Builders have broken ground on a new Courtyard by Marriott near Inverness Airport, scheduled to open in Q4 this year.
The 130-bedroom hotel in Inverness Airport Business Park will feature meetings and fitness facilities, a bar and bistro.
It will be a modular building, with bedrooms currently under construction in Poland.
The property will be the midrange Courtyard brand’s debut in the Scottish city. Aberdeen and Glasgow airports and central Edinburgh all have Courtyard hotels.
It is Marriott’s largest brand, with more than 1,100 properties targeting the business travel market.
Last year Marriott announced plans to open nearly 30 Courtyard hotels across Europe by the end of 2020, which would expand its footprint in the region by around 50 per cent. One is scheduled to open near London City Airport next year.
Like the Luton Airport and Edinburgh West properties, Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport will be owned and built by Polish developers Molo Hotels (previously Polcom Developments) and operated by RBH.
British Airways and KLM have both announced plans to operate more flights to Inverness during the summer season.
James Campbell, Chairman at Inverness Airport Business Park (IABP), commented: “Having a hotel onsite is a major boost for both IABP and Inverness Airport and I’m sure many tourism and other local businesses will benefit when the hotel opens later this year.
“It is important to recognise the significance of this announcement as it’s the first new-build hotel development in Inverness for many years and I’m confident the hotel will play a key role in supporting the regional economy’s continued growth.”
Graeme Bell, Manager at Inverness Airport, said: “We are delighted to have a world-class brand establishing a new hotel adjacent to the airport and I am certain it will be a real asset to the wider region.
“Inverness Airport continues to grow and is playing an ever increasing role in improving connectivity in the Highlands. Passengers will soon be able to enjoy the comforts of the Courtyard by Marriott as part of their journey plans.”
