Destination Digest

We're heading back to where it all started, as we're joined by Ian Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of NewcastleGateshead Initiative for a data deep dive for 2025. In our first ever episode, Ian provided a fascinating insight into the latest STEAM data and now, with the latest data released, we're back to do it again. This episode takes a look at the current performance of the visitor economy and u...

As the North East gears up for its starring role in the hotly-anticipated summer blockbuster 28 Years Later, Destination Digest caught up with North East Screen's Gayle Woodruffe to talk all things film and TV, it's power to attract thrill-seeking tourists and how visitor economy businesses can capitalise on the region's Hollywood ambitions. Discover what goes into attracting large scale film and...

Sustainability and regenerative tourism are at the heart of everything we do as England's first Destination Development Partnership Pilot. Now, we want to help events organisers make more sustainable and responsible choices when organising events in North East England, with the help of a brand new toolkit developed in collaboration with BeaconHouse Events. Join BeaconHouse's Sarah Thackray and New...

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...

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...

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...

Join VisitEngland's Accessibility and Inclusion lead Ross Calladine, disability and accessibility campaigner and Access and Inclusion UK's Jane Cooper and accessible tourism and travel writer and Head of Communications at AccessAble Carrie-Ann Lightley for a fascinating look at all things accessibility and inclusion. Destination North East England has ambitions to transform the North East into one...

North East England has launched a world-leading, globally significant regenerative visitor economy framework and in this episode, we uncover what this brave, new world means for the region, our businesses and our leaders. Sustainability and regenerative tourism expert Guy Bigwood, Chief Executive and Chief Changemaker at GDS Movement discusses how the framework came about, what it means for the re...

How to you make sure your business is compliant, safe and ready to welcome visitors? Have you ever thought about accreditations, star ratings and quality schemes but never got passed the first hurdle? In this special bonus episode, Jonny Chambers is joined by Simon Numphud from AA Media to talk about their brand new Visitor Ready accreditation scheme, a free initiative that helps businesses stay c...

In this episode of Destination Digest, the all new podcast from England's first Destination Development Partnership (DDP), Jonny Chambers chats with Jennifer Huntley, Senior Partnerships Manager at international tourism body Visit Britain as we discuss how North East England's story is being told around the globe as part of the DDP's international amplification project. We uncover what the big opp...

Welcome to the first episode of Destination Digest - our new, regular podcast series from England's first Destination Development Partnership Pilot - Destination North East England In this first episode, we're joined by Ian Thomas, director of visitor economy at NewcastleGateshead Initiative and one of the leads on the Destination North East England project. Ian has spent many years in the world o...