Birmingham’s The NEC Group, which comprises the National Exhibition Centre, the NEC Arena, the International Conference Centre, the National Indoor Centre and the Symphony Hall, has unveiled a plan to develop a leisure and entertainment complex with partner Genting Stanley. The £90 million project will include a large casino and is the first phase of a master plan for the NEC site designed to deliver a range of leisure and business facilities to complement the exhibition halls and arena.

Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of The NEC Group said: “It has always been our first priority to find the best possible partner for The NEC, for Solihull and for the wider West Midlands. A company that shares our vision of creating places where people come to discover the future. In Genting Stanley we are confident that not only have we found a partner who shares our vision; we have also found an experienced team capable of bringing that vision to life.”

The NEC Group will be bidding for the licence to build and operate one of the eight large casinos authorised recently. The licence was awarded to nearby Solihull, not Birmingham, and there are likely to be other bidders. The NEC Group has long argued that The NEC represents a very capable and unique site. The circa £90m proposal by Genting Stanley is set directly to create in the region of 1,000 jobs, to transform The NEC's offer and in doing so provide a platform to allow The NEC to compete in a highly competitive global venue market, as well as to grow the £2 Billion economic impact and almost 29,000 jobs that the Group contributes each year to the regional economy.

Paul Thandi commented, “I look forward to working with the Genting Stanley team to demonstrate to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council that our proposal represents the strongest, most deliverable most exciting and most appropriate opportunity for the local area in order that we can realise our strategy of providing a world class 'work, rest and play' environment at The NEC.”

Although details are still being developed, a spa, hotel, high quality bars and restaurants and a casino, together with other significant leisure attractions, are all set to feature within the proposed complex. The casino is expected to comprise less than 10% of the floor area. Genting Stanley, the largest UK casino operator, says it is confident it will be able to bring a wealth of experience and success to the project.

Peter Brooks Executive Deputy Chairman for Genting Stanley said: “Genting Stanley is delighted to be partnering The NEC Group in the proposed leisure and entertainment complex development. As part of Genting International PLC, we look forward to bringing our experience as a leading destination resort specialist to The NEC.” (E-06.05.08)

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