A £27 million hotel expansion is poised to create 30 jobs.

Work will start on two wings to the Hilton at Gatwick Airport in the summer, adding 233 bedrooms.

The extension will mean a recruitment programme to fill posts in guest services such as reception and room cleaning.

Director of sales Marguerite Gaskin said: "If I had the rooms now I could fill them all. With the expansion of the airport business I don't see demand diminishing."

The new rooms will be connected to the main hotel by glass walkways and the first guests are expected to occupy them in 2003. Once completed, the extension will increase the total number of rooms to 800. Half of them will be executive floors and a new executive lounge and other suites will be built.

As well as the extension, there will be improvements to the existing hotel, including the lobby, bars and restaurants next year.

General manager Christopher Rawstron said: "Demand for accommodation at the hotel has been continually growing in line with the success of the airport.

"The constant increase in demand for hotel rooms reflects the increased demand levels in our local market, as well as our increased market share from a strong Hilton brand."

The new rooms will be using designs approved by people who have been trying out "model" rooms in the UK and Europe.

All the existing hotels at the airport have been refurbished during the past four years.

The Hilton at Gatwick is one of six Hilton airport hotels in the UK.

The firm has more than 80 hotels in the UK and Ireland.