The three-day Media Getaway event is underway in Newcastle, an industry networking event connecting travel PR companies and destinations with leading travel media.
Media Getaway is organised by Travel Connection Group and hosted by Experience North East England, alongside destination sponsors Newcastle International Airport and Ad Gefrin. It claims to be the only event of its kind outside London.
Previous editions of Media Getaway have been held in Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Chester. The event attracts major names from the travel writing industry, alongside key travel editors from titles including Lonely Planet, BBC, The Sun, Condé Nast Traveller and National Geographic Traveller.
The event marks an important media moment for the North East, bringing together more than 200 travel and media industry professionals to experience, share and champion the region. It will also deliver a boost for the local economy, generating over 400 bed nights during the event and supporting hotels, restaurants and wider hospitality businesses across the area.
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Delegates are staying at Hotel Gotham Newcastle, Maldron Hotel Newcastle, INNSiDE by Meliá Newcastle, Leonardo Hotel Newcastle, Roomzzz Aparthotels Newcastle, Jesmond Dene House, Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge and Staybridge Suites Newcastle.
Media Getaway began on Monday afternoon, with media welcomed at Central Station by Newcastle Castle’s Town Crier. Delegates then joined a series of press trips across Newcastle and Gateshead, with itineraries focusing on themes including food and drink, music, art and culture and outdoor activities.
The tours called on the expertise of businesses, including Newcastle Tour Company, which hosted guided walks exploring the region’s rich history and culture alongside food experiences. Triple A Food Tours also gave delegates a taste of the area’s culinary scene, while CBK Adventures led kayaking experiences on the River Tyne. Big River Bakery introduced delegates to the famous stottie through its cookery class.
On Monday evening, BBC Radio 1 DJ Maia Beth welcomed delegates to the opening event at Tyneside Cinema and Fire Bar, Hotel Gotham. Born and bred in Washington and proudly connected to her North East roots she showcased the region’s music scene, highlighting this year’s Mercury Prize Awards, which are being held in Newcastle for the second-year running. Maia also performed a DJ set for invited guests and media as part of the evening.
The main networking event, the Connection Zone, takes place at St James’ Park today (Tuesday, 16 June). This marketplace-style event will see exhibitors take part in 15-minute meetings with journalists. Media Getaway will attend a special show at Kynren on Tuesday evening, giving media a sneak preview of the outdoor extravaganza’s new Lost Feather show and Time Traveller’s Feast.
Alongside media attendees, the event is welcoming delegates from international travel organisations including Meet Boston, Algarve Tourism, Destination Canada, Tourism Ireland and Visit Orlando, as well as representatives from regional tourism businesses including Bamburgh Castle, Beamish, Raby Estates, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle Tour Company, hotels from across the North East and Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) NewcastleGateshead, Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham.
On Wednesday 17 June, the trips will extend across the wider region, with itineraries bringing together heritage and history, food and drink, film and television and coast and countryside.
In Durham and Northumberland, delegates will experience a range of attractions including Durham Cathedral, Beamish Museum, The Auckland Project, Grainger Market, Ad Gefrin, The Running Fox, Northumberland Cheese Company, Wylam Brewery, The Bowes Museum, Raby Castle, Locomotion, Lindisfarne Castle, Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle and The Tempus.
Kelly Gleadow, director of communications, Experience North East England, said: “This is such an exciting week for Experience North East England. As the regional marketing lead for the visitor economy, we are working hard to attract more visitors and showcase our region on a global stage. This week, the very people who can tell our story are here experiencing first-hand everything we have to offer.
“The quality and breadth of experiences on display provide an incredible showcase of our region as a place to visit– from our vibrant cities and world-class culture to our stunning coastline, heritage and landscapes. We really do have it all. This event has not only filled hotel rooms and supported businesses across the region but also created a valuable opportunity for local businesses to connect with travel journalists, influencers, content creators and tourism partners from across the industry.
“It is an incredible opportunity to raise the profile of North East England, build lasting relationships with journalists, generate positive media coverage and share our story with millions of potential visitors around the world. A huge thank you to all our partners who have supported this event, the stories we tell his week will play a huge part in growing our visitor economy.”
Alice Andreasen, chief corporate affairs officer at Newcastle Airport, headline sponsor of Media Getaway Newcastle 2026, added: “Media Getaway has brought a real sense of excitement to Newcastle, and we’re proud to be headline sponsor of an event that shines a spotlight on the North East as a must-visit destination.
“Welcoming travel writers, influencers and content creators gives us a valuable opportunity to showcase the region’s outstanding coastline, culture, heritage and hospitality to national and international audiences. Events like this play an important role in raising the North East’s profile, supporting inbound tourism and inspiring more visitors to experience everything our region has to offer.”
Howard Salinger, managing director of Travel Connection Group, who host Media Getaway, said: “Travel media events in the UK tend to be centred around the South East, particularly in London, as that’s where most of the big media titles are based. However, we set up Media Getaway in 2022 to show that these events can take place anywhere in the UK, and through hosting them we can bring people to parts of the UK they may never have visited before.
“Over the five years of hosting this event, every one of our host destinations has benefitted from having the event in their city or region and we hope that Newcastle and North East England will see a similar reaction after this year’s event, with lots of media coverage produced after their visit.”
