China’s Hospitality Industry Soaring to New Heights
China's hospitality industry is doing well right now as three major hotel chains in the past announced this week that they will be opening new hotels in China. China has become a very important market in the hospitality industry as more and more people are choosing to visit China while more Chinese are making visits around the country and staying in hotels in China. China received over 56 million international visits in 2010 and is also world's third largest market for outbound tourists.
Marriott announces 100th Hotel in China
Marriott International only yesterday announced that it will build its 100th hotel in China, the 345-room JW Marriott Hotel Shenyang. Currently, the Marriott brand has 56 hotels in China, with another 44 in progress. Ever since Marriott International built its first hotel in China in 1998, the company has seen tremendous growth in the market and the Chinese hospitality industry as the brand resonates with Chinese guests as well as international guests. To continue its commitment to the East, the US-based hotel chain has established an office in Hong Kong with its own president so it can be responsive to any changes to the market.
DoubleTree by Hilton Opens 7th Hotel in China in Chongqing
Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton are also leveraging the growth of China's hospitality industry, and DoubleTree by Hilton is opening a new hotel in China in one of the country's largest municipalities. Conveniently located in the heart of Chongqing and adjacent to the famous BeiChengTianJie commercial and recreational promenade, this newly built 284-room hotel in China is connected to the luxury Starlight 68 shopping mall and Sincere Center Office Building, and is a 10-minute drive to the Chongqing North Railway Station. This new hotel in China for the upscale, full-service brand is part of a strong hotel development pipeline that is expected to lead to more than 30 DoubleTree by Hilton hotels and resorts opening in key city center and leisure destinations across the country during the next few years.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Leading the Way with New Hotels in China
Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently has 86 hotels open in China and nearly 100 more in development, expecting to open one hotel in China every two weeks through the end of 2011. Nearly half of Starwood's future hotels in China will be under the Sheraton brand, building on the brand's 30-year legacy in the country. Starwood is also increasing the presence of its Westin brand, planning to open new hotels in China in key cities such as Ningbo, Xian and Xiamen. The Westin brand has also opened new hotels in China in cities like Nanjing and Wuhan. On top of all this, Starwood just relocated its global headquarters to Shanghai this past summer.
With such growth in each of these three major hotel chains, and probably many more, it's very likely that demand may outpace supply in just a few years. China is going through a major development boom, with many cities growing in population and in business prominence. If major hotel chains keep doing what they are doing in to the hospitality industry in China, then the Asian beast could have an excellent tourism industry to serve both the Chinese and international visitors.