Warning over dearth of ‘big’ venues

Jun 8 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

THE North East risks losing vital trade because of a dearth of large-scale conference facilities, a local events firm has warned.

The problem is particularly acute on Teesside where there are no purpose built venues for big corporate crowds.

The Allancia Group in Washington says that companies seeking large-scale event space would struggle to find a venue in the region.

Managing director Phil Eadon, who organises the Partners4 series of business events, said: “If you are talking about a big international conference of 500-plus people, the nearest venue is probably Harrogate or the Newcastle Sage, and for an exhibition, Doncaster racecourse.”

The business customer generates one third of overall visitor spend in the region - a figure set to increase as local venues invest millions in corporate facilities.

Earlier this year The Thistle Middlesbrough Hotel spent £1m on refurbishing bedrooms and widening its range of conferencing facilities. Darlington’s Aston Hotel has invested just under £5m in conference facilities.

And the area’s tourism industry continues to grow. According to the United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS), more than four million people visited the North-east in 2008 - a 10% lift.

Allancia is organising the Partners4 Engineering conference at Durham’s Radisson SAS Hotel on July in association with the North East Process Industry Cluster.

See tomorrow’s nebusiness for a special report on corporate tourism.