HOTEL giant Premier Inn wants to open a number of new branches in Dorset.

The firm, owned by Whitbread, wants to expand and build new hotels across the country, despite 2020 having a severe impact on the hospitality industry.

Premier Inn already has a number of hotels across the county - namely in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorchester, Poole and Weymouth.

Whitbread has released a list of ‘target locations,’ and the firm updates its list every year as new hotels are built and fresh demand is identified.

According to the document, there are five target locations in Dorset where the firm wants to build new hotels in the coming years.

These are the locations Premier Inn wants to open new hotels:

• Bridport

• Dorchester

• Shaftesbury

• Swanage

• Weymouth

Premier Inn has yet to have earmarked locations in these locations and is unable to say how many jobs each branch would create.

Louise Woodruff, acquisition manager for the south at Premier Inn, noted that the hotel firm wishes to open in new locations in order to meet demand.

She said: “As a business, we’re investing strategically in new locations across the south as we respond to growing demand from our customers for Premier Inn hotels in popular leisure and business locations.

“We own and operate many busy Premier Inn hotels across Dorset and are continuing to invest in new locations with our first hotel at Bournemouth West Cliff due to open in early summer.

“Elsewhere in the county, we’re looking for new locations in Dorchester, Bridport and Weymouth - in-demand destinations for business travellers as well as guests looking for a short-break or staycation at affordable prices.

“Independent research tells us that Premier Inn hotels bring a range of benefits to new locations.

“We create new jobs, pay substantial business rates and our guests support local businesses as they go out to eat, drink, visit attractions and experience the local area during their stay with us.

“We always invest for the long-term and our latest property requirements, list of target locations and contact details are available on the property pages of the Whitbread website.”