H World Group has reported a robust growth rate in the first quarter 2025. Financial results show that 538 new hotels have been opened by the H World Group, increasing the number of operating hotels to 11,685. The number of rooms in the world has increased by 20% to 1,142,158.
The group now has 1,394 cities under its belt in China. It plans to expand to 2,000 cities including major hubs, remote areas and other cities. H World’s pipeline included 2,888 hotels as of the end the first quarter.
H World’s asset-light approach has led to a 21% increase in revenue for franchised and operated hotels. This amounts to RMB 2.55 billion ($344 million). The company has seen its growth largely due to the unique’manachise” model that combines franchising and operational control.
H World Group’s loyalty program H Rewards has 277 million members as of the end of Q1, which makes it the largest loyalty platform in the hospitality industry. Direct bookings by members accounted over 65% for total reservations. This indicates increased digital engagement and improved margins as well as a higher customer lifetime value.
The company has also improved the customer experience in its core brands such as Hanting, JI and Orange. A significant number of these properties have undergone upgrades. The upper-midscale segment has seen rapid growth during the first quarter. This includes brands such as Intercity Hotel Crystal Orange Hotel MAXX By Steigenberger Hotel and CitiGo Hotel.
H World Group is aiming to meet its network expansion goal of approximately 2,300 new gross hotels in the year. The company will continue to pursue its asset-light approach, focusing on a high-quality expansion of the network, improving brand positioning and strengthening sales abilities centered around H Rewards.
