China set for massive rise in hotel numbers

BEIJING - One international-brand hotel is expected to open in China every four days during the next 18 months, making the country one of the world's fastest-growing markets for the hospitality industry.

However, rising costs will present a challenge to the sector, according to the property agency Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

As many as 84,000 new rooms will be provided by international hotel chains in 30 major Chinese cities between the end of 2010 and 2013, according to the China Hotel Market Outlook 2011, a report released on Wednesday by the Chicago-based hotel investment services company.