HEADQUARTERSDestination Report England is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - April 2010published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com

INNOVATIVE ENGLAND

HEADQUARTERS 2

> I N T R O D U C T I O N

England is justifi ably one of the world’s lead-

ing congress destinations for a number of

reasons. First of all and to counter-attack a

long-standing cliché, it is one of the easiest

and most affordable countries to get to.

Over the last two years, the exchange rate

has changed dramatically, making Eng-

land very competitive compared to other

European and North American destinations:

it offers excellent value for money so you

can now spend quality time there. All of Eng-

land’s main cities have their own internation-

al airports with excellent fl ight connections

to destinations all around the world. There

is also the high speed Eurostar link to Paris

and Brussels and they have a very effi cient

road and rail network with short distances

between cities.

Secondly, England’s combination of thou-

sands of years of history with innovative

urban regeneration projects is unrivalled,

providing planners with stunning backdrops

for international congresses. I was amazed

by the excellent range of dedicated confer-

ence facilities and the superb choice of

unique venues for special events such as din-

ners and receptions. The new International

Conference Centre at ExCel in London and

the stunning riverside Arena and Convention

Centre in Liverpool are two fantastic recent

additions to the already existing portfolio

of congress facilities which also include

Manchester Central, the ICC in Birmingham

and the Bournemouth International Centre

on the south coast.

Add to the above a degree of professionalism

that is hard to fi nd in many other countries,

a warm English welcome, great food and

entertainment and excellent value for money

and England is without doubt an extremely

attractive congress destination.

Simon Gidman, Business Visits and Events

Manager at VisitEngland, offered more

insights about why international associations

should defi nitely come and visit England.

HQ: How does MeetEngland cater to international associations?

Simon Gidman: MeetEngland, as the offi cial

body for promoting England’s meeting and

conference product, can really help inter-

national association event planners plan an

inspirational and successful congress here

in England. We have excellent relationships

with all of the city convention bureaux so can

coordinate bids or source information and

images quickly.

We also provide great networking oppor-

tunities to enable England’s destinations

to meet international associations around

the world. MeetEngland recently organized

an event in Brussels where we invited six

of our leading cities to meet with sixteen

international associations. It proved a great

success as many of the association planners

that attended had little in-depth knowledge

THINK YOU KNOW ENGLAND? COME AGAIN!

MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD AND LONDON. FOUR DESTINATIONS IN FOUR DAYS. I HAD NEVER TAKEN THIS KIND OF PRESS TRIP FOR HQ BEFORE. BUT, THANKS TO EAST COAST TRAINS, I HAPPILY DID IT, GIVEN VISITENGLAND’S STRONG DESIRE FOR ME TO SEE THE BEST OF THOSE FOUR CITIES. NOW I CAN SAY IT: IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR DESTINATIONS WITH CLOSE LINKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS COMMUNITY AND STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRASTRUCTURE, ENGLAND IS THE PLACE TO BE. REPORT RÉMI DÉVÉ

Birmingham

England’s combination

of thousands of years of

history with innovative

urban regeneration

projects is unrivalled,

providing planners with

stunning backdrops for

international congresses

Simon Gidman

of the English cities present and were very

keen to fi nd out more.

HQ: Some associations tend to not be able to see beyond London when it comes to organizing their congress, why do you think it’s so?

Simon Gidman: London is the capital of

England and one of the few truly ‘world’

cities. It has excellent transport links, great

congress facilities and hundreds of iconic

venues. It is a great feeling living in a city

that is constantly innovating and surprising

both residents and visitors alike. As host to

the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games I am

sure London will confi rm its status as one of

the ‘event capitals’ of the world.

We are very fortunate though here in

England that we are blessed with a number

of world class city destinations such as

Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and

NewcastleGateshead. Many of these cities

are rapidly changing through multi-million

pound regeneration projects. Attracting

international association events is at the

heart of their development plans and so

their infrastructure has been developed

with large congresses in mind. Many have

developed whole new areas of the city

specifi cally around their arenas and confer-

ence centres.

Given the amazing vibrancy and buzz of

these cities it is often surprising to realize

that they are so compact and very easy to

get around. Whenever I visit any of these cit-

ies I always feel a great excitement at being

a part of this rapid transformation. I know

that planners are always on the lookout for

new and exciting destinations but without

the risks associated with using a completely

untested country. I am sure that when the

word gets out, more and more international

associations will want to come and explore

these great destinations for themselves.

