MANCHESTER Airport is to get a £35 million luxury five star hotel.

Work is to start on the 354 bedroom hotel immediately and will be completed in two years.

The 10 storey hotel is being built for Radisson SAS Hotels Worldwide - a group which is owned by the Scandinavian airline SAS - on land between the Airport's two terminals.

As part of the deal Manchester Airport will get an annual six figure sum for the rental of the land.

During construction 400 jobs will be created with a further 250 full and part-time hotel jobs on completion.

Announcing the development today Manchester Airport chairman Graham Stringer said: "The hotel will fill a market niche for both business travellers and the growing number of overseas tourists visiting the region. It will also cover the rapidly expanding conference and meeting market."

The hotel will have a health club and swimming pool as well as extensive conference and meeting facilities.

It will be linked to both terminals and the Airport railway station by a 'supertube' overhead walkway and overnight accommodation will cost between £120 and £150.

Radisson SAS Hotels Worldwide is Europe's fastest growing quality hotel group with 75 hotels in 22 countries.

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