A £2 MILLION refurbishment will start later this month to transform the Holiday Inn beside the A20 at Hothfield into one of Kent's premier business and conference hotels.

It will close on September 30 for extensive renovations and re-open in the New Year.

Eight conference rooms - catering for small meetings to those up to 150 delegates - will be added to the property. Existing food and beverage facilities will be enlarged in line with the dynamic new scheme.

The hotel's 92 bedrooms will be completely refurbished with new workstations including modem ports in every room providing for the needs of both the business and leisure traveller.

Hotel manager Mark Walton, said that when it re-opens 30 new positions would be added to the present 20-strong staff.

He said: "It is better to confine the building work in one highly concentrated burst rather than trying to do jobs piece-meal around our guests."

The new facilities are being designed in line with a commitment to provide the region with top quality facilities at a fair rate for customers who work or live in the area close to the Channel Tunnel.

The hotel was bought earlier this year by Central Island Hotels.