HQ: Can you explain the main links between England and international associations and how you work on those links?

Simon Gidman: England is a world leader

in many fi elds and the country has created

a positive climate of creativity where we

continue to develop and attract innovation. We

are world leaders in fi elds such as biotechnol-

ogy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, fi nancial

services and advanced engineering, such as

aerospace and automotive. England has also

developed particular strengths in the creative

industries of design and entertainment as well

as information technology and environmental

and renewable energies.

England’s city destinations have strong links

with both local industry and their universities

and hospitals, many of which are leading on

international research projects. Our cities

are therefore in the perfect position to host

international association conferences which

focus on ‘their’ particular topic. Many of

England’s convention bureaux recruit both

industry and academic ambassadors to help

spread the word about their city, with great

success I have to say.

HEADQUARTERS 3

AN EVENT TO REMEMBER WORLD YOUTH AND STUDENT TRAVEL CONFERENCE (WYSTC)

Held in September 2009 in Manchester, WYSTC

is considered the leading event for the youth,

student and educational travel industry.

Hosting WYSTC in 2009 provided Manchester

with an excellent showcase opportunity to

position the city as a new and vibrant destination

to the travel trade and the student travel sector.

Susan Goldstein, Managing Director, WYSTC, said:

‘With one of Europe’s largest student populations

in and just outside of the city, Manchester is a ter-

rifi c destination to hold our conference. The level

of support we have received from Visit Manchester,

Northwest Regional Development Agency, Man-

chester Central and the city as a whole was fantas-

tic. The event will certainly provide UK specialists

with a very unique opportunity to do business with

the industry’s leaders in their own back yard.’

CONTACT

Simon Gidman

Business Visits and Events Manager

MeetEngland - VisitEngland

Phone +44 (0)20 7578 1442

simon.gidman@visitengland.org

www.meetengland.com

ACC Liverpool

Angel of the North, NewcastleGateshead Harrogate International Centre

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IF YOU PLAY A WORD ASSOCIATION GAME WITH SOMEONE, THE FIRST THOUGHT LIKELY TO COME TO YOUR PARTNER’S MIND WHEN YOU MENTION LIVERPOOL IS ‘THE BEATLES’. BEING THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ROCK BAND EVER, IT HARDLY COMES AS A SURPRISE THAT EVEN TODAY, THE FAB FOUR REMAIN A STRONG DRAW FOR VISITORS. BUT THERE IS MORE TO LIVERPOOL THAN THE BEATLES. AS A CITY BUSTLING WITH LIFE, COLOUR AND CULTURE, IT SHOULD BE ON THE MAP OF ANY INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WISHING TO ORGANISE A PRESTIGIOUS CONGRESS.

This was widely publicised two years ago

when Liverpool celebrated European Capital

of Culture 2008, which played a vital role

in raising the profi le of the city on a global

scale. The celebratory year generated mil-

lions of pounds and visitors, but it also helped

Liverpool transform itself with venues being

renovated, new hotels created and entire dis-

tricts rejuvenated. Now Liverpool Convention

Bureau is building on this success, looking to

make the city a real ‘Capital of Conferencing’.

I have to confess: it’s defi nitely getting there.

In the 24 hours I was there, change could ac-

tually be felt everywhere. Cranes dominated

the skyline, construction projects have been

agreed, and new museums and galleries are

being developed, including the new £72million

Museum of Liverpool, which I’m really looking

forward to seeing when it opens in Spring

2011. Set against the backdrop of the world-fa-

mous UNESCO World Heritage waterfront and

steeped in history and rich cultural heritage,

Liverpool seems to be the ideal destination to

stage a conference or event of any kind.

STRONGEST ASSETArena and Convention Centre Liverpool

(ACC Liverpool) may well be the strongest

asset of the city. Home to the BT Convention

Centre and Echo Arena, it lies at the heart of

the city, bordered by a magnifi cent water-

front location and the historic Albert Dock

- and just a short walk from The Beatles Story

attraction! In addition to being a beautiful

building, all in glass and light, the convention

complex is uniquely fl exible, with a combined

exhibition space of 7,125 m2. The BT Conven-

LIVERPOOL,A CITY THAT ROCKS

> L I V E R P O O L

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HEADQUARTERS 5

tion Centre boasts a spacious auditorium,

seating up to 1,350 delegates, which can be

divided into three separate auditoria. There

are also an additional 18 break-out rooms

for groups up to 500 people. And if you’re

looking for accommodation, look no further,

as there are two neighbouring hotels offering

442 bedrooms, with another striking 2,000

rooms all at walking distance!

