A TOTAL of 350 jobs are expected to be created with the building of the first series of "urban village resorts" in Scotland.

Hotel operator De Vere, which will be investing £60 million in the venture, said it has now secured three sites as it moves into Scotland for the first time.

The resorts will be based at Crew Toll in Edinburgh and Prime Four Business Park, Kingswells, Aberdeen, in addition to one announced last year for Pacific Quay in Glasgow,

The developments will provide hotel accommodation and leisure activities for visitors to the cities and also facilities for local users. The resorts will use the "Black Box" design seen in properties south of the Border such as in Farnborough and Elstree.

Each resort will have health and fitness centres and a swimming pool. Eating and drinking facilities will include a restaurant, bars and coffee house.

It is hoped the resorts will be ready ahead of national events around Scotland in 2014 including the Commonwealth Games.

Robert Cook, chief executive of De Vere, said: "It's a booming market at the moment. We have identified Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh as the main hubs for tourism."