Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination marketing and management organisation, NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: “While we consistently ‘punch above our weight’ as a conference destination, plans to develop a dedicated conference and events space on Gateshead Quays is fantastic news and will significantly enhance our ability to attract larger, conferences exhibitions and events to NewcastleGateshead from across the world. NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, based at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, markets the area to national and international conference and event organisers, attracting a high proportion of high-spending business visitors. NewcastleGateshead’s conference and events industry is a major contributor to the local visitor economy, which is currently worth £1.9bn. The new facilities are being developed closely by Gateshead Council alongside key strategic partners to ensure they meet the needs of the region. We look forward to bringing our significant experience working with mixed-use developments in the UK, as well as drawing on our pan-European investment management capabilities, to what is set to become a modern icon for the North East.” Rob Brook, Head of Portfolio Management at PATRIZIA UK, commented: “We believe that this campus style development holds the potential to unlock a great deal of value and income for the local area. We’ve done a lot of work to get to this stage but now’s the time to push ahead and help make this development site a reality.” Managing Director of Ask Real Estate, John Hughes said: “This is a very exciting and iconic development site, not just in the North East, but in the UK. Gateshead Council has been working with Ask Real Estate Limited and PATRIZIA UK Limited on this development site since June 2015 when they were selected as preferred developers. Our new entertainment, conferencing and exhibition facilities, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sage Gateshead and BALTIC, will we firmly believe, further cement Gateshead Quays as a popular and stunning world class cultural destination, whilst bringing significant benefits for the whole region as well as both sides of the Tyne.” The Gateshead Quays development site is truly a unique location which will offer visitors a whole new experience. It’s widely acknowledged that there is a massive untapped demand to bring large scale events, conferences and exhibitions to the region and a combined leisure and entertainment development would help meet customer expectations.Įxecutive Vice President European Operations of SMG, John Sharkey said: “We’ve for some time been looking at increasing our presence in the North East. It is anticipated the new, state of the art 12,500 seat arena, and conference and exhibition space could transform the region’s business tourist economy. SMG Europe, which currently operates the Metro Radio Arena, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMG which is an industry leader with in excess of 220 venues world- wide. Attracting an extra 296,000 visitors to the region it’s estimated to boost the regional economy by over £29.5 million annually in future years. The new facilities on Gateshead Quays which will be capable of holding major music and cultural events, as well as conferences and exhibitions, is anticipated to support over 1,140 jobs with well over half being newly created. Working closely with our development partners, SMG Europe, local partners and the private sector, it really is time to give the North East another landmark destination and complete the picture of this truly unique, riverside site.” “We’re now more confident than ever that we can finally push forward with our exciting plans for this £200 million development site. An arena and conference and exhibition facility will also play an important role in complementing and strengthening demand for national and international conferences, exhibitions and events at Sage Gateshead and BALTIC, as well as acting as a catalyst for wider investment across Gateshead and further stimulating economic growth. “Not only will they bring new life to the area but they will bring new jobs and significantly boost the local and regional economy.