NewcastleGateshead to shine spotlight on newest international conference and exhibition centre in the UK

21 February 2019

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and Gateshead Council will be unveiling plans for a £250m scheme to create an international convention and exhibition centre at this year’s International Confex which will take place 26 – 27 February 2019.

Gateshead Council is working in partnership with award-winning property developer Ask Real Estate and leading development manager PATRIZIA UK to develop a four–hectare site located on the Gateshead waterfront, which will also incorporate a state-of-the art, 12,500-seat entertainment arena, hotels and restaurants.

The development named Gateshead Quays, will sit between the iconic buildings of Sage Gateshead and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and is anticipated to boost the regional economy by over £29.5 million and attract over 290,000 visitors to the region a year.

International Confex is one of the biggest and longest established exhibitions for the events industry in the UK. NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau attends the iconic tradeshow every year alongside a range of different venues, hotels and support services, providing expert advice on how organisers can host unforgettable meetings and events in the North East of England.

This year, visitors to the NewcastleGateshead stand at International Confex, will be able to meet representatives from Gateshead Council; Newcastle University, a world-leading university with venue spaces accommodating up to 750 delegates; Northumbria University, a research-rich and business-focused university with cutting-edge conference and event facilities; R&B Group, one of the leading event production companies in the UK; and Newcastle United Football Club, an iconic venue and one of the largest venues in the region, which has just launched new meetings packages which include 24-hour delegate rates.  

Paul Szomoru, director of business events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “We’re very excited about International Confex this year, our stand partners represent some of the very best venues and suppliers that NewcastleGateshead has to offer, and it’s the perfect opportunity for us to showcase the plans for the UK’s newest convention and exhibition centre.

“Gateshead Quays will feature 6,300m² of exhibition space and 2,800m² of meeting space – a huge addition to our already outstanding conference and events offering and when you factor in its iconic location on the banks of the River Tyne, this is going to be a brilliant addition to the UK’s ability to host world-leading international business events, rivalling inspiring event locations around the world.”  

To learn more about holding a conference in NewcastleGateshead, meet NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau at International Confex, Olympia, London – 25 – 27 February, stand I18C.