Peel Holdings (Leisure), part of property and transport company Peel Group, has signed a franchise agreement with Hilton Hotels for its new property at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The 160-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel will comprise a bar and snack food service area, where hot food will be available 24/7, a gym for guests only and two meeting rooms.

The building will also be linked to the airport by an undercover walkway, providing guests with direct access to the terminal building.

Phil Cordell, senior vice president of brand management for Hampton by Hilton, said: “Hampton by Hilton is set to transform the UK’s economy hotel sector and fill a gap at its upper end. The international expansion of the brand continues at a pace.”

The ‘new kind of economy hotel’ is scheduled to open in summer 2009.

Director of Peel Holdings, Peter de la Perrelle, added: “We are to join the Hilton family. It is expected that this agreement will be the first of many with Hilton as Peel Holdings continue to develop their hotel estate.”

This will be Peel’s second airport hotel, following the signing of the Ramada Encore at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, last autumn.

Peel Holdings has also submitted plans for a £8.5m, 100-bedroom hotel at its Durham Tees Valley Airport in Durham. The three-star hotel will feature a bar, restaurant and meeting rooms.