HASTINGS Hotels has announced a £1.2 million expansion of its Everglades Hotel in Derry.
It is investing in a new grand ballroom to be opened at the four-star venue next year.
The company said the work would create "the largest ballroom in the north-west" once completed.
The development, designed by Robinsons & Sons is to be built by JS Dunlop.
Everglades general manager Neil Devlin said the expansion was due to increased demand.
"In 2016 so far, our existing ballroom, which before the improvements was able to seat 450 in a theatre setting or 330 people seated at round tables, has been at capacity over 30 times," he said.
"We want as many people as possible to come and experience conferences and events at the hotel, and not to have to turn people away, so we are creating a brand new space that will seat 650 people theatre style and comfortably over 400 at round tables.
“We are confident that this will attract larger scale conferences and more prestigious music acts to the venue, which will be the biggest in the North West and on a par with any conference facilities found in Northern Ireland."
The new grand ballroom is due to open at the start of April 2017.
