New senior business tourism manager at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, Adrian Evans, is looking forward to being able to attract “a new kind of business” to the region with the city’s new ICEC (international convention and exhibition centre), due to be complete by 2017.

Speaking at International Confex, Evans said the funding decision for the first stage of the £30m development, to be built adjacent to the iconic Sage building, is due to be made by the Gateshead Council and The Arts Council next month. The building will give another 8,000 sqm of exhibition space and breakout facilities.

“We’ve got the Lib Dems coming with 2,000 delegates, but they want to come back with their larger event and at the moment we can’t do it; it’s so frustrating. We’d like it up quicker, we could fill it already. The council here knows the impact events have on the area, so it’s easy for them to say it’s a worthwhile investment.”

Evans took over the role from Jessica Roberts this year and is looking forward to further growth in Newcastle and Gateshead with a new Ramada Encore hotel in March and a Hotel Indigo in June. “I’m spoilt because it’s not broken and it doesn’t need fixing.”

Pictured: Adrian Evans