Work is underway on the construction of Europe's first Inter-Continental resort, as part of a multi-million dollar development in Cyprus.

Six Continents Hotels is investing in a £38 million ($54.1 million) joint venture in Cyprus - with Lanitis Development - which will see the opening of the Aphrodite Inter-Continental Resort hotel in April 2003.

The resort will be part of a £150 million, 578-acre development in Cyprus to be named Aphrodite Hills.

The Aphrodite Inter-Continental Resort will feature 290 bedrooms and suites, including 24 junior, 10 duplex and one presidential suite.

Diners will have a choice of three restaurants and several bars, offering a combination of all day and speciality dining.

In addition, there will be extensive conferencing and business facilities, including a ballroom and three additional meeting rooms.

Only 10 minutes from Paphos international airport, the Aphrodite Hills development is just 900 metres from the beach and enjoys fantastic views over the Mediterranean coastline.

It will feature an 18-hole golf course - the first of its kind in Cyprus - as well as a wealth of other leisure facilities including a health spa, swimming pools, a tennis academy, children's camp, walking and mountain bike trails and a wide range of water sports.

For those wishing to be more adventurous, numerous archaeological and historical sites surround Aphrodite Hills, including the mythological birthplace of the goddess from which it takes its name.

As well as offering guests convenient access to these sites, Aphrodite Hills also benefits from being situated within a protected area, ensuring its preservation as a national beauty spot.

Commenting on the development of the Aphrodite Inter-Continental Resort, David Bland, managing director of Six Continents Hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa said: "This is a first for Inter-Continental in Europe and we are very pleased to be involved with such a prestigious project.

"With the resort's extensive leisure and conferencing facilities, coupled with the local history and its proximity to the airport, we believe the Aphrodite Inter-Continental will soon become one of Europe's premier resorts." In addition to the Aphrodite Inter-Continental Resort hotel, the project will also include a tourist village complete with retail and restaurant facilities, and approximately 1,000 units of real estate, to be sold as plots, luxurious villas, town houses and apartments.