SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio family with strong ties to South Texas is going back to its roots. Zachry Hospitality broke ground Monday on the first hotel it has built from the ground up in more than 40 years.

A new Embassy Suites Hotel will be built near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 on San Antonio’s Northwest Side.

It is the first hotel the company has built since completing the Hilton Palacio Del Rio for the city’s World’s Fair in 1968.

The new hotel will be situated behind the Chuy’s restaurant.

“Zachry’s have long been known for what they’ve done here throughout the city in construction and so forth,” Robert Thraikill, vice president of operations, said. “In hospitality, we’ve only had the Hilton Palacio Del Rio downtown so for us this opportunity is a wonderful time to be here.”

The 203-room hotel is expected to open in about 18 months.