The Hilton could be returning to Dundee city centre with plans for a 92-bedroom hotel on Marketgait.
The major hotel chain would not rule out the possibility of being interested in the £6 million project on the Shell filling station site.
A spokesperson for Hilton Worldwide said: “Dundee remains a destination where we are keen to develop our presence, having opened DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee earlier this year.
“We are looking at a number of potential sites in the city, though nothing has been confirmed at this early stage.”
The Hilton closed their Earl Grey Hotel at the end of March after Dundee City Council launched compulsory purchase proceedings for that site, which is needed for the waterfront redevelopment.
They said at the time they were committed to having a presence in Dundee, notwithstanding the takeover of the Landmark Hotel on the western outskirts as a DoubleTree by Hilton.
Plans for the hotel in Marketgait were unveiled in June and the agents for the project have received interest from a number of potential operators in advance of submitting a planning application, which should be lodged within the next two months.
The travel hotel market in central Dundee has become more crowded, with existing operators established around Marketgait and a new client being sought for the station redevelopment.
The existence of a Travelodge just across the road from the latest site suggests a different type of operator may be attracted to the filling station land, raising speculation it may be the Hilton.
Marketgait site agents Brunton Design said Dundee Council planning officials have thrown their weight behind the proposals.
Allan Mudie, a partner at Brunton Design Studio, said: “We initially came up with the proposal in June, immediately after city development director Mike Galloway said Dundee would need another 500 hotel rooms to cope with the expected influx of visitors to the V&A.
“A client of ours already owned the site and we suggested we should take up Mr Galloway’s challenge. The response from planning officials was immediate and encouraging.
“I have since had further meetings with officials to discuss more detailed plans and they have been fantastic. It’s the most support I have ever experienced for any project.”
The plan is for a five-storey building with 92 bedrooms. The £6m hotel would have retail units on the ground floor along with the reception and restaurant. A state-of-the-art conference venue is proposed for top floor.
Mr Mudie added: “We aim to produce a contemporary building, using environmentally-friendly material, construction methods and energy sources.”
Valet parking, using existing car parks is already planned for the Malmaison Hotel in Dock Street and the Marketgait hotel could use the same system.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “The council will consider an application when it is submitted.”