It’s in the green sector that ACC Liverpool

clearly stands out. One of the greenest

venues in Europe, the team are committed

to ensuring that your event is as green as it

possibly can be. Thanks to a Green Dream

Team and through several initiatives such as

wind turbine, rain harvesting or low energy

lighting - just to name a few of course - it has

been certifi ed many things but is the only UK

venue to have achieved both BREEAM and

ISO14001 accreditations. Sustainability is not

just a marketing tool for ACC Liverpool, it’s

practically a way of life!

SURE SUCCESSBecause of the professionalism of the people

and commitment to conferencing, any event

held in Liverpool will be a success. Places that

have had fascinating lives of their own before

becoming host venues, but have retained

their original character, are hugely popular.

These are complemented by modern hotels

such as Hilton Liverpool, ideally located

half-way between ACC Liverpool and the city

centre, or the Hard Days Night, the world’s

fi rst boutique Beatles’ infl uenced hotel, in

which I was lucky enough to stay. The city just

brims with excitement.

And that’s not all! Sporting venues, museums,

galleries, historic buildings including two ca-

thedrals, and even two Victorian glasshouses,

which are all part of Liverpool’s conferencing

experience. Aintree Racecourse, home of the

John Smith’s Grand National, Liverpool Foot-

ball Club’s Anfi eld Stadium and the historic

Albert Dock can all make for a unique event.

When asked about the most rewarding part of

the EURAM 2009 Conference, Terry McNulty,

Professor of Management and Corporate

Governance, stated: ‘The delegates’ posi-

tive reaction to the City of Liverpool and the

delegates spanning from nearly 40 countries

and fi ve continents. Also, seeing the Anglican

Cathedral set up for the Gala Dinner - a spec-

tacular sight and truly memorable evening for

all attendees. Ultimately, a feeling of success,

as shown via the feedback both throughout

and after the event.’ Doesn’t this say it all?

Of course residential venues should always be

an option for conferences that span several

days or even one whole day, and Liverpool de-

livers on this count, too. What’s more, the dura-

tion of your stay doesn’t have to be entirely for

business; combining a conference with a spot

of sightseeing, culture, sport or fi ne dining is

becoming ever more popular. And with Liver-

pool Convention Bureau which just launched

its new branding, renewing its commitment to

attracting events organisers, by helping them

secure venues, suppliers and even room nights,

Liverpool is defi nitely the place to be.

As Carol O’Reilly, Manager of Liverpool Con-

vention Bureau, says: ‘Our modern branding

is the fi nal part in positioning Liverpool as a

contemporary brand that can breathe life into

events and we are looking forward to an excit-

ing future!’

More information

www.visitliverpool.com/conferences

> L I V E R P O O L

Set against the backdrop of the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage waterfront and steeped in history and rich cultural heritage, Liverpool seems to be the ideal destination to stage a conference or event of any kind

A FEW REASONS TO CHOOSE LIVERPOOL+ a wealth of academic knowledge and

research via four universities and

two university hospitals

+ world-class Meetings Industry Asso-

ciation accredited venues and hotels

+ two international airports within a

45-minute drive

+ new infrastructure of hotels to suit

all tastes and budgets

+ UNESCO World Heritage Status

+ international profi le as European

Capital of Culture 2008

+ more museums and galleries than

any other UK city outside London

+ world-renowned musical and mari-

time heritage

Hilton Liverpool Liverpool FC Stadium

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HEADQUARTERS 6

> L O N D O N

LONDON. YOU WOULD ALMOST THINK THAT IT DOESN’T REALLY NEED PROMO-TION. AFTER ALL, BEING THE CAPITAL OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, FROM FASH-ION TO FINANCE AND CULTURE AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT BOASTS ALL THE FEATURES THAT WOULD MAKE YOUR DEL-EGATES WANT TO ATTEND YOUR EVENT IF YOU DECIDED TO HOLD IT THERE. BUT TO DISMISS IT AS A CONGRESS DESTINATION BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW THE CITY INSIDE OUT WOULD BE WRONG. AS LONDON PREPARES FOR THE 2012 OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, IT’S CONSTANTLY CHANGING - AND WAS ACTU-ALLY CHANGING UNDER MY VERY EYES WHEN I TOOK A WALK AMONG ITS MANY FACILITIES LAST MARCH.

