Hilton to launch new brands in China, eyes presence in 320 cities

SCMP | Oct. 22, 2025, 10 p.m. | Original

Hilton opened the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan on Monday. Photo: Handout

Global hotel chain operator Hilton plans to double down on brands that can meet evolving lifestyle demands and offer luxury experiences in mainland China, reinforcing its rapid expansion in the world’s second-largest economy.

“From my perspective, hotel rooms do not have to be very big, but they have to feature elegant designs and decor to impress customers, giving them a sense of inspiration,” Qian said. “As hotel managers, we are trying to add a new dimension to lifestyle to cater to Chinese consumers’ demands.”

Hilton, which operates 11 brands in China, including Conrad and Waldorf Astoria, currently has 888 outlets under management on the mainland, nearly sixfold the around 150 it had at the end of 2018. Qian said the company’s recent new signings included Waldorf Astoria Shenzhen, LXR Hotels & Resorts in Tianjin, Conrad Zhoushan and Hyssan Hotel Quanzhou.

Shanghai is the third city in the world to have two Waldorf Astoria hotels, after Doha and Dubai. Photo: Handout
Shanghai is the third city in the world to have two Waldorf Astoria hotels, after Doha and Dubai. Photo: Handout

The company now manages hotels in 280 Chinese destinations. Qian said Hilton would have a presence in more than 30 additional Chinese locations in the near future, with the total potentially growing to 320.

Its closest rival, InterContinental, managed 740 hotels as of August 2024.

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