Asia Pacific is providing hotel chains exponential opportunities for growth, within which China is one of the main focus for the business development efforts of hotel chains. According to HVS research in January 2012, amongst the top five hotel chains in Asia Pacific by number of rooms, Home Inns tops the list with 147,524 rooms across 174 cities in China; followed by Jin Jiang Hotels Group with 93,520 rooms; Europe-based giants, IHG and Accor and Nasdaq-listed 7 Days Inn. Three of the five - Home Inns, Jin Jiang and 7 Days Inn are all China homegrown hotel chains.

One of the interesting points is that Home Inns and Jin Jiang Inns have adopted merger and acquisition strategy to expand. Jin Jiang Hotels acquired a stake in IHR in March 2010, while Home Inns successfully completed its acquisition of Motel 168 International Holdings Limited in September 2011. Is merger and acquisition a sustainable viable expansion strategy for hotel chains? At CHIC 2012, Yang Weimin, Chairman, Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) Company Limited will present a case study review of its successful acquisition of InterState Hotels & Resorts; David Sun, CEO, Home Inns will also share insights into the Motel 168 transaction.

Among the five hotel chains mentioned, the three China-based firms (Home Inns, Jin Jiang Hotels, 7 Days Inn) have focused largely on the economy and mid-tier segments, which gives indication of the potential and size of this segment. The hotel chains are also taking it one-step further to create organic growth by diversifying its brand portfolio. Senior decision-makers will share topics discussed in the boardroom on brand strategy and profile. CHIC 2012 also welcomes Xu Shuguang, Chairman & CEO, GreenTree Inn Chain; Chen Han, CEO, Super 8 Hotel (China) Co., Ltd; Christopher Zhang, Vice President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and other leaders from the sector sharing their insights.

Within the exponential growing market, hotel chains are pursuing the essence of a new breed of hospitality brand required for China. Join James Stuart, Founder, The Brand Company at CHIC 2012 discussing what are the critical success factors for such brands? Which are the most successful Navigator hospitality brands in China today? Where will we see such brands emerging in the future? What are the likely advantages of being global versus local, new, versus established in becoming a Navigator hospitality brand in China and for Chinese travellers elsewhere?

Organised by HVS, co-hosted by China Tourism Academy and Beijing International Studies University, the 8th China Hotel Investment Conference will be held on April 18-20, 2012 at Grand Hyatt Shanghai. For registration and more information, please visit www.chinahotelconference.com, or call +86 21 5171 7003.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts has signed a management agreement with Magnolia Finest Corporation to introduce the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Southeast Asia, which will also be Hilton Worldwide's ninth property in Thailand. Scheduled to open in 2015, the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok will be located on Ratchadamri Road in Bangkok's Patumwan District, and will form part of a 60-storey mixed-use tower. The hotel will feature 170 guestrooms (including 34 suites) with a minimum size of 50 square metres, making them one of the largest hotel rooms in Bangkok. The hotel will have two spacious ballrooms and nine meeting rooms, a fitness centre and spa, as well as an outdoor pool. Hilton Worldwide currently manages six properties in Thailand including Conrad Bangkok, Millennium Hilton Bangkok, Hilton Pattaya, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa and Conrad Koh Samui.