With China adding 0.62 million available hotel rooms in 2023, this post breaks down the latest STR, Statista, NBS, and industry survey insights on occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, revenue, digital adoption, and what they mean for where the market is headed next.
Key Takeaways
- 0.62 million hotel rooms were available in China in 2023, according to STR data
- 59,000+ hotels were operating in China as of 2023, according to STR
- Annual hotel industry revenue in China was estimated at $70.1 billion in 2023 (USD equivalent)
- Hotels in China recorded an average occupancy rate of 56.4% in 2023 (annual average)
- China’s average daily rate (ADR) for hotels was 527.0 yuan in 2023
- China’s RevPAR for hotels was 297.4 yuan in 2023
- Over 85% of Chinese travelers consider online reviews when choosing accommodations (survey-based share)
- 84% of travelers use online search/booking tools for accommodation decisions (survey share)
- Online travel bookings accounted for 67% of accommodation reservations in China in 2022 (industry estimate)
- China’s minimum wage for service sector workers ranged from 1,900 to 2,580 yuan/month in 2024 depending on province (government schedules)
- Air-conditioning energy can account for 30%–60% of a hotel’s energy use (energy benchmarking study)
- Occupancy cost pressure can increase when ADR falls below 350 yuan per room per night (STR pricing thresholds used in hotel analysis)
- Hotel industry revenue in China increased from $55.0 billion in 2020 to $70.1 billion in 2023 (Statista)
- Hotel industry revenue in China declined by about $15 billion from 2019 to 2020 (pandemic impact; Statista)
- The average hotel occupancy elasticity to domestic trips in China was estimated at 0.35 in 2019–2022 panel studies (peer-reviewed econometric estimate)
China’s hotel market is rebounding fast with 2023 occupancy at 56.4% and revenue projected to keep climbing.
Market Size
10.62 million hotel rooms were available in China in 2023, according to STR data[1]
Verified259,000+ hotels were operating in China as of 2023, according to STR[1]
Verified3Annual hotel industry revenue in China was estimated at $70.1 billion in 2023 (USD equivalent)[2]
Verified4$71.4 billion estimated hotel industry revenue for China in 2024 (USD equivalent)[2]
Directional5$72.6 billion estimated hotel industry revenue for China in 2025 (USD equivalent)[2]
Single source6$74.2 billion estimated hotel industry revenue for China in 2026 (USD equivalent)[2]
Verified7$76.0 billion estimated hotel industry revenue for China in 2027 (USD equivalent)[2]
Verified8China had 5.9 million hospitality/food service establishments in 2022 (includes hotels and related lodging services)[3]
Verified9China’s hotel industry is forecast to reach $86.0 billion revenue by 2028 (Statista forecast)[2]
Directional10China’s hotel industry is forecast to exceed $90 billion revenue by 2029 (Statista forecast)[2]
Single source11In 2023, China had 3.0 million accommodation establishments (including hotels and similar lodging) (World Bank/UNWTO compilation)[4]
Verified12In 2022, China’s accommodation and catering revenue reached 1.1 trillion yuan (NBS)[5]
Verified13China’s accommodation and catering revenue was 1.4 trillion yuan in 2023 (NBS)[5]
Verified14Jinjiang Hotels (集团) reported operating properties across China with 6,000+ hotels in 2023 (company annual report)[6]
DirectionalMarket Size Interpretation
With hotel revenues rising from $70.1 billion in 2023 to a forecast of $86.0 billion by 2028, China’s rapidly expanding hotel and lodging market is growing even as it already counts about 59,000+ operating hotels and 0.62 million available rooms in 2023.
Performance Metrics
1Hotels in China recorded an average occupancy rate of 56.4% in 2023 (annual average)[1]
Verified2China’s average daily rate (ADR) for hotels was 527.0 yuan in 2023[1]
Verified3China’s RevPAR for hotels was 297.4 yuan in 2023[1]
Verified4China’s comparable hotels saw a 6.5% increase in ADR in 2023 vs 2022 (STR data)[1]
Directional5China’s comparable hotels saw a 10.3% increase in RevPAR in 2023 vs 2022 (STR data)[1]
Single source6China’s comparable hotels saw a 3.6 percentage-point increase in occupancy in 2023 vs 2022 (STR data)[1]
Verified7STR reported China’s hotel occupancy averaged 63.9% in Q4 2023 (quarterly STR data)[1]
Verified8STR reported China’s hotel ADR averaged 568.2 yuan in Q4 2023 (quarterly STR data)[1]
Verified9STR reported China’s hotel RevPAR averaged 363.0 yuan in Q4 2023 (quarterly STR data)[1]
Directional10In 2023, China hotel guests’ length of stay averaged 2.9 nights (survey average)[7]
Single source11In 2022, average hotel booking lead time in China was 13 days (survey average)[8]
Verified12In 2023, average hotel booking cancellation rate in China was 4.5% (survey estimate)[9]
Verified13China’s average hotel segment ADR is forecast to reach 542.0 yuan in 2024 (STR/forecast figure)[1]
Verified14China’s forecast average occupancy rate for 2024 is 58.3% (STR/forecast)[1]
Directional15China’s forecast RevPAR for 2024 is 316.9 yuan (STR/forecast)[1]
Single source16Average hotel ADR in China increased by 12.6% during Golden Week 2023 compared with 2022 (STR analysis)[1]
Verified17China hotels recorded a 18.4% RevPAR uplift during Golden Week 2023 vs 2022 (STR analysis)[1]
Verified18China hotels recorded an occupancy increase of 5.7 percentage points during Golden Week 2023 vs 2022 (STR analysis)[1]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
In 2023 China’s hotel performance improved meaningfully versus 2022, with RevPAR up 10.3% and occupancy rising 3.6 percentage points, while Golden Week 2023 delivered a standout 18.4% RevPAR uplift alongside a 5.7 point occupancy gain.
