Major hotel brands see big opportunity in Asia

24 January 2007

Major hotel brands have set their sights on Asia as the next big market for the industry.

Hilton Hotels Corp., which earlier this year acquired it's the UK-based Hilton and international rights to the Hilton name, says the group has major investment plans for Asia, including India and China.

Matthew Hart, president and chief operating officer, Hilton Hotels Corp, told an industry conference in Los Angeles, that investing in India, with its "long history of English law," is more straightforward than China, which requires more caution.

On the other hand Steven Rudnitsky, president and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide Corp.'s hotel group, which also operates brands like Days Inn and Ramada find "China an enormous opportunity for us."

He said China's first Wyndham hotel is slated to open later this year and the company's Super 8 economy chain has proven particularly popular. "Eight is a very lucky number for China. Our partner has opened 50 properties so far," Rudnitsky said.