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.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), a leading UK-based hotel operator, has announced the launch of a long-awaited new brand for the Chinese market. The new chain will be called Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts and its first hotel is expected to open in late 2013. Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts' name is derived from the Chinese word 'hua' for majestic and the English word 'luxe' for luxury. The hotel is targeted at more traditional Chinese consumers who value teahouses over western-style bars and intimate private dining rooms over banquet halls. IHG, which already owns a high-end hotel brand, Crowne Plaza, has signed 20 letters of intent with property developers to build Hualuxe hotels across the country, especially in second-tier and third-tier cities. The group aims to open Hualuxe hotels in 100 cities across China in the next 15 to 20 years and is also mulling extending the Chinese-featured brand overseas.