Just as it happened for Beijing, the Olympic

and Paralympic Games that will take place

in 2012 in London have presented a huge

opportunity for the city to offer all the

facilities expected of a global destination.

Every improvement made for the Games

will enhance the city’s stature as one of

the world’s most vibrant locations. Those

developments are here to stay and many of

them will serve as meetings venues once

the Games are over. On a side note, the

Olympics will also have a positive effect on

public transport, as getting around London

will be easier and actually faster.

Becky Graveney, Associations Sales Manager,

said: ‘To complement all the new facilities

for associations, Visit London have recently

created a London for Associations brand

which is a dedicated to providing Associa-

tions with bespoke information, including a

Directory, regular newsletter, a toolkit with

relevant marketing collateral and a dedicated

section on the web site www.visitlondon/as-

sociations.’

REGENERATIONWith its own airport (London City Airport),

and London’s fi rst ICC convention centre

and array of unique venues refl ecting

a rich heritage, East London stands at the

forefront of this regeneration. While some

event organisers prefer to stick to the tested

City or West End districts, more and more are

turning to London Eastside’s new venues. As

Patricia Holmes, Business Tourism Manager

at London Eastside puts it: ‘It’s a very diverse

area, with Canary Wharf at its heart, the

Royal Docks and ExCeL London to the east

and hip Spitalfi elds to the west. With its wide

EVER CHANGING, EVER ATTRACTIVE LONDON

Just as it happened for Beijing,

the Olympic and Paralympic

Games that will take place

in 2012 in London have

presented a huge opportunity

for the city to offer all the

facilities expected of a global

destination.

Olympic Stadium

HEADQUARTERS 7

range of quality venues, East London will

make any event a success!’

Talking about regeneration, ExCeL London,

which doesn’t really need to be introduced,

has just undergone radical changes, thanks

to an expansion programme that has created

new, versatile spaces that now sit alongside

the existing conference and exhibition facili-

ties. As London’s fi rst ICC it’s not only the

UK’s largest fully-fl exible auditorium - with

5,000 seats, it’s equal in size to Europe’s

largest too! There’s also London’s largest ban-

queting hall for up to 3,000 guests and a con-

ference suite comprising 17 individual meeting

rooms, suitable for anything from 50 to 2,500

delegates. Shall I go on or is it enough?

I was also lucky enough to stay at one of the

newest hotels in town. Occupying a dramatic

position among the striking architectural and

historical landmarks of the capital’s South

Bank, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge sits

right next to The Merlin Entertainments Lon-

don Eye - another must-see attraction that

you should defi nitely experience. Where once

stood what may have been one of the ugliest

buildings in London, a contemporary apart-

hotel rises, with 1,021 guest rooms. In terms

of meeting space, the hotel provides the most

extensive new area in the city, with a Grand

Ballroom catering for more than 1,200 del-

egates, with an additional 30 function rooms.

You could hardly ask for more.

OR TRADITIONALOf course there are also the more ‘traditional’

places where it’s possible to hold your event.

In this regard, the Queen Elizabeth II Confer-

ence Centre is the place to be. Uniquely

situated in the shadow of Big Ben, Westmin-

ster Abbey and The London Eye, it offers, as

a purpose-built venue, the fi nest services to

associations. Accommodating up to 3,000

delegates, the conference and meeting rooms

can be used in a variety of combinations to

match any requirement. In terms of sustain-

ability, QEIICC has nothing to blush about: it

recognises it has a responsibility to achieve

environmental best practice and continuously

improve its business activities to protect the

natural environment by carefully managing

energy and minimising waste.

Two other conference hotels are also worth

considering as they could be handy if you

feel shy in venues such as ExCeL or QEIICC.

Just 10 minutes from Oxfort Street lies Hilton

London Metropole, a prestigious hotel among

business travellers. Here fi gures speak for

themselves, as 3 to 3,000 can meet, 2 to

2,000 can eat and 1 to 1,000 can sleep under

its roof. I was personally impressed by its 2

identical Conference Suites, very convenient

for a plenary and an exhibition.

Near the Hammersmith Theatre, there is

the Novotel London West, which has just

undergone a massive refurbishment, of-

fering 5,500 m2 of fl exible conference and

exhibition space over 4 connecting dedicated

connecting fl oors and 32 conference rooms!

