Core Insights - The founder and chairman of Huazhu Group, Ji Qi, expressed a strong bullish outlook on China's hotel industry, predicting that the largest hotel group will emerge from China in the future [2] - Ji Qi emphasized the need for supply-side reforms in the hotel industry, focusing on chain development, brand enhancement, and expansion into lower-tier markets [2] Industry Overview - The Chinese hotel industry faces a "large but weak" issue, characterized by a vast number of hotel rooms but a low percentage of large, chain hotels. As of December 31, 2024, there are over 340,000 hotels and more than 17.64 million rooms in China, with small hotels (fewer than 70 rooms) making up 48.09% of the total [2] - The chain hotel rate in China is 40.09%, significantly lower than the over 70% rate in the United States [2] Market Segmentation - Ji Qi categorized the Chinese market into three tiers: developed markets (first-tier and strong second-tier cities), provincial markets (second-tier cities), and county markets (third and fourth-tier cities), highlighting the significant growth potential in county markets due to low chain hotel rates [3] - The market is also segmented by consumer spending power into luxury, middle-class, and budget segments, with over 400 million middle-income individuals driving high-quality development in the hotel industry [3] - Age demographics are another segmentation factor, with distinct consumption characteristics among youth (18-35 years), middle-aged (36-59 years), and seniors (60 years and above), particularly noting the higher aesthetic demands of younger consumers [3] Opportunities and Trends - The industry is entering a period of overlapping opportunities, driven by increased market pressure, the return of assets to their investment essence, and the rise of franchise models [3] - AI technology is expected to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, while a strong manufacturing base can provide high-quality, cost-effective supply chains [3] - The potential of county markets is significant, with lower reset costs for franchise hotels due to deflation and the new normal [3] Business Developments - Huazhu Group recently launched a new brand, "All Seasons Grand View," featuring a design that incorporates Eastern aesthetics [4] - The company introduced the "Haiyou Fully Self-Service Hotel," with a construction cost of 57,100 yuan per room and a total investment of approximately 3 million yuan for 45 rooms, achieving a human-to-room ratio of 0.1 [4] - Ji Qi previously indicated that the future growth of the hotel industry lies in the franchise model, moving away from traditional developer and landmark models [4] Company Performance - In the first half of 2025, Huazhu Group reported total revenue of 11.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.5%, and a net profit of approximately 2.4 billion yuan, up 41.2% [6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the same period was 3.8 billion yuan, reflecting a 9% year-on-year growth [6]
华住集团季琦：酒店业增长空间在连锁化、品牌化、县域市场