Under way: minister Andrew Davies and Wrexham mayor Aled Roberts

The four-star hotel will be the first new build Ramada Plaza Hotel in the United Kingdom.

The project has been part-funded by the Wales Tourist Board and Wrexham County Borough Council.

The development is expected to open for business in June 2005.

Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport was in Wrexham to cut the first turf.

The 85-bedroomed hotel will be built on the Wrexham Technology Park and will have conference facilities with meeting rooms catering for up to 200 people.

Other features will be a restaurant, and swimming pool with mini-gym.

"It is great to see a project which has been on our wish list for so long come to fruition," said Wrexham council leader Shan Wilkinson.