Novotel just launched a new programme dedi-

cated to meetings called Eureka. The typical

Eureka room features unconventional and

fl exible ergonomic furnishings combined with

state-of-the-art technology tools to inspire

fresh thinking. Eureka also lets conference

organisers enjoy the choice of an à la carte

and/or buffet menu within the meeting space,

another instance of Novotel’s commitment to

offering the guest fl exible choices.

Those few lines are just impressions and high-

lights of London as an association congress

destination. To really feel what the city is

about, to experience its many unique venues

and discover its hidden gems, one event is

defi nitely not enough. In short, London is a

destination which calls for return. You should

simply go and check it out yourself.

More information

www.visitlondon.com/business

LONDON FACTS AND FIGURES+ average number of association

delegates a year: 22,000

+ 102,000 rooms in 357 hotels at

present - 123,000 rooms by 2012

+ 5 international airports

+ 300 direct fl ights from

worldwide destination

+ 250+ free attractions

+ 17 renowned national museums

+ 150 theatres

+ more than 6,000 restaurants,

bars and cafés

+ 4 World Heritage sites

+ London is made up of 30% of

green space

+ more than 300 languages spoken

> L O N D O N

The QEIICC - Westminster

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Novotel London West

HEADQUARTERS 8

> M A N C H E S T E R

THE RANGE AND SHEER AMOUNT OF CONFERENCE AND EVENT VENUES IN MANCHESTER IS SO VAST THAT IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO APPRECIATE IT ALL IN JUST ONE DAY. FORTUNATELY, IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I WAS THERE I HAD THE HELP OF ANTHONY CASSIDY, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM VISIT MANCHESTER WHO SPECIALISES IN ACCOUNT MANAGING EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION CONGRESSES. HE GAVE ME A GOOD GLIMPSE OF WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER THE ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY. AND NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS IMPRESSED AND CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK NOW!

Pretty much the only thing I knew about

Manchester was that it’s obviously the home

of Manchester United, maybe the world’s

most popular football team. I also was aware

of the fact that Manchester’s gay scene is

famously one of Britain’s friendliest, busiest

and most welcoming. But now I know there’s

way more than that to Manchester.

PERFECT SETTINGFrom a small meeting to a conference or

convention for up to 19,000 delegates, the

city boasts a varied, innovative and impres-

sive range of venues. You may think other

destinations do as well, but what differenti-

ates Manchester to some of its colleagues

is the passion! I could actually almost feel it

wherever I went, whoever I talked to during

my (way too short) stay there.

Anthony Cassidy puts it this way: ‘Many cities

can cite the range of venues it has, its infra-

structure and fi nancial incentives available to

event planners. Manchester has all of these,

but above all else we have passion! The team

at Visit Manchester and the city as a whole

relish the opportunity to host international

events.’

To welcome a wide range of events, there is

of course Manchester Central, in the area

known as Petersfi eld. Once a central railway

station, historically a place where people

met, it is now one of Europe’s premier con-

vention and exhibition locations - and maybe

the only non purpose-built conference centre

I have ever visited. Expanded over the years,

the facility includes a conference auditorium,

a range of break-out and seminar rooms and

over 13,500 m2 of exhibition space.

The good news is that Manchester Central is

currently undergoing an impressive redevel-

opment programme to expand and enhance

the existing buildings. Due for completion in

the autumn of 2010, the facility will include a

new Charter Foyer, a new and extended foyer

area to the iconic Central Hall and additional

seminar and catering spaces. All in all, the

maximum capacity of Manchester will be

8,000 people theatre style in Central Hall. As

for accommodation, no need to worry about

that as there are 2,500 guest rooms at a

5-minute walking distance and even 6,000

within 10 minutes! Take my word for it and

try the impressive Midland Hotel or the fas-

cinating Radisson Edwardian Hotel: they’re

very close by.

MANCHESTER, WHERE PASSION IS A WAY OF LIFE

Manchester United Stadium

HEADQUARTERS 9

Manchester has undergone a series of mas-

sive transformations over the years: from

its early recognition as a formidable Roman

fort, to an industrial epicentre centuries

later; more recently from the UK’s indie mu-

sic capital to a cosmopolitan city break desti-

nation. With a proven track record of staging

world-class events from sporting to cultural,

Manchester is now also fi rmly established on

the worldwide circuit as a leading association

conference destination.

