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Destination Digest

Destination Digest

By: Destination North East England
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Join England's first Destination Development Partnership as we unlock the untapped potential in North East England's visitor economy. With top tips, tricks and fascinating insight, we'll help you grow your business and make the region a great place to visit.


On each episode, we'll hear from tourism, hospitality and visitor economy trailblazers, who are poised to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and expertise, from deep diving into the latest visitor data to understanding how to make your business greener, more sustainable, inclusive and accessible.


Your host Jonny Chambers will grill these industry experts and help signpost North East visitor economy businesses to the right support, to help Destination North East England on its mission to double the value of the region's visitor economy by the end of the decade.


About Destination North East England


Destination North East England was established to unlock the untapped potential in North East England’s visitor economy. The region has ambitious plans to unlock untapped potential, aiming to double the size of our visitor economy by the end of the decade, whilst also positioning the region as a global leader in regenerative tourism and one of Europe’s most welcoming, accessible and inclusive destinations.

The North East was chosen to deliver the first-ever Destination Development Partnership pilot in England, receiving £2.25 million from national government.

It operates across all seven local authorities, working together to improve skills, develop products, work with travel trade, drive innovation, support business events and improve the accessibility and sustainability of the sector.

The pilot has been the catalyst for the development of a ten-year plan that will double the size of our visitor economy and position our region as a must-see destination, whilst attracting private investment and driving growth.

This is a regional collaboration and an incredible opportunity to unlock growth and the untapped potential in the North East of England by develop our regional eco-system and supporting industry.

Destination North East England is led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the region, working with delivery partners Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham and in partnership with all seven local authorities.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit County Durham, and Visit Northumberland were the first organisations to be recognised by VisitEngland in a new national portfolio of strategic tourism bodies called Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs). A Destination Development Partnership pilot is led by a LVEP, on behalf of a wider region and other LVEPs to create a programme of activity funded by DCMS and managed by national body VisitEngland to deliver the government's ambitions for the visitor economy at a regional level.

The region will act as a potential blueprint for the rest of England and help shape the future landscape of destination management organisations, delivering local economic growth through the visitor economy across the whole region.

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Destination North East England
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Episodes
  • Getting Down To Business... Events
    May 14 2025

    The power of business events to grow the North East's visitor economy should not be underestimated. Caroline Reed, the region's business events guru and leader of NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau sits down with Jonny Chambers to uncover why attracting business events, conventions and conferences to the region can play a huge role in expanding our reach, attracting more visitors and opening up the destination to visitors from around the world.


    https://www.meetnewcastlegateshead.com/


    https://www.meetnewcastlegateshead.com/plan-your-event/sustainable-events-toolkit/

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    33 mins
  • Developing Skills and Opening Up Career Pathways in the Visitor Economy
    Mar 21 2025
    Recorded during English Tourism Week which this year had the theme of 'supporting people and places to drive growth', we sat down with two skills and education experts both of whom have spent a large part of their career embedded in the visitor economy to discuss the current skills landscape for visitor economy businesses, what the future workforce looks like, how businesses can provide meaningful career pathways and why everyone should want to work in the visitor economy!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    41 mins
  • Becoming a Tourism Superstar
    Feb 21 2025

    Co-ordinating a cast of over 1000 volunteers telling over 2000 years of English history is the mammoth task that falls to Wendy Wilshere,Head of Volunteer Casting and Engagement at the epic outdoor spectacular Kynren.


    From her background as a Kynren volunteer herself to the person leading the small army of dedicated people who bring the show to life, we delve into what it takes to rally such a big crowd of people to deliver an exceptional experience for over 8000 visitors nightly. We'll take a look at how Kynren has reshaped Bishop Auckland and find out more about the incredible new Storied Lands immersive attraction on the horizon.


    Wendy is a finalist in this year's VisitEngland Tourism Superstar, recognising her dedication and unwavering commitment to her volunteer team and to the transformation of the Bishop Auckland area. Wendy is the epitome of a Tourism Superstar and we're delighted to be able to throw our support behind her campaign to bring the crown home to the North East! Tap the link to cast your vote https://www.visitbritain.org/working-us/visitenglands-tourism-superstar-award

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    31 mins

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