New NEC resort opens up New World

The name of a huge leisure and entertainment development planned for the NEC in Birmingham as part of its £90 million redevelopment has been revealed.

Resorts World @ The NEC will be the name of the complex which is set to open on site in 2012, and will boast a world class four star hotel, a spa, bars, restaurants, conference facilities and a casino.

The development is dependent on winning a licence from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council early next year.

It is the first phase of a £90 million master plan for the NEC site which has been designed to deliver a range of leisure and business facilities.

The complex is expected to create in the region of 1,000 jobs and bosses say it will allow the NEC to compete in a highly competitive global market.

The NEC Arena is also being renamed and rebuilt as part of a project to make the venue larger and more attractive to promoters. Its capacity will rise from 12,000 to 14,000.

The project will cost about £28 million and is part of the larger £90 million scheme to modernise the NEC.

A sponsorship deal has been lined up with South Korean electronics conglomerate LG, which will be the venue's major sponsor. It will be renamed the LG Arena.