Hotel chain Radisson SAS is to create 100 full-time jobs and up to 45 part-time jobs in Cork when it opens a new hotel in Little Island in Cork city in June.

The €37 million hotel development is owned by two Cork businessmen, Mr Des O'Dowd, who owns Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, and property developer Mr Rick Fitzgerald of the Oran Group.

The 131-bedroom hotel will be operated by Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts and is due to open to customers at the end of June.

The property is being developed by the Oran Group and is being designed by Dennehy & Dennehy.

The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Martin, welcomed the announcement.

"The Radisson SAS's decision to come to Cork reflects the ongoing growing economy and corresponding demand for high-quality products and service providers in the city," Mr Martin said.

Mr O'Dowd said the local economy in Cork was performing extremely well.

"Although it is a competitive hotel market, it is obvious that the city has a significant requirement for a sophisticated international hotel brand," he said.

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts had been chosen to operate the hotel as the group was already well established in Ireland, he said.

Excluding the new Cork jobs, the group employs just over 800 people in Ireland.

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts is part of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, which currently has 167 hotels in operation and under development in 42 countries.

The opening of the Cork Radisson will increase the number of hotels operated by Rezidor SAS in Ireland to nine. It has hotels in Dublin, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Athlone, Sligo, Belfast and Limavady.

A Radisson SAS hotel is also under development in Cavan, while four Park Inn hotels, another brand owned by Rezidor SAS, are planned for Dundalk, Mulranny, Ballinasloe and Newry.