Mid-range hotels grow in China on consumption upgrade of the middle class

Boosted by the emerging middle class in China, international mid-end hotel brands have expanded quickly through franchising in the country.

As at the end of last year, China had 2,342 mid-end hotels, up nearly 34 percent year-on-year. The number of budget hotels reached 21,808, up 10.5 percent from the previous year, according to the China Hospitality Association.

Holiday Inn Express, the largest among such hotels, will continue to penetrate third-and fourth-tier cities in the country.