NATIONAL budget hotel chain Travelodge is looking to open a second hotel in Poole.

The firm, which currently operates 562 hotels in the UK, has selected the Dorset town as one of ten key cruise port destinations where they want to open another hotel.

Travelodge says the planned expansion at cruise port destinations collectively represents an investment of £60million for third party investors and the new hotels are expected to create 300 new jobs.

The company says the move has been designed in response to the growing trend for cruise holidays that are embarking from the UK.

Last year, two million cruises were taken by British holidaymakers – which is a six percent increase from 2016.

The other nine cruise port locations alongside Poole are Glasgow, Harwich, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Hull, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Southampton and Tilbury.

A potential second Travelodge in Poole comes just three years after they chain opened their £8million hotel at Holes Bay.

Tony O’Brien, Travelodge property director, said: “The cruise boom is still underway and predicted to grow from strength to strength therefore we are getting on board now and looking for ten new hotel sites at UK’s growing Ports, which includes Poole.

"This overall expansion represents an investment of £60 million for third party investors and will create around 300 new jobs.

"With more Britons taking to the waves, our Port based hotels are benefitting from holidaymakers stopping over before embarking and returning from their voyage.”

The expansion boosts Travelodge’s presence to 42 hotels at the UK’s busiest ferry and cruise ports.

Travelodge, which was the UK's first budget hotel company, recently opened the chain's 560th hotel, Dover Travelodge.

Anthony Ford, president of Poole Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said he could see why Travelodge were looking to build a second hotel in the town.

“It is definitely a positive time in Poole, with the opening of South Quay, the upcoming Poole Boat Show, which is now the second largest boat show in the UK, the Sydenhams development and the scheme by the bus station,” he said.

“At the moment there is a good feeling in Poole and the challenge is getting people to engage with that.

“It is going to take time for it all to come to fruition, but it is a great time for Poole and we need to make sure businesses are making the most of it.”