The Jurys Doyle Hotel group has denied media reports that it is looking to sell its profitable 20-strong Inns chain, The Irish Timeshas reported this morning.
A spokesman for the group said yesterday that it had "no specific plans of that nature".
The reports suggested the three-star chain could be worth €508 million to €436 million and said the group was keen to test the level of interest in the business.
Details of the chain, which includes 14 hotels in the United Kingdom and six in Ireland, were circulated to parties involved in the bids for the group last year.
The company was taken private after its founder, the late PV Doyle's family, took control with a €1.25 billion bid.
One source said it is more likely the group will wait until new hotels in Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Brighton and Liverpool come on stream before selling the chain.