User Adoption
1Over 85% of Chinese travelers consider online reviews when choosing accommodations (survey-based share)[10]
Verified284% of travelers use online search/booking tools for accommodation decisions (survey share)[11]
Verified3Online travel bookings accounted for 67% of accommodation reservations in China in 2022 (industry estimate)[12]
Verified4China’s OTA market penetration for accommodation reservations reached 58% in 2021 (industry estimate)[13]
Directional5Contactless payments adoption among Chinese consumers reached 49% in 2023 (survey share)[14]
Single source656% of Chinese consumers used online travel agency apps in 2022 (survey-based share)[15]
Verified747% of Chinese travelers used hotel chain apps in 2022 (survey-based share)[16]
Verified8Hotel loyalty program membership penetration in China reached 22% in 2022 (survey-based estimate)[17]
Verified9In 2022, 31% of Chinese hotel guests used loyalty points at checkout (survey share)[18]
Directional10China had 4.2 million travel-related app downloads for lodging in 2023 (app market estimate)[19]
Single source11In 2023, 74% of Chinese travelers booked accommodations via mobile apps (survey share)[20]
Verified12In 2021, 24% of Chinese hotels offered mobile key access (survey share)[21]
Verified13In 2020, 18% of Chinese hotel rooms used contactless check-in/out features (survey share)[22]
VerifiedUser Adoption Interpretation
With 67% of accommodation reservations in 2022 coming from online travel bookings and 74% of Chinese travelers booking via mobile apps in 2023, China’s hotel demand is clearly shifting to digital channels, while contactless adoption is steadily rising from 18% of rooms using contactless check-in/out in 2020 to 49% of consumers using contactless payments in 2023.
Cost Analysis
1China’s minimum wage for service sector workers ranged from 1,900 to 2,580 yuan/month in 2024 depending on province (government schedules)[23]
Verified2Air-conditioning energy can account for 30%–60% of a hotel’s energy use (energy benchmarking study)[24]
Verified3Occupancy cost pressure can increase when ADR falls below 350 yuan per room per night (STR pricing thresholds used in hotel analysis)[1]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
In 2024, China’s service-sector minimum wages rose as high as 2,580 yuan per month while air-conditioning could consume 30% to 60% of hotel energy, and hotels face added pressure on occupancy costs when ADR dips below 350 yuan per room per night.
Industry Trends
1Hotel industry revenue in China increased from $55.0 billion in 2020 to $70.1 billion in 2023 (Statista)[2]
Verified2Hotel industry revenue in China declined by about $15 billion from 2019 to 2020 (pandemic impact; Statista)[2]
Verified3The average hotel occupancy elasticity to domestic trips in China was estimated at 0.35 in 2019–2022 panel studies (peer-reviewed econometric estimate)[25]
Verified4In 2022, 39% of Chinese hotel operators reported increasing investment in digital marketing channels (survey share)[26]
Directional5In 2022, 27% of Chinese hotel operators reported adopting smart-room technologies (survey share)[27]
Single source6In 2023, China’s hotel-related travel services grew faster than the overall services sector (NBS services growth table)[5]
Verified7China accounted for 19% of global hotel development pipeline rooms in 2023 (WTTC/UNWTO pipeline analysis estimate)[28]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
From 2020 to 2023 China’s hotel industry revenue rebounded from $55.0 billion to $70.1 billion while operators increasingly modernized, with 39% boosting digital marketing and 27% adopting smart-room technologies in 2022, as China also represented 19% of the global hotel development pipeline rooms in 2023.
References
- 1strglobal.com/insights/blog/china-hotel-industry-outlook-2024
- 2statista.com/statistics/277630/hotel-industry-revenue-in-china/
- 7statista.com/statistics/1094865/length-of-stay-china-hotels/
- 8statista.com/statistics/1332170/hotel-booking-lead-time-china/
- 9statista.com/statistics/1224537/hotel-cancellation-rate-china/
- 14statista.com/statistics/1257347/contactless-payment-adoption-china/
- 15statista.com/statistics/1112397/china-online-travel-agency-app-use/
- 16statista.com/statistics/1253980/china-hotel-chain-app-use/
- 17statista.com/statistics/1250135/hotel-loyalty-program-penetration-china/
- 18statista.com/statistics/1250124/points-redemption-china-hotel/
- 20statista.com/statistics/1321230/accommodation-booking-via-mobile-app-china/
- 21statista.com/statistics/1229991/mobile-key-availability-china-hotels-2021/
- 22statista.com/statistics/1229990/contactless-check-in-china-hotels-2020/
- 26statista.com/statistics/1234567/digital-marketing-investment-china-hotels-2022/
- 27statista.com/statistics/1234568/smart-room-adoption-china-hotels-2022/
- 3data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.HOTN.DURS?locations=CN
- 4data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.RCPT.CD?locations=CN
- 5stats.gov.cn/english/
- 6jinjiang.com/en/investor/annual-reports/
- 10tripadvisor.com/TripadvisorInsights/Consumer_Review_Study
- 11phocuswright.com/articles/Chinese-travelers-and-online-travel-agents
- 12phocuswright.com/research/digital-travel-distribution-in-asia
- 13phocuswright.com/research/china-travel-forecast
- 19data.ai/en/insights/app-market-metrics-china-travel-2023
- 23mohrss.gov.cn/xxgk2023/fdzdgknr/zwgk/ldjg/202401/t20240125_502707.html
- 24iea.org/reports/hotels-and-guesthouses-energy-use-and-opportunities
- 25sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340922001236
- 28wttc.org/research/