ASSOCIATION CONFERENCESAs a successful host to, among others,

Europe’s largest political conferences, the

city welcomed a variety of association

congresses in the past, including the Labour

Party Annual Conference, the International

Symposium of Gas Kinetics, CIPD, and the

World Youth and Student Travel Conference.

In 2010, Manchester has recently received

confi rmation from the British HIV associa-

tion, Unite the union and the TUC.

Anthony Cassidy says: ‘As well as the services

an organiser would expect from a leading

convention city, we offer a bespoke service

to each and every client to help them turn

a good event into a great one. We help with

event marketing, securing key speakers, civic

receptions, fi nancial support, identifying a

local host or ambassador with a relevant

association and liaising with other city stake-

holders to deliver specifi c services.’

Because conventions are often much more

than plenary sessions, workshops and

presentations, Manchester offers an endless

choice of entertainment and leisure options.

Home to the largest theatre land outside

London and with the busiest indoor arena

in the world, from theatres and galleries, to

designer shops and one-off boutiques, Man-

chester seems to have it all.

By day, you can explore landmark galleries

and museums, like Daniel Libeskind’s Imperial

War Museum North, the Museum of Science

and Industry and Manchester Art Gallery.

By night, you can take in a show at one of

Manchester’s many theatrical and concert

venues, like the Royal Exchange or the Lowry.

Need a special venue for your welcome

party? Why not try Manchester Town Hall

with its exquisite décor or Manchester United

Football Club? Those are of course just two

possibilities among an array of options.

As the unoffi cial capital of the region, Man-

chester makes the ideal base for exploring

the North of England. Talk about pre- or post-

conference tours and you will be amazed by

the endless possibilities! For days out head

for the stunning countryside of the Lake

District, Lancashire and the Peak District or

make the most of the city’s transport links to

visit local market towns or the historic cities

of Chester or York…

More information

www.visitmanchester.com

www.manchesterconferences.com

> M A N C H E S T E R

An exciting blend of culture, history and commerce, Manchester provides the perfect setting for any event, from a small meeting to a conference or convention for up to 19,000 delegates

WHY CHOOSE MANCHESTER?+ Over 250 outstanding venues,

including a world class convention

centre complex

+ Award-winning airport serving

20 UK and more than

200 world-wide destinations

+ Over 19,000 hotel bedrooms with

over 6,000 in the city centre, many

with their own conference facilities

and meeting rooms

+ One of the UK’s leading conference

destinations

+ Wide range of support services

provided by Marketing Manchester’s

dedicated conference team

Manchester Central

Midland Hotel

HEADQUARTERS 10

> N E W C A S T L E G A T E S H E A D

IT’S NO BIG SECRET. WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIA-TION CONFERENCE IN ENGLAND, NEW-CASTLEGATESHEAD DOESN’T NECESSAR-ILY COME TO MIND, SAY, NATURALLY. YET, I SPENT A WHOLE DAY THERE AND IN THIS RATHER SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I GREW CONVINCED THAT IT’S A DESTINATION DEFINITELY WORTH CONSIDERING, AN EXCITING MIX OF MODERN AND HISTORIC THAT HAS TRANSFORMED ITSELF OVER THE YEARS INTO A VIBRANT LOCATION WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

Located at the heart of North East England,

Newcastle and Gateshead are twinned by

seven bridges crossing the River Tyne (the

perspective on the waterfront is one-of-a-

kind) to form a unique congress destination,

NewcastleGateshead. A city with proud

industrial roots, it’s been reinventing itself in

the most fascinating way. I’m sure some of

you know about the shopping, the nightlife

or the passion for sport (needless to say

Newcastle United is a beloved football team),

but for a meeting NewcastleGateshead can

cater equally well for groups of ten or for

thousands of delegates.

DRIVING FORCEFirst and foremost, there is one state-of-

the-art facility that immediately stands out,

when you take a stroll on the river banks. A

driving force in the regeneration of the ‘twin

cities’ since opening in 2004, The Sage

Gateshead is an amazing place in which

to hold events of any kind. Designed by

acclaimed architect Sir Norman Foster, it’s

a fully-equipped, award-winning conference

venue, with facilities that include two out-

standing auditoria, two large multi-purpose

rooms, a spectacular glazed concourse, café,

bars, restaurants and foyers with stunning

river views. Have a look at the picture and

you’ll understand what I mean!

