates already excited about their upcoming visit to the ‘twin cities’ and took almost £23,000 worth of hotel bookings for the spring conference in March.
Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, said: “I am really pleased that the Liberal Democrats will be visiting NewcastleGateshead for our Spring Conference in 2012. The world-class facilities of The Sage Gateshead, top-quality hotels and the famous friendliness of the local people are obvious attractions to coming to North East England.”
The event takes place at the destination’s flagship venue, The Sage Gateshead, and is expected to attract around 1,500 high-profile politicians, decision makers and policy influencers to North East England.
In attracting the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, NewcastleGateshead has hosted all three of the major political parties in England after hosting the Labour Party in 2005 and Conservatives in 2008.
Jessica Roberts, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau said: “We had a great time in Birmingham last week, meeting with delegates and chatting to them about what they can expect to discover in NewcastleGateshead when they visit in March.
“To achieve a political party hat-trick is something we’re very proud of and has really reinforced the strength of NewcastleGateshead as one of England’s leading conference cities.”
The Liberal Democrats selected NewcastleGateshead for its first-class conference facilities and venues, varied choice of hotels, restaurants and attractions and stimulating mix of contemporary cutting edge architecture and rich history and heritage. Accessibility was another key factor with excellent transport links for the many members and delegates due to attend.
Accompanying major speeches, debates and plenary sessions, there will be various fringe events taking place throughout NewcastleGateshead, which will drive even greater visitor numbers to the destination and wider region.
With around 1,500 delegates anticipated to attend the event, which takes place from 9th – 11th March 2012, the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference is expected to deliver a boost of over £1m to the local economy.
Ends.
For media enquiries contact:
Shelley Armstrong
Media & PR Manager
T. +44 (0)191 440 5739
M. +44 (0)771 763 1109
E. shelley.armstrong@ngi.org.uk
Notes to editors:
• NewcastleGateshead Initiative is a destination marketing and management agency; a public-private partnership supported by Gateshead and Newcastle City Councils, working with around 165 private sector member organisations across NewcastleGateshead and the wider region.
All of our activity aims to promote and position NewcastleGateshead as a world-class vibrant tourism destination, through targeted marketing and PR campaigns nationally and internationally and through the work of our cultural programming team and convention bureau.
NewcastleGateshead Initiative is supported by a board offering expertise from a range of sectors and professions. We also work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and businesses, who share our ambition to promote NewcastleGateshead as a world-class place in which to live, learn, work, and visit.
• NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau’s mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading European destination for leisure and business visitors through event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity.
Our 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 visitor destination. World-class culture, vibrant nightlife, award-winning dining, inspiring heritage, fantastic shopping 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.
Imagery / Photography opportunities:
• www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Images – NewcastleGateshead’s Initiative’s extensive royalty free image library
Useful links:
• www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Media – NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s media website
• www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Meet – business meeting and event specific website for NewcastleGateshead