Assembly Rooms fly the flag.

The Assembly Rooms has been flying the flag for the North-East at this year's CONFEX exhibition at Earl's Court in London as part of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative stand.

The presence of the famous Georgian landmark at the premier international exhibition for conference organisers is further evidence of how both the venue and the region has grown in stature over recent years and can now realistically compete for national and international conferences.

Antony Michaelides, Assemby Rooms owner, said: "The history of the Assembly Rooms has mirrored that of the region, from the original splendour and prosperity of the Georgian and Victorian eras, through the decline of the 1960s and now to the resurgence with the bid for Capital of Culture in 2008.

"As a result of the publicity the city has received, we're responding to increasing overseas enquiries while national conference business has gone through the roof in recent years. The bid is of crucial importance to the region as a whole and we fully support the efforts of the NGI."

There has been a huge amount of ongoing investment at the Assembly Rooms including the creation of two new function suites and some of the latest audio-visual equipment.

"We're now reaping the rewards of this work with 2002 seeing a 150pc increase in corporate business," Mr Michaelides said.