Business News The Griffin Report
Jon Griffin, Chamberlink’s award-winning columnist, talks to Paul Thandi, chief executive of the NEC Group. He reveals the remarkable impact Resorts World has had at the NEC site, which he describes as “the best connected piece of real estate in Europe”.
The West Midlands can become a German-style ‘super-region’ over the next 15 years, thanks in part to the ‘best-connected piece of real estate in Europe,’ says NEC supremo Paul Thandi. The NEC chief executive said a third phase of major growth, following
previous developments centred on the ICC and Brindleyplace and later the NEC and Birmingham Airport, could ensure vital global recognition for the region. He said all the pieces of the jigsaw – including the NEC, HS2, Birmingham Airport, Arden Cross, Blythe Valley and JLR, in addition to developments in Birmingham city centre such as Paradise Circus, Curzon Street and Smithfield – were being put into place to help put the West Midlands firmly on the global map. But he warned that ‘nimbyism’ at this time could damage the
region, and called for the West Midlands’ civic and private sector leaders to bang the drum for growth opportunities.
‘Just walk through the city and you can see the transformation that’s in place with more to come across the greater region’
Mr Thandi said that widespread interest in the West Midlands
from London and internationally - including China, North America, India, the Middle East and elsewhere - had been demonstrated by the Foreign Direct Investment in the region co-ordinated by Marketing Birmingham and could help usher in a new era of prosperity, with FTSE 100 firms looking to follow HSBC and relocate. “We have got more Chinese investment
than any other region – everyone can see the development opportunities. “When people look back, they will
say that this is the third generation of development in the region and I think we are in the middle of that now. We had the ICC and Brindleyplace early on, but just walk through the city and you can see the transformation that’s in place with more to come across the greater region, so we must ensure it is co-ordinated.” Mr Thandi also revealed
that the new £200m Resorts World casino and leisure development on the NEC site – which celebrated its first anniversary last month – was also playing a key role, virtually doubling visitor numbers to the site to around six million a year and helping lift the West Midlands into the high-roller league. He said that more visitor attractions, restaurants and hotels were in the pipeline. “This is the best connected piece of real
estate in Europe and this region has got the opportunity to become a globally- recognised region. We need to become a super-region like the ones in Germany and France, but previous investment from the Government has held us back. Now, with Government backing, we have the investment and thinking, but importantly we have real tangible opportunities.
10 CHAMBERLINK November 2016 “The NEC, Airport and HS2 can categorically help to put the region on
the map. We have got HS2 opening in ten years, people will be 39 minutes from central London. “Resorts World has proved to be a game-changer and it can continue to
grow. We are trying to establish a destination and in the future, develop out over time a leisure and entertainment district with supreme 21st Century connections. “We are getting 3.1 million people to our exhibitions, conferences and the
Arena every year and now Resorts World are bringing in 2.75 million to 2.8 million a year. The restaurant tables are booked from Thursday through Friday and Saturday evenings with visitors enjoying the retail, hotel and cinema offerings. “The idea is to carry on growing visitor numbers
exponentially and we are actively looking at other commercial opportunities and more mixed-use development. We are looking to grow the numbers of visitors to nine-12 million visitors a year and we’re working equally hard to create more of a destination offer at our city centre site.” Resorts World Birmingham has already created
more than 1,000 new jobs, bringing the largest gaming floor in Europe and a string of restaurants, bars, designer shops and other facilities on site. Mr Thandi said the £307 million takeover of the NEC
Group by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, had provided a new ‘singularity of purpose’ to the business with improved speed of decision- making, investment, focus and realising growth opportunities. The NEC was previously owned by Birmingham City Council. “In addition to our developments to enhance our customer service offer and ultimately customer numbers, we are working hard on credible overseas opportunities to grow our proven capability of venue management in the Arena, Convention and Exhibition markets,” added Mr Thandi, who is set to celebrate ten years in the chief executive hot seat next year. The NEC Group recently revealed
it had added more than £6m to its annual revenue following the LDC takeover, with turnover climbing by £6.4 million to £133.8m for the year to 31 March 2016.
Paul Thandi, chief executive of the NEC Group, has revealed that Resorts World has doubled visitor numbers to the NEC site
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