A 120-bedroom ‘business-class’ hotel is to be built at Inverness Campus.
Developers are being invited to register their interest to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), who own the campus.
They are promoting a site of around three acres for the hotel, which will also include meeting rooms, bistro, bar and lounge.
Ruaraidh MacNeil, HIE’s Inverness Campus project director, said: “We have been exploring options for a hotel development on Inverness Campus for a number of years now, and are delighted to be able to present this opportunity to the market.
“We are looking for a hotel developer who will embrace the collaborative ethos of the Campus, support local supply chain companies and provide employment and training opportunities, particularly for young or disadvantaged people.”
Inverness Campus is already home to several public and private sector organisations, including Inverness College UHI, Scotland’s Rural College, Scottish Vet Referrals, Corporate Health International and Aqua Pharma.
There are more than 600 people working there and this figure is expected to rise to around 1300 within five years.
Improved access to leisure, restaurant, café and bar facilities will further enhance the appeal of the campus to employees, students, visitors and local people.
It will also make the site more attractive to potential investors and continue the growth of the commercial sector within the Campus.
Demand for hotel accommodation in Inverness is strong, with revenue per available room growing by 40% between 2012 and 2016 compared to the national average of 27%.
Earlier this year the city topped the Colliers Scottish Hotel Index, with strong levels of demand, high occupancy rates and low development costs.
Inverness Campus is designed to provide a range of academic, research and commercial opportunities, with an emphasis on the life sciences sector.
The provision of a quality hotel and associated facilities is seen as an essential element of the 215-acre development.
Commercial real estate firm, GVA, is marketing the hotel site on behalf of HIE and is inviting registers of interest from developers by November 17.