The important and increasingly popular destination of NewcastleGateshead has re-joined the British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD), one of the UK’s leading conference organisations, just four months after it announced that it was to resign from BACD membership.

NewcastleGateshead’s Convention Bureau, operated by destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) represents over 50 conference and meeting venues, plus associated attractions and suppliers, in the Newcastle and Gateshead areas.

Andrew Dixon, Acting Chief Executive, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “NewcastleGateshead is one of the UK’s leading conference destinations and we look forward to working closely with BACD in further developing international networks.

“NewcastleGateshead already has an established reputation for attracting major international conferences such as the European Association of Sport Management, the European Biofuels Forum and WOMEX - the world music expo which it will host next month. The destination will also host the 3^rd World Summit on Arts and Culture next year which will attract 650 leading figures in cultural regeneration from around the world.”

Commented Tony Rogers, BACD chief executive: “We are delighted to welcome NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau into membership of BACD.  They represent an important destination and their return to the BACD family means that we can now offer organisers one-stop access to all the significant locations and venues throughout the British Isles.”

The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) is the trade association representing conference destination marketing organisations across in the British Isles. Members are convention and visitor bureaux, conference desks, and national tourist boards. Founded in 1969, BACD is the oldest of the conference sector associations in the UK.