One of Bahrain's biggest resort hotels will undergo a BD22 million ($58.3 million) expansion, it has been announced.

The Novotel Al Dana Resort, Muharraq, will have a twin-tower, 23-storey structure, consisting of 146 rooms and 65 apartments.

The project will also include upgrading the property to the more luxurious 'Pullman' class, said owners Al Jazeera Tourism Company.

'The commissioning of the twin-towers by the end of next year would also coincide with the entire existing property being completely renovated and upgraded,' said board chairman Abdul Aziz Jassim Kanoo.

He was speaking at a Press conference to announced the new project.

'While the civil works will cost BD9.22 million, the renovation, upgrade and furnishing of existing and new wings would cost another BD12 million,' he said.

'The new hotel will be called the Pullman Bahrain, in line with the classification policy of the operating company, Accor Hotels.'

Kanoo said half the finance for the new project would come from the Ahli United Bank.

'The hotel, when ready, will serve to attract more family tourists to Bahrain as well as continue to play a part in promoting existing tourism infrastructure in the country,' he said.

AlJazeera Tourism Company board director and chief executive officer Dr Kadhem Rajab said the resort, set up in 2003, had been doing very good business since it was opened.

'In the beginning it was a bit tough, but over the years we have built up a great reputation,' he said.

'This will only be carried forward as we step into and complete the expansion project.'

Dr Raja said that the expansion would help create scores of employment opportunities, many of them for Bahrainis.

'We are also sure this would ultimately result in more GCC investments into Bahrain,' he said.

Dr Rajab said the hotel buildings would be 75 metres tall and built in the existing car park area, covering an area of 40,390 square metres.

'There will also be a four-level car part with space for 302 vehicles,' he said.

Dr Rajab and contracting company Chapo Bahrain general manager Christos Vouzounis earlier signed an agreement to build the twin towers.

Vouzounis said Chapo already had completed some hotel projects in Bahrain and were geared to take on the latest challenge.

'We have BD100 million worth of projects in hand in Bahrain as of now, including some of the country's most important ones,' he said.-TradeArabia News Service