The investment byinternational property developer Bricks Capital, which has offices in HongKong, London, Manchester and Glasgow, adds more than 300 rooms to anincreasingly competitive hotel market in and around Aberdeen.

It also takesBricks’ investment in Scottish properties to date to £100million.

Bricks is helpingthe US-based Hilton group grow its Hampton brand in the UK, and the pair hopeinvestment in the north-east will pay off when the local economy picks up.

Hampton by HiltonAberdeen Airport general manager Sandra Brooks said: “This fresh, contemporaryhotel represents a new dimension to the Hilton family, which will be very wellknown to many people.

“It is asignificant step forward for the company to open in a key Scottish market suchas the north-east, where green shoots of recovery make this a great place tobe.

“We very muchlook forward to the opportunities and challenges which lie ahead as we buildour reputation in the area.”

Bricks chiefexecutive Peter Prickett added: “We are extremely excited to have joined forceswith (third-party hotel management company) Interstate to open the first of ourHampton by Hilton branded hotels in Aberdeen, and grow our Scottish portfoliofurther.

“We hope this isthe first of many as we continue our expansion throughout the UK.”

Interstate UKmanaging director Nicholas Northam said the operator’s involvement underlinedits “commitment to supporting the growth and development of the area’scorporate and leisure markets”.

The builder forboth new hotels is Robertson Construction Eastern (RCE), part of Elgin andStirling-based Robertson Construction Group.

RCE managingdirector Keith Taylor said: “It has been a pleasure to have been involved inthis project.

“Our teams haveembraced the modular construction techniques and we are pleased to havecompleted it within a shorter timeframe than is usually expected for this typeof development.”

Hilton’s otherbrands include Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Doubletree by Hilton, Hilton GardenInn and Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts.

The group’slatest offering in the Aberdeen area comes at a time when most hotels in thearea are struggling to shake off a severe downturn in business since oil pricesslumped.