With a maximum capacity of 1,700 and

no less than 38 meeting rooms, it’s the

convention centre par excellence. What I

particularly liked about it is that it’s defi nitely

a living place. Sometimes venues like this

can be dead when there is no event taking

place. At The Sage Gateshead it’s part of

the community, people come and go, there

is life everywhere… If you choose to hold a

conference there, it could defi nitely be an

added-value: you could feel like you’re a part

of a bigger picture!

The quality and diversity of accommoda-

tion to be found in the ‘twin cities’ and in

the direct surroundings of NewcastleGates-

head’s main conference venues matches

the expectations of any association planner.

Hilton Newcastle Gateshead is the typi-

cal but much-needed congress hotel, while

Malmaison Newcastle, where I was lucky

enough to stay, provides the ideal atmos-

phere of laidbackness and relaxation after a

hard day’s work.

The friendliness of the people in Newcastle-

Gateshead is second to none and legendary.

In an instant, Jessica Roberts, Head of

Business Tourism at NewcastleGateshead

Convention Bureau, and David Bootle, Busi-

ness PR Manager at NewcastleGateshead

Initiative, made me feel at ease. This sense

of welcome is best seen in the Ambas-

sador Programme that Jessica helped put

together. She puts it this way:

‘The NewcastleGateshead Conference

Ambassador Programme is a real testament

to the enthusiasm of ambassadors that help

secure major conferences to our beautiful

’twin cities’, attracting high-profi le individu-

als and delegates from all over the world

who instantly feel at ease in our compact

and walkable destination.’

HIGHLIGHTSDuring my stay in NewcastleGateshead,

I couldn’t of course see all the venues and

hotels that are available to the association

planner. But I had a good glimpse of them.

Here are my favourites.

NEWCASTLEGATESHEADTWIN CITIES TO DISCOVER

Newcastle Civic Centre

HEADQUARTERS 11

> N E W C A S T L E G A T E S H E A D

A SELECTION OF PAST AND FUTURE EVENTS HELD AT THE SAGE GATESHEAD+ June 2006 World Summit

on Arts and Culture

+ October 2006 Soroptomists

International

+ August 2007 14th International

Symposium on Actinomycete Biology

+ September/October 2008 World

Muscle Congress

+ July 2010 International Congress

on Marine Corrosion and Fouling

+ October 2011 European Society

for Paediatric Research

+ July 2013 International Colour

Association

The Sage Gateshead

Great North Museum - Hancock

yLocated at the heart of North East England, Newcastle and Gates-head are twinned by seven bridges crossing the River Tyne (the perspective on the waterfront is one-of-a-kind) to form a unique congress destination, NewcastleGatesheadNewcastle Civic Centre

Northumbria University

Truly a venue like no other - and I’m weigh-

ing my words here - Newcastle Civic Centre

was built in the 60s and hasn’t changed

since, though of course it’s been carefully

maintained. It’s defi nitely one-of-a-kind

and is sure to make your event special,

whether it be a gala dinner with a red-car-

pet welcome, a conference in the impressive

Council Chamber or a gourmet banquet for

up to 600 persons in the Banqueting Hall.

All in all, the fl exibility of Newcastle Civic

Centre’s suites and grounds offers the rare

opportunity to showcase what Newcastle-

Gateshead is all about: a fascinating mixture

of old and new.

Being a a destination that has two

leading universities with about 80,000

students in total, NewcastleGateshead’s

university facilities work extremely well for

conferences. Newcastle University’s large

city centre campus combines an historic

academic setting with state-of-the-art facili-

ties. Venues range from the Georgian splen-

dour of the Terrace Room to hi-tech lecture

theatres for up to 500 delegates. At the

forefront of educational and cultural aware-

ness, Northumbria University can provide

over 20 lecture theatres from 30 to 400

people and a wide selection of seminar and

breakout rooms. Adjacent accommodation,

on-site parking and

excellent cater-

ing services are of

course available.

Last but not least

is Great North Mu-

seum: Hancock. Lo-

cated in the heart of Newcastle, the building

has just undergone a massive refurbishment

and offers now a whole range of meetings

opportunities for small groups to bigger

exhibitions. It’s rare enough to be mentioned:

the museum can be hired as a whole, accom-

modating up to 1,300 guests. Looking brand-

new, with the historic yet modern feel, it’s

sure to lend a special character to any event.

More information

www.NewcastleGateshead.com/meet

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