Work has officially started on North Staffordshire's new £20 million Marriott hotel - which is expected to create more than 60 new jobs.
A ground-breaking ceremony took place at Keele University to mark the official start of work on the multi-million pound project which will be built near to the main campus entrance on the Science and Innovation Park - overlooking the A525.
Once constructed, the Marriott hotel - which will be a first for North Staffordshire - will boast 150 bedrooms, a restaurant and bar, meeting rooms, a fitness suite and 180 parking spaces.
, The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will be part of the world-renowned chain, although it will be run through a franchise arrangement with Tower Hotel Management.
Peter de la Perrelle, managing director of Tower Hotel Management, said: "We look forward to seeing the build progressing over the coming months and to welcoming our first guests next year."
Newcastle Borough Councill leader, councillor Simon Tagg, has welcomed the development.
He said: "It’s good to see it getting up and running. This will fill a real gap in the market for the type of hotels we need in the borough.
"We are hoping to have a tourism area within the hotel, where they can find out what’s going on in the area. They could be going into Newcastle for meals and to experience the nightlife."