China Lodging Group (Hanting) signed contracts with the Huaqiao Economic Development Zone and formally settled in the Huaqiao International Service Business Park on July 31. The signing ceremony was attended by: Ji Qi, chairman of the board and CEO of Hanting; Guan Aiguo, secretary of the Party Working Committee of Huaqiao; and Shen Huafei, deputy director of the management committee.

Hanting will register a new group company - Huazhu Hotels Group - with a total investment of 300 million yuan ($47 million) and a floor area of nearly 37,000 square meters. As the world-class headquarters of Hanting, Huazhu will integrate Hanting’s hotel brands and “edge itself into the top 10 in the world lodging industry” by leveraging advantages and governmental support.

Since the establishment of its first hotel in Kunshan in July 2005, Hanting has grown rapidly. In March 2010, Hanting went public on the Nasdaq. It now operates more than 900 hotels in 130 cities and has 22,000 staff members. Its hotel brands range from low-end to high-end, and it plans to launch a five-star hotel brand based on All Seasons, Hanting, Starway and Hi Inn.

Edited by Lin Hong and Michael Thai