Major international congress to hold debate in ‘twin cities’

An international meetings congress will hold their annual debate in NewcastleGateshead for the first time thanks to support from NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, the team tasked with bringing major conferences to the destination.

The UK & Ireland chapter of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the global community for the meetings industry, will be debating the role of the events industry in political lobbying at Hilton NewcastleGateshead from 15-16 February.

The ICCA 2010 Winter Debate, ‘Playing Politics – The Power of Partnerships and Legacies’, will discuss government lobbying at local and national levels, the role of agencies in the convention industry, as well as how the industry can adapt to any potential change of government.  There will also be sessions on the importance of partnerships and strategic alliances in generating new business.

Head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, Jessica Roberts, said: “NewcastleGateshead’s rising profile in the European meetings market has not gone undocumented and it’s great that the UK & Ireland chapter of ICCA is holding its Winter Debate in the ‘twin cities’. Hosting this event underlines NewcastleGateshead’s credentials as one of England’s leading destinations for international conferences.”