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Orange Hotel Shanghai Tianlin Road – Image Credit H World Group
H World Group reported robust growth in the first quarter of 2025. According to the group’s financial results, the group has achieved 538 net hotel openings, bringing the total number of operational hotels worldwide to 11,685. The total number of rooms worldwide has reached 1,142,158, a 20% increase from the previous year.
The group has broadened its reach to 1,394 cities across China and plans to expand into 2,000 cities, including major hubs and remote regions. As of the end of the first quarter, H World had 2,888 hotels in its pipeline.
In line with its asset-light strategy, H World has seen a 21% year-over-year rise in revenue from franchised and managed hotels, amounting to RMB 2.5 billion (US$344 million). The company’s distinctive ‘manachise’ model, which combines the scalability of franchising with operational control, has been a key element in its growth.
H World Group’s loyalty program, H Rewards, has reached a membership of 277 million by the end of Q1, making it one of the largest loyalty platforms in the global hospitality industry. Direct bookings from members accounted for over 65% of total reservations, denoting increased digital engagement, improved margins, and higher customer lifetime value.
The company has also made strides in enhancing customer experience across its core brands, including Hanting, JI, and Orange. Upgrades have been implemented in a significant percentage of these hotels. The first quarter has also seen rapid growth in the upper-midscale segment, which includes brands like Intercity Hotel, Crystal Orange Hotel, MAXX by Steigenberger, and CitiGo Hotel.
H World Group aims to achieve its full-year network expansion target of approximately 2,300 gross hotel openings. The company plans to continue its asset-light strategy, focusing on high-quality network expansion, enhancing brand positioning, and strengthening sales capabilities centered around the H Rewards membership program.
