An opening date for the new casino and conference centre at the NEC has been announced.

Genting's Resorts World complex next to Pendigo Lake and the Genting Arena will welcome its first customers on October 21 as part of a phased opening spanning several weeks.

The multimillion-pound leisure and retail destination will house a hotel, cinema, shops such as Nike Factory Store and Gap Outlet, restaurants chains including TGI Fridays and Pizza Express and a casino.

Its eleven screen Cineworld, including an IMAX screen will open on October 23.

The Genting International Casino is said to be the biggest in Britain and will launch on October 26 to coincide with the new James Bond movie, as will the new conference and banqueting facility called Vox.

The four-star Genting Hotel and spa will open on November 2.

Resorts World Birmingham is the fifth attraction opened by Malaysian company Genting and follows Singapore, Philippines, New York City and Malaysia.

The sixth is currently being built in Las Vegas.

Genting's UK president and chief operating officer Peter Brooks said: "We are very excited following a two-year build programme that Resorts World Birmingham is coming to life.

"We can't wait for the first major milestone in that journey when we open our doors for the first time on October 21.

"There will be much more to experience at Resorts World Birmingham as the weeks go by and the resort becomes fully operational.

"We have a full programme of exciting events between our opening day and the end of the year which will demonstrate the wide range of experiences available to our guests.

"We are thrilled that, for the time, Resorts World Birmingham will bring the uniqueness and excitement of a large scale integrated resort offer to the West Midlands region and beyond - and with it transforming the appeal of the NEC campus and the region's leisure offers."

Pictures: Work progresses on Resorts World Birmingham