Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The group's revenue grew by 4.5% year over year to RMB 6.4 billion, near the high end of previous guidance [15] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 11.3% year over year to RMB 2.3 billion, while adjusted net income increased by 7.6% year over year to RMB 1.3 billion [16] - The managed and franchised business revenue reported a robust 22.8% year over year growth to RMB 2.9 billion, with gross operating profit rising by 23.2% year over year to RMB 1.9 billion [17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The hotel group's GMV grew by 15% year over year, with a member base increase of 17.5% year over year to nearly 290 million [7] - The number of rooms in operation increased by 18.3% year over year, contributing to high-quality network expansion [6] - The lease and own business revenue and gross operating profit decreased by 7.6% and 13.4% year over year, respectively [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The domestic number of travelers continues to grow steadily, but the hotel industry faces challenges due to increased hotel supply and macroeconomic factors affecting business travel [6] - The company observed a slight year-over-year decline in RevPAR for the third quarter, influenced by macro uncertainties and increased supply [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on high-quality growth, emphasizing prime locations in major cities and further penetration into lower-tier cities [6] - The launch of Hanqing 4.0 represents a significant supply chain reform aimed at achieving lower costs and higher quality [10] - The company aims to reach a strategic target of 20,000 hotels in 2,000 cities in the mid-term, with a focus on the economy and middle-scale segments [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the overall performance during the summer holiday was slightly below expectations, leading to a revised outlook for RevPAR for the full year [24] - The company is actively seeking rental reductions and optimizing revenue management to maintain healthy margins in the lease and own business [35] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential of the Orange and Intercity brands, with plans for continued expansion and product upgrades [50] Other Important Information - The company declared a USD 250 million interim cash dividend, representing 74% of the first half net profit, along with a share buyback of approximately USD 62 million [20] - The company is committed to enhancing membership benefits and improving direct sales capabilities through the Edge Rewards program [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for RevPAR in Q3 and 2025 - Management expects a slight year-over-year decline in RevPAR for Q3, with full-year performance anticipated to be slightly below previous guidance due to macro uncertainties and increased supply [24][26] Question: Impact of New Hotel Openings on Existing Hotels - Management acknowledged potential cannibalization from new hotel openings but emphasized ongoing product upgrades and rational positioning for new openings to mitigate negative impacts [28] Question: Strategic Focus on Asset-Light vs. Asset-Heavy Segments - Management highlighted the ongoing asset-light transformation, with a stable gross margin in the asset-light business and a gradual reduction in exposure to the asset-heavy segment [34][36] Question: Store Expansion and Franchise Sentiment - Management indicated a strict approach to new signings, focusing on high-quality locations and ensuring franchisee profitability, while maintaining a healthy pace of new openings [40] Question: Supply Chain Strengthening and Cost Reduction - Management detailed efforts to enhance supply chain capabilities, achieving a 10-20% cost decline in materials and a 30-day reduction in construction periods for new products [55]

Q2 2025 Key Highlights - Hotel GMV reached RMB 26911 million[22] - Legacy-Huazhu RevPAR decreased by 38% year-over-year[12,24] - Legacy-DH RevPAR increased by 81% year-over-year[12,26] - Total number of rooms in operation increased by 183% year-over-year, reaching 1184915[12,14,21] - H Rewards members increased by 175% year-over-year, totaling 288 million[12,15,62] - Room nights booked by members increased by 288% year-over-year, exceeding 60 million[12,16] - Manachised and Franchised (M&F) revenue increased by 228% year-over-year, reaching RMB 29 billion[18,75] - Total revenue increased by 45% year-over-year, reaching RMB 64 billion[18,70] - Total Adjusted EBITDA increased by 113% year-over-year, reaching RMB 23 billion[19,70] - Adjusted Diluted EPS increased by 95% year-over-year, reaching RMB 042[19] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was RMB 6426 million, a 45% increase year-over-year[18,70] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was RMB 2270 million, an 113% increase year-over-year[19,70] - M&F revenue for Q2 2025 was RMB 2865 million, a 228% increase year-over-year[18,75] - M&F Gross Operating Profit for Q2 2025 was RMB 1896 million, a 232% increase year-over-year[18,77] Network and Product Development - Hanting Hotels ranked No1 on the "World's Top 50 Hotel Brands" list with 378569 rooms in operation as of June 30, 2025[30,32,117] - The company is enhancing its presence in lower-tier cities[46] - The company is stepping up the development of the upper-midscale segment, with a 233% year-over-year increase in the number of upper-midscale hotels in operation and pipeline[50,51] Guidance - The company projects M&F revenue to grow 20%-24% in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024[101] - The company projects total revenue to grow 2%-6% in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024, or 4%-8% excluding DH[103]

