Construction of the £20 million Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast got under way today.
The hotel is sited in Great Victoria Street, next door to the historic Grand Opera House, and is the latest in a string being built to meet demand from visitors to what the Lonely Planet guide calls "a must-see city".
Planned as a five-star hotel - just the second in the city - the Fitzwilliam will have more than 130 rooms and is due to open its doors in early 2009, creating work for over 100 people.
Speaking ahead of a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony, Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers welcomed the new hotel.
The site and hotel are owned by businesswoman June Burgess through her company, Graffan Properties. Despite siting the development close to two of the city's long established hotels - the Europa and Jury's - she said she was confident there was demand.