7 Days charts course for expansion

Budget hotel chain 7 Days Group plans to have 1,800 hotels under its fold over the next five years by setting up more new units as part of its efforts to catch up with industry leader Home Inn, according to its founder.

The third-largest budget hotel group in China said it plans to have 320 hotels under its umbrella by the end of this year, compared with five four years back, said Alex Zheng, chief executive officer of the company.

"We will see strong growth over the next few years. Our network will expand 40 percent annually to 1,800 in 2014," said Zheng.