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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.

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Format: 29-12-2023

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Format: 30-12-2023

Industry

Europe’s largest collection of historic rail vehicles assembled at Locomotion

15 Mar 2024

Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham is to undertake the museum’s biggest ever rail shunt to create Europe’s largest undercover display of historic rail vehicles. Managed by specialist teams from Locomotion and the National Railway Museum, the shunt will see 46 vehicles (and one road vehicle)...

Industry

Hotel Occupancy

13 Mar 2024

Hotel Room Occupancy in England for January 2024 continues to show growth for North East England. Overall, room occupancy was 1% up on January 2022, and on a par with 2019. The North East England recorded the highest growth for January at 5%.

Industry

A66 Project approval

13 Mar 2024

On 7 March 2024, the Secretary of State for Transport approved the Development Consent Order for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project. This means National Highways now has permission to dual 18 miles of single carriageway between Penrith and Scotch Corner.

Visit County Durham

A message from Visit County Durham's managing director, Michelle Gorman.

13 Mar 2024

Visit County Durham is proud to be supporting English Tourism Week, which launches this Friday, 15th March and runs until Sunday, 24th March. The annual initiative provides an important platform to showcase the amazing businesses, people and experiences that are part of the county's visitor...

Industry

Durham Cathedral calls on people to help create Peace Doves for its upcoming summer installation

13 Mar 2024

Over 15,000 paper doves created by visitors with messages of peace will be suspended in Durham Cathedral this summer. Peace Doves, a mass-participation artwork by Peter Walker, is set to take centre stage in the Nave of the cathedral from 26 July. It will be made up of thousands of individually...

Industry

Chester-le-EATS Festival set to Expand

12 Mar 2024

Organisers of a hugely successful food, drink and music festival have announced plans to expand its footprint in 2024 – and are now asking traders who wish to be part of the event to apply. Durham Cricket has confirmed Chester-le-EATS will take place on Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October...

Industry

North East England’s Tourism Industry Looks to the Future as First Destination 2034 Conference is Announced

11 Mar 2024

A landmark Destination North East England Conference is coming to The Glasshouse International Centre for Music on Monday 18th March, featuring panellists from Tripadvisor, Digital Tourism Think Tank and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement amongst others. Titled Destination 2034 this...

Industry

Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approaching

11 Mar 2024

English Tourism Week, the annual week dedicated to celebrating England’s tourism industry, is fast approaching with businesses, destinations and visitor attractions encouraged to get involved. Taking place from 15-to-24 March, English Tourism Week sees the industry come together to highlight...

Industry

Durham Cricket aim to bring professional women’s Cricket to the region

7 Mar 2024

Durham Cricket have today announced their intention to bring professional women’s Cricket to the region. Women’s Cricket is undergoing a restructure, with the ECB set to assign 8 counties with professional women’s teams, forming a new structure from 2025 onwards, aimed at further growing...

Industry

TV Series Vera and author behind the books among winners at the 2024 North East England Tourism Awards

1 Mar 2024

The popular TV drama Vera and author Ann Cleeves, who wrote the book series, were awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award at last night’s (THURS) ceremony. They were among 14 other award winners who were named some of the best in the region at the prestigious annual awards. Exec...

Industry

Tourism Awards

28 Feb 2024

Taking place tomorrow night at Newcastle Civic Centre, The North East England Tourism Awards will celebrate the region's businesses and people that make our visitor economy so special. Good luck to VCD Partners Beamish Museum, Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors, Event Durham, Hall Hill Farm, Hotel...

Industry

Modernised Assessment Scheme

28 Feb 2024

Calling all County Durham tourism businesses, VisitEngland and the AA have launched their modernised Quality Assessment schemes, including a new Visitor Ready scheme. Visitor Ready empowers you to showcase your commitment to compliance with core standards, to assure customers you have the necessary...

Industry

ETW Toolkit

26 Feb 2024

English Tourism Week takes place 15-24th March and the campaign toolkit is now available for you to download. Designed to kickstart the summer season, the annual campaign gives businesses and destinations an opportunity to shout about tourism as part of a national campaign, and raise awareness of...

Visit County Durham

Product Knowledge Day

26 Feb 2024

Our Product Knowledge Day is taking place next month at Redworth Hall Hotel. It's a great opportunity for partners to hear updates and future plans from Locomotion, The Auckland Project and Raby Castle. You will also be able to sample the NEW Durham Mustard and meet our local Supplier Partners. If...

Industry

Destination 2034

26 Feb 2024

On Monday 18th March from 9:30am, Destination North East England will be taking over Gateshead's iconic Glasshouse ICM for its first Destination 2034 Conference, as industry trailblazers, business leaders and visitor economy professionals join together for a day of inspiring panels, talks and...