Core Viewpoint - Haiyou, a budget hotel brand under Huazhu Group, aims to achieve a "thousand-store scale" by enhancing its product offerings and operational efficiency, despite previous setbacks in expansion [1][6]. Group 1: Business Strategy and Expansion - Haiyou previously set a goal to expand from 464 stores in 2020 to 1,500 by the end of 2023, but has only added about 230 stores, reaching over 700 by August this year [1][6]. - The CEO of Huazhu Group acknowledged that Haiyou initially limited its target audience to younger demographics, neglecting a broader market that includes middle-aged and older customers [1]. - Haiyou has introduced a new product, the fully self-service hotel, moving away from previous iterations to better meet market demands [1][5]. Group 2: Product Offering and Customer Experience - The fully self-service model aims to drastically reduce labor costs while reallocating savings to enhance room quality, positioning itself against higher-end brands like All Seasons [2][5]. - Haiyou's new offerings include larger room sizes, ergonomic mattresses, and improved amenities, all while maintaining cost efficiency [5][10]. - The self-service model allows guests to check in quickly and access various facilities independently, promoting a balance between efficiency and customer service [8][10]. Group 3: Market Trends and Consumer Behavior - Consumer preferences are shifting towards value-driven accommodations, with a notable trend of travelers opting for budget-friendly options, even unconventional ones like camping [7][8]. - Traditional budget hotels face challenges due to outdated offerings and inflated pricing, creating a gap in the market that Haiyou aims to fill with its innovative model [8][10]. - Data indicates that the fully self-service hotel model is gaining traction, with several locations achieving high occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR) exceeding 230 yuan [10][11]. Group 4: Investment Potential - The fully self-service hotel model is characterized by low investment costs, with a new single room costing approximately 57,100 yuan, making it an attractive option for investors [10]. - The operational efficiency of the self-service model allows for a significantly reduced staff-to-room ratio, enhancing profitability [10][11]. - Haiyou's approach is positioned as a "king of investment efficiency" in the budget hotel sector, promising high returns with minimal investment [10][11].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that the largest hotel group will emerge in China, driven by supply-side reform in the hotel industry [1] - As of 2024, the chain rate of hotels in China is 40%, compared to 72% in the US and 44% in the EU, indicating significant room for growth in China's hotel chain market [1][2] - The potential for growth exists in both first and second-tier cities as well as in third and fourth-tier county markets, with a particular emphasis on the substantial growth potential in third and fourth-tier cities [2] Group 2 - The hotel industry is experiencing increased pressure in the existing market due to a decrease in business travel and a rise in inbound tourism, highlighting the potential of the county tourism market [2] - The trend towards franchise hotels is expected to lower the cost of re-establishing franchises and brands, driving supply-side transformation in the industry [2] - The competition within the industry is seen as a norm that can lead to continuous improvement in supply-side dynamics, with a shift from single units to chains and from star ratings to brands [2] Group 3 - Huazhu Group is enhancing its product matrix, recently launching the Haiyou fully self-service hotel, which has a construction cost of 57,100 yuan per room and a total investment of 3 million yuan for 45 rooms [3] - The company introduced a new brand, "All Seasons Grand View," as part of its strategy to focus on brand development as a core competitive advantage [3] - The vision of Huazhu is to become the foundational infrastructure of the accommodation industry in China [3]

Core Viewpoint - The largest hotel group is expected to emerge from China, with significant opportunities in the supply-side reform of the hotel industry [1]. Group 1: Market Potential - As of 2024, the chain rate of hotels in China is projected to be 40%, compared to 72% in the U.S. and 44% in the EU, indicating substantial room for growth in China's hotel chain market [2]. - The hotel industry in China has considerable potential for growth, particularly in third and fourth-tier cities, despite a decrease in business travel and an increase in inbound tourism [3]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics - The current market pressure is increasing due to a growing stock market, but the county-level tourism market presents significant opportunities [3]. - Competition within the industry is seen as a norm, with appropriate competition driving continuous supply-side improvements [3]. Group 3: Company Strategy - Huazhu Group is enhancing its product matrix, recently launching the Haiyou fully self-service hotel, which has a construction cost of 57,100 yuan per room and a total investment of 3 million yuan for 45 rooms [3]. - The company aims to establish itself as a brand-centric organization, aspiring to become the foundational infrastructure of China's accommodation industry [3].

Core Insights - H World Group reported a revenue of 60 billion yuan in Q4 2024, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%, with hotel revenue reaching 237 billion yuan, up 16.5% [1] - For the full year 2024, the company achieved a total revenue of 239 billion yuan, reflecting a 9.2% increase, while hotel revenue was 928 billion yuan, marking a 15.5% growth [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, H World Group's hotel revenue was 237 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 16.5% [1] - The total revenue for the year 2024 was 239 billion yuan, which is a 9.2% increase compared to the previous year [1] - The company reported a total hotel revenue of 928 billion yuan for the year, reflecting a growth of 15.5% [1] Group 2: Operational Metrics - H World Group's occupancy rate in China was 81.2% in 2024, with a slight increase of 0.2 percentage points year-on-year [2] - The average daily rate (ADR) in China was 289 yuan, while the revenue per available room (RevPAR) was 235 yuan, indicating stable performance [2] - Internationally, key operational metrics for H World Group showed growth, with ADR increasing by 1.5%, occupancy rate rising by 2.7 percentage points, and RevPAR up by 5.9% [2] Group 3: Market Expansion - By the end of 2024, H World Group had 11,025 hotels in operation in China, covering 1,380 cities, an increase of 123 cities from the previous year [3] - The proportion of hotels in third-tier cities and below increased by 2 percentage points to 42% [3] - The company has 2,988 hotels under development, with 54% of these located in third-tier cities and below, which is 12 percentage points higher than the proportion of operating hotels [3] Group 4: Product and Brand Development - H World Group launched new hotel models, including "Hello 2.0" and "Haiyou," focusing on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency [7][8] - The company reported that 36% of its HanTing hotels are now rated 3.5 stars and above, a 15 percentage point increase from the previous year [9] - The number of mid-to-high-end hotels in operation and under development grew by 35%, reaching 873 and 521 respectively [11] Group 5: Strategic Outlook - H World Group aims to continue its focus on high-quality development and expand its presence in lower-tier cities and untapped markets [11] - The company plans to enhance its brand and service quality, emphasizing customer-centric strategies and product upgrades [11] - H World Group is positioned as a "pathfinder" in the hotel industry, committed to improving service quality in response to government initiatives aimed at boosting consumption [12]