Summary of Hotel Industry and Atour's Retail Business Conference Call Industry Overview - The hotel industry is experiencing a gradual recovery, with RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) decline narrowing each quarter, particularly for Huazhu, which has nearly returned to last year's levels in Q3, driven mainly by room prices while occupancy rates remain stable [1][2] - Recent high-frequency data indicates that the improvement in RevPAR is likely temporary, influenced by factors such as trade shows and holiday periods [1][4] - Despite a slowdown in store expansion, the supply of hotel rooms continues to grow at a fast pace, with franchisees remaining cautious about future demand recovery, particularly in business travel [1][5] Key Insights on Atour - Atour has achieved significant success in its new retail business, maintaining over 70% growth, effectively utilizing its membership base of 100 million and nearly 2,000 hotels [1][9] - The retail business is closely related to hotel services, with strong sales in sleep-related products, such as mattresses and pillows, expected to generate over 1 billion yuan in sales in 2024 [3][11] - The current franchisee landscape has shifted from small operators to larger franchisees, who prioritize cash flow stability and are willing to accept longer payback periods of around 5 years [6][7] Future Outlook - The overall sentiment among franchisees regarding future demand recovery remains cautious, with a notable decline in business travel demand and general consumer behavior leaning towards budget travel [5][8] - The supply side continues to show high growth rates, indicating persistent pressure on supply despite a slight decrease [5][8] - Atour's retail business is expected to continue growing, with projections indicating that retail revenue could reach approximately 4 billion yuan by the end of 2025, contributing 30%-40% of total revenue [10][14] Retail Business Development - Atour's retail strategy focuses on leveraging its hotel service experience to sell related products, with a significant emphasis on sleep-related items [11][12] - The company has effectively utilized new media platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu for content-driven e-commerce, enhancing brand recognition and user loyalty [13][14] - The retail business serves as a counterbalance to pressures in the hotel sector, helping maintain stable overall revenue growth [14][15] Challenges and Considerations - The increase in sales expenses, particularly due to investments in new media advertising, raises questions about the sustainability of Atour's original sales advantages [15][16] - Monitoring the transition from public to private user channels is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of Atour's user retention strategies [16][17] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call regarding the hotel industry and Atour's strategic initiatives in retail, highlighting both opportunities and challenges ahead.