NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), has appointed Jen Rea (pictured centre) as its new head of business events and travel trade. Caroline Reed (right) has meanwhile been promoted to the position of senior manager of business events and Allison Curry (left), accommodation and events coordinator, joins full time.
NGI is the destination and inward investment agency that delivers for Newcastle, Gateshead, and the wider region.
Rea, who took up the position earlier this month, will be reviewing the destination’s strategy for attracting and maximising new opportunities.
“The business events sector in Newcastle and Gateshead is worth approximately £149m to the regional economy and we are now looking ahead to how we can grow this figure and continue to support our longstanding business events community,” said Rea.
“As a destination and already award-winning convention bureau, we have a world-class offer to delegates and event organisers which will only be enhanced by investments such as The Sage International Conference Centre.
“We are now focusing more than ever on widening our remit and exploring future opportunities for bringing an increased number of international visitors to the region by working closely with travel trade and key partners such as VisitBritian, Newcastle International Airport and North East Hotels Association.”
Speaking about her promotion, Reed said: “I am delighted to accept a promotion to senior manager, I’m looking forward to delivering our refreshed strategy while we enter an exciting time for the sector within the North East.
“I’m especially keen to continue our work building a strong community of conference ambassadors for Newcastle and Gateshead and to look in depth at our planned activity for the next few years, in order to maximise our impact of making NewcastleGateshead the go-to destination for business events.”
