Genting opens UK’s biggest integrated resort

The waterfront property is based on the shape of a cruise ship and houses 18 bars and restaurants, 45 retail stores, an Asian-themed spa, 4-star hotel and state-of-the-art casino.

Resorts World Birmingham is the first integrated resort in the UK that offers visitors all the amenities so they don’t have to leave the building. The 538,000 sq.ft. complex is located next to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which attracts two million people each year. More than 1,750 people were employed in construction with some 1,200 permanent jobs.

Operated by Genting UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Malaysian gaming giant, the new facility is one of eight large casino resorts approved in the UK. It is the company’s debut venture in Europe and joins the Resorts World portfolio with destination resorts in Sentosa, Manila, New York and Resorts World Las Vegas, scheduled to open in 2018.

Barry Clemo, manager of the resort, explained the property would offer “daytime” and “night time” experiences with the majority of retail stores closing at 8pm, with extended opening hours during festival periods. During the night, the property will host entertainment offerings with live music and activities. The hotel and casino will operate 24 hours a day.

“No one has ever done anything like this before. There is no resort like this in the UK and no resort like this in Europe so it is utterly unique. The combination of an outlet store mixed with the cinema, the casino, the hotel, the spa, 18 bars and restaurants, it is just a completely unique proposition,” said Clemo.