NEC Hotel receives 12 million pound upgrade

Monday 17th November 2008

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A £90 million leisure development has prompted leisure group Genting Stanley to undertake a £12 million upgrade to Hotel facilities in and around the NEC and Birmingham International Airport complex.

The Hilton Metropole is to be the subject of the refurbishment process with new budget hotels being opened at the airport with a new 123-bedroom motel in Solihull.

The NEC scheme involves building a casino, hotel, spa, bars and restaurants which will combine with improvements to the LG Arena for a much anticipated restoration.

A new general manager, Patrick Stapleton, has been appointed to oversee the improvements. He has previously been in charge of Hilton's two Northern Ireland properties, Hilton Belfast and Hilton Templepatrick.

The hotel has been an essential part of Birmingham's business and leisure sector which has always attracted a steady stream of customers to the area. The improvements are a reaction to the increasing number of visitors(31.9 million in 2007) being attracted to Birmingham.

In contrast to the Metropole, the Ibis and Etap hotels opened by the Accor hotel group are aimed at budget accommodation for business and leisure travelers.

All hotels are accessible by Birmingham International railway station and the NEC by a free Air Rail link.

The new facility proposed for a site on Station Road, next to Lode Lane car park, will create up to 50 jobs.