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NewcastleGateshead Initiative has completed the latest phase of an ongoing digital strategy that has transformed the way visitors and residents access information about the destination with the launch of a state-of-the-art Facebook page.
Open to user generated content; the page provides an invaluable and interactive resource and makes groundbreaking use of iframes technology after Facebook recently launched the facility for the social networking site.
The iframes feature enables searches for hotels, restaurants and events to be performed, powered by NewcastleGateshead’s main visitor website www.NewcastleGateshead.com, without leaving the Facebook page.
Sarah Stewart, chief executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, comments: “The iframe is an exciting feature that allows users to easily navigate and explore the page. Our aim is to enrich the overall visitor experience and provide information about the destination via a range of different platforms to meet our audiences’ needs.”
The newly created NewcastleGateshead Facebook page is the latest in a series of digital developments, including a refreshed destination website, a dedicated Twitter feed – @altweet_pet, and a pioneering iPhone app, which was one of the first to be developed and used by a tourism organisation in the UK.
Sarah added: “The aim of these digital tools is to create a community, a centre for discussion and conversation about NewcastleGateshead. The Facebook page in particular is open to user generated content and we’d encourage people to share videos, photos and comments and take an active role in page activity.
“We hope that these new platforms will help keep audiences up-to-date with the depth and breadth of activities, events and attractions on offer.”
The NewcastleGateshead Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/NewcastleGateshead
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Media Contact
Shelley Staines, Media & PR Manager, NewcastleGateshead Initiative
T. 0191 440 5739 E. shelley.staines@ngi.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• NewcastleGateshead Initiative is the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead. Its mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading destination for leisure and business visitors through cultural programming, event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity. Created in 2000 by Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council as a publicly and privately funded business, NewcastleGateshead Initiative 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.
• 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.
• 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 of NewcastleGateshead are available at www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Media