The investment firm which owns a string of hotels - including the Ashford International - is understood to be looking to sell them off.

Aprirose, a UK-based real estate investment company, snapped up the QHotel business for £525 million in 2017.

The portfolio includes 26 four and five-star hotels across the country - among them the popular Ashford destination on Simone Weil Avenue.

It is believed a number of potential buyers are interesting in acquiring the high-end chain which has been hit hard - along with other hospitality providers - by the Covid crisis.

In 2019, it was announced the Ashford International was to be rebranded into a Delta Hotel by Marriott - but the health crisis put plans on ice and it continues to trade under its original name.

A spokesman for Aprirose refused to comment when contacted by KentOnline.

It is not known how much the QHotel portfolio will cost any prospective buyer, although Sky reports private equity investors and turnaround funds are among those in talks.

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