Core Insights - H World Group Limited has entered the Laotian market by signing four hotel management agreements, marking a significant step in its international growth strategy and expansion in Southeast Asia [1][3][4] Company Expansion - The signing ceremony took place in Vientiane, Laos, on May 29, 2025, and represents H World's first entry into the country, aligning with its "asset-light and internationalization" strategy [1][3] - The new properties will be developed in collaboration with three investment partners: Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., Yuting Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd., and KP Construction Sole Co., Ltd. [2][4] Project Details - The four hotels will feature H World's core upper-midscale and midscale brands, located in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, which are major tourist destinations [4] - Specific hotel projects include: - Intercity Hotel Vientiane, opening in early 2026, near Wattay International Airport [7] - Intercity Hotel Luang Prabang, expected to open in 2027, located in the historic city center [7] - JI Hotel Vientiane Mekong Riverside, set to open in early 2026, along the Mekong River [7] - Orange Hotel Vientiane International Airport, expected to open in Q3 2026, marking the brand's global debut outside China [7] Market Context - In 2024, Laos saw over 1.97 million international tourists, a more than threefold increase year-on-year, with Chinese tourists making up over 60% of the visitors [5]

Core Viewpoint - H World Group Limited reported its unaudited financial results for Q1 2025, showing a year-over-year revenue increase of 2.2% to RMB5.4 billion (US$744 million) and a significant net income growth of 35.7% to RMB894 million (US$123 million) [4][21][22]. Financial Performance - Total hotel turnover increased by 14.3% year-over-year to RMB22.5 billion in Q1 2025, with a 15.3% increase excluding Legacy-DH [4]. - Revenue from manachised and franchised hotels rose by 21.1% year-over-year to RMB2.5 billion (US$344 million) [12]. - Revenue from the Legacy-Huazhu segment was RMB4.5 billion, a 5.5% year-over-year increase, while the Legacy-DH segment saw a decline of 11.3% to RMB918 million [4][9]. Operational Highlights - As of March 31, 2025, H World operated 11,685 hotels with 1,142,158 rooms, including 11,564 hotels from Legacy-Huazhu and 121 from Legacy-DH [2][37]. - The company opened 694 hotels in Q1 2025, contributing to a total of 2,888 hotels in the pipeline [2][8]. - The average daily room rate (ADR) for Legacy-Huazhu hotels was RMB272, with an occupancy rate of 76.2% [5][6]. Cost and Expenses - Total operating costs and expenses in Q1 2025 were RMB4.4 billion, reflecting a slight increase of 0.5% year-over-year [14]. - Hotel operating costs were RMB3.6 billion, a 1.1% year-over-year increase, primarily due to a 4.2% increase in Legacy-Huazhu costs [14]. Cash Flow and Debt - Operating cash inflow for Q1 2025 was RMB580 million (US$80 million), while investing cash inflow was RMB757 million (US$103 million) [24]. - As of March 31, 2025, the company had total cash and cash equivalents of RMB8.2 billion (US$1.1 billion) and total debt of RMB5.3 billion (US$726 million) [25][24]. Future Guidance - For Q2 2025, H World expects revenue growth in the range of 1%-5%, or 3%-7% excluding Legacy-DH, with manachised and franchised revenue growth anticipated at 18%-22% [26].