H World Group Accelerates Hotel Expansion and Brand Upgrades in Q1 2025, Strengthens Position as Hospitality Leader

Core Insights - H World Group Limited reported strong growth and continued momentum in its asset-light transformation and brand loyalty in the first quarter of 2025 [1] Group 1: Hotel Openings and Operations - H World Group achieved 538 net hotel openings in Q1 2025, bringing the total number of hotels in operation to 11,685 [2] - The total number of rooms worldwide reached 1,142,158, reflecting a 20% increase year-over-year [2] - The company operates in 1,394 cities across China, with plans to expand to 2,000 cities in the future [2] - As of March 31, H World had a pipeline of 2,888 hotels [2] Group 2: Asset-Light Strategy - Revenue from manachised and franchised hotels increased by 21% year-over-year to RMB 2.5 billion (approximately US$344 million) [3] - The manachise model combines the scalability of franchising with operational control, facilitating efficient and brand-consistent growth [3] Group 3: Loyalty and Direct Bookings - H Rewards membership reached 277 million, making it one of the largest loyalty platforms in the global hospitality industry [4] - Direct bookings from members accounted for over 65% of total reservations, a 5.4 percentage point increase year-on-year [4] Group 4: Experience Upgrade Initiatives - The company is advancing product upgrade initiatives to enhance consumer experience across core brands [5] - The upper-midscale segment saw a 36% year-on-year increase in operating hotels and a 22% expansion in the development pipeline [5] Group 5: Future Outlook - The CEO expressed confidence in achieving the full-year target of approximately 2,300 gross hotel openings [6] - The company will continue to focus on high-quality network expansion, brand positioning, service excellence, and strengthening sales capabilities centered around the H Rewards program [6]