Work has begun on the £3.5m refurbishment of the York Marriott hotel.

The property overlooks York’s famous racecourses and the revamp will see 43 bedrooms added, taking the total number of bedrooms to 151. The number includes 16 new Grandstand Rooms which are being built in the new gable extension and will feature floor to ceiling French doors.

All the existing bedrooms will be refurbished while around 70 per cent of the new bedrooms will be redesigned as double double bedrooms to suit both international travellers and families.

The York Marriott is operated by the Whitbread Hotel Company, which manages the Marriott brand in the UK under a franchise agreement with Marriott International.

General manager of the York Marriott, Craig Ewan, said: “The investment clearly recognises our importance to the Marriott portfolio in the UK. It is a clear indication that the company has full trust in the city’s potential for business visitors and leisure tourism alike.” Details: www.marriott.co.uk