The boss of Bristol Airport says the terminal’s new 201-room passenger hotel will be open by the end of 2016, as construction work on the project reached the halfway point this week.

Hilton Worldwide has partnered with Chinese construction firm CIMC to build the airport’s first hotel, which will operate under the budget Hampton by Hilton brand.

The hotel’s rooms are built in China and then shipped across to the UK, where they are then fully assembled on-site. The rooms are made from former shipping containers, but are fully fitted out with high-quality furniture, electrical goods and a bathroom.

The airport’s chief executive officer, Robert Sinclair, said the hotel will provide an excellent opportunity for passengers who may have travelled long distances to fly from Bristol.

Mr Sinclair led an exclusive preview of the site on April 14, where business partners and the Mercury were treated to a first look around the new facility.

He said: “It is a really important day as we are in the middle of the biggest construction project ever in the history of Bristol Airport.

“Our hotel is only 100m from the terminal and it will be open in time for Christmas.

“For us it is really exciting, particularly as our catchment area has just kept growing and growing. For passengers driving a bit further afield, they can drive here the night before, stay in a great room and have a relaxing start to their holiday.

“Thirty per cent of our passengers fly before 9am, so for them it is a great opportunity to have that relaxing experience and that’s what we’re really focused on.”