Industry News

Visit County Durham helped showcase North East England to more than 200 leading travel journalists, influencers and tourism professionals as Media Getaway 2026 came to the region for the first time earlier this month. 

The three-day networking programme, organised by Travel Connection Group and hosted by Experience North East England, brought together some of the UK's most influential travel writers and content creators, alongside representatives from destinations and tourism businesses across the UK and overseas. 

As the county’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), Visit County Durham worked in partnership with Experience North East England and Visit Northumberland, to develop itineraries that highlighted the very best of the region. Supporting planning, delivery, and collaborating with regional partners, the bespoke programmes enabled delegates to experience some of the county’s most iconic attractions and hidden gems, helping them discover stories that make the destination so distinctive. 

Representatives from Visit County Durham also attended the networking day at St James' Park, meeting directly with journalists, editors and travel influencers from leading publications and media outlets. The occasion provided a valuable opportunity to build relationships with travel media and inspire future coverage of the county's attractions, landscapes, heritage and experiences. 

Following the networking sessions, journalists travelled across the wider North East on a series of themed visits designed to showcase the region's diverse tourism offer. County Durham featured prominently within these itineraries, with delegates experiencing attractions including Durham Cathedral, Beamish Museum, The Auckland Project, The Bowes Museum, Raby Castle and Locomotion. 

The programme also highlighted the strength of County Durham's tourism sector, with a number of Visit County Durham member businesses participating. Attractions, accommodation providers and tourism partners from across the county joined regional colleagues in welcoming media delegates and helping to bring the destination to life through first-hand experiences. 

A memorable finale saw delegates travel to Bishop Auckland for an exclusive preview of Kynren: The Storied Lands. Ahead of its official opening, journalists, influencers and travel industry professionals were among the first to experience the ambitious new daytime attraction, which combines immersive historical and cultural experiences with the award-winning Kynren live-action spectacular. The showcase provided a fitting conclusion to the programme while demonstrating the county's growing reputation for delivering world-class visitor experiences. 

Media Getaway is the only travel media networking event of its kind held outside London and has become one of the UK's leading industry gatherings. By bringing journalists directly to destinations, it creates opportunities for tourism businesses to generate future editorial coverage and inspire new visitors. 

The programme is expected to generate significant national and international media exposure for the North East in the months ahead, helping to raise awareness of the region's world-class visitor experiences among millions of potential travellers. 

Visit County Durham's involvement reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting the county on a national and international stage, supporting local tourism businesses and driving growth across the visitor economy. 

With journalists experiencing everything from world-renowned heritage and cultural attractions to spectacular countryside, unique visitor experiences and warm North East hospitality, Media Getaway 2026 provided a powerful platform to showcase why County Durham is a must-visit destination.