A £1m events and conference centre which aims to boost the region's tourism industry has been opened at a County Durham hotel.
Redworth Hall Hotel's new owner, Paramount, has spend more than £2m on improvements since it took over the business two years ago and more developments are in the pipeline.
Dr John Bridge, chairman of regional development agency One NorthEast, opened the new centre, which has the latest business facilities, and meetings and events rooms which will hold 300 people.
Dr Bridge said tourism was the fastest growing industry in the region and elsewhere, and new first-class centres would help draw in visitors.
He said: "Redworth Hall now has a very important facility that will provide a fantastic service, not just for the Darlington area, but for the whole of the county.
"It sends out very strong signals that we do have great confidence in this region."
Michael Purtill, managing director of the Leeds-based Paramount group of companies, said: "We hope we are playing our part in driving forward the economy of the North-East."
The hotel, which has 170 full-time, part-time and casual staff, has created ten new posts at the centre
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