Visitor attraction operator The Tussauds Group has agreed a deal with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) to operate a £15m hotel adjacent to its Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey.

The 150-room property will be operated under the Holiday Inn brand and will be located in the centre of the theme park’s planned animal land development.

To blend in with its surroundings, the hotel has been designed according to a safari theme. Facilities include large family rooms, conference, meeting and function rooms as well as health and leisure facilities and a restaurant and bar.

Bruce McKendrick, managing director of the Tussaud’s theme park arm, said: “This is a very exciting project for the Tussauds Group underlining our strategic commitment to develop our theme park attractions as short break destinations.”

The property is the third in hotel to be operated by Tussauds and according to McKendrick, the group intends to expand its accommodation portfolio.

“Many of our sites have suitable space for development, so we see hotels as an important long term revenue stream for the group,” he said.

“The link with Holiday Inn will open up great opportunities for us to benefit from their established marketing and promotional activities to build this important additional business; as well as our more established leisure packages.”

Tussauds Group is owned by Dubai International Capital (DIC) and operates a wide range of attractions, including Madame Tussauds, the London Eye, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Warwick Castle.