Core Viewpoint - The hotel industry is expected to continue growing due to a supply-demand flywheel effect, with a potential rebalancing of supply and demand at the current cycle's adjustment bottom. Huazhu Group is positioned to leverage its multi-brand matrix and over 300 million members to drive scale expansion and profitability [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The hotel industry is experiencing a two-year adjustment bottom, with a forecasted rebalancing of supply and demand. The leisure travel sector is showing steady growth, while business travel demand is declining. Leading companies are shifting their strategies from prioritizing occupancy to optimizing RevPAR to stabilize prices [2]. - The structural opportunities on the supply side are becoming more apparent, with the chain rate expected to increase from 40% (in the U.S. at 72%) to 60-70%, corresponding to a potential room supply increase of 30-109% [2]. Group 2: Huazhu Group's Growth Model - Huazhu has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% in both store count and performance over the past 15 years, driven by strategic foresight and a highly efficient digital organization. The company has established a growth flywheel in the limited-service hotel sector through strong product offerings, significant member traffic, high returns, and aggressive scale expansion [3]. - The company has a diverse product range from economy to mid-range hotels, with brands like Hanting and Qianxi catering to different customer needs. Its membership base of over 300 million is the largest in the industry, with over 60% of bookings coming from central reservations [3]. Group 3: Value Reassessment - Huazhu is expected to expand its store count significantly, with projections of reaching 18,000 economy and mid-range hotels by 2030, leading the market share [4]. - The company is in a phase of brand upgrading, with mid-range brands poised for growth. The estimated annual fees for mid-range hotels are projected to be 1.5-3 times higher than those for lower-end hotels, which could enhance profitability and valuation [4]. - The company is also transitioning towards a light-asset model, which is expected to support stable cash flows and provide a shareholder return of over 5%, potentially leading to valuation premiums [4].