THE Hilton hotel in Newport is to be bought by the Celtic Manor Resort, its second purchase outside of its 2,000-acre estate.

The 148-guest room property will continue running as a hotel, under a new name yet to be confirmed, once the contracts are completed on March 31, 2016.

All hotel staff will be kept on once the Celtic Manor takes over the property.

The resort also purchased the Newbridge on Usk in 2010.

Ian Edwards, chief executive of the Celtic Manor Resort, said: “We are extremely pleased to be exchanging contracts to acquire Hilton Newport and look forward to working with the experienced team there as the hotel transitions to our ownership and management.

“We are always looking to expand and build upon our successful business at the Celtic Manor Resort whilst continuing to help support the local community and economy.

“Occupancy at the Celtic Manor Resort is currently running at 90 per cent and there are many nights when we could easily exceed our capacity of 400 bedrooms.

“The additional bedrooms at the newly-acquired hotel will help address our need for more accommodation across all our markets – conference and business, golf and leisure.

“The property is in a wonderful position very close to Celtic Manor and enjoying the same immediate access from the M4 motorway. I am sure it will prove very popular with guests staying at the Celtic Manor Resort.”

The new addition has 148 guest rooms and nine meeting rooms and a fitness room, swimming pool, spa bath, bar, lounge and restaurant.