Experience North East England shortlisted for top industry award following Media Getaway success

8 September 2026

Experience North East England has been shortlisted for Event of the Year at the prestigious Meeting Industry Association Awards (miaList Awards) 2026 for hosting Media Getaway.

The nomination recognises standout individual events under 300 people and the successful partnership that brought one of the UK’s leading travel media events to North East England for the very first time.

Media Getaway has been placed among the very best events in the UK meetings and events industry, following a successful programme which welcomed more than 200 delegates from across the travel media and tourism sectors to the region.

The miaList Awards celebrate excellence across the meetings, conferences and events industry, with finalists selected from nominations submitted by organisations and individuals across the sector. Winners will be announced at the miaList Awards ceremony on 4 November 2026 at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

Other North East finalists include Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter, shortlisted for Sales and Marketing Team of the Year. The Crowne Plaza’s very own Susi Lennie has been nominated for an Individual Award as well as Roxanne Luckin who has also been shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year. St James’ Park, Newcastle United’s stadium venue, has also been shortlisted for Venue of the Year (Over 300) and in the Events and Operations Team of the Year category.

Media Getaway is a travel industry networking event connecting travel PR companies and destinations with key travel media. It attracts major names in the travel writing industry as well as key travel editors including Lonely Planet, BBC, The Sun, Condé Nast Traveller and National Geographic Traveller.

Organised by Travel Connection Group and hosted this year by Experience North East England alongside destination sponsors Newcastle International Airport and Ad Gefrin, Media Getaway is also the only event of its kind outside London. The event took delegates outside a traditional city centre conference setting, immersing them in the culture, heritage and visitor experiences that make the North East one of the UK’s most distinctive destinations.

Through collaboration with regional tourism businesses, local visitor economy partners and venues across the region, delegates experienced everything from a media marketplace connection zone at St James’ Park, a welcome reception at Tyneside Cinema and a reception at Newcastle’s Hotel Gotham, to kayaking on the River Tyne and an exclusive preview of Kynren’s new live action production, The Lost Feather.

The event was designed to create new relationships between media and tourism suppliers while generating long-term coverage and opportunities for the destination. More than 100 journalists attended over two days, providing a significant opportunity to introduce the region to national and international media. BBC Radio presenter Maia Bethwas also a special guest at Media Getaway, helping to promote the region to UK and European travel writers and influencers.

Feedback from delegates reflected the event’s impact, with more than 90 per cent rating the networking opportunities highly. The event also delivered a legacy for the destination, with many delegates extending their stay to take part in hosted visits across the region and discussions already underway regarding future media collaborations.

 “As the regional marketing lead for the visitor economy, our role is to attract more visitors and showcase our region on the global stage. This event was a fantastic opportunity to do just that – bringing journalists, travel brands and content creators to the North East, while delivering a valuable boost to the local economy, filling 400 hotel beds and supporting businesses across the region.
 
“It was a huge media moment for the North East, and being shortlisted for this award is recognition of the incredible collaborative effort behind it. Our partners came together to create an unforgettable experience and tell the story of our region to millions of potential visitors around the world.
 
“The impact of the event will go far beyond those few days. The global coverage generated will continue to inspire people to discover the North East, helping to drive visits and support our visitor economy for years to come.”

Kelly Gleadow, Director of Communications, Experience North East England

  
“It’s great to see Experience North East England being shortlisted for Event of the Year as recognition for everyone involved in bringing Media Getaway to the region.
 
“We created Media Getaway as an annual event, taking top UK travel media and travel PR representatives to a different UK destination each year. After successful events in Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and Chester, in 2026 we were delighted to work with the brilliant team at Experience North East England to showcase a region that many of our delegates had not experienced before.
 
“Our aim, as per every year, was to create an experience that connected influential travel media with North East England in a meaningful and impactful way, while demonstrating the strength of the region’s visitor economy and the value of partnership working. The relationships and opportunities created through the 2026 event are already delivering significant benefits for the destination and we look forward to similar fruitful partnerships in the years ahead.”

Howard Salinger, Managing Director of Travel Connection Group

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