(Yicai Global) May 10 -- International hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriot and InterContinental have expressed optimism about the Chinese market, saying they will boost investment this year, even as Shanghai battles a Covid-19 outbreak.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings is optimistic about the market’s long-term development and will invest more, especially in Hilton Garden Inn and similar brands, and continue the rapid growth of its franchise model, the US-based firm told Yicai Global.

It is preparing to build more than 110 Hilton Garden Inns in the Asia-Pacific region, including 93 in China.

Hilton opened 76 new hotels globally with 13,200 rooms in the first quarter, adding a net 7,800 rooms. Twenty-four of the hotels are in China, according to public information. Hilton plans to raise the number in China to 1,000 by 2025, it said, up from about 400 at the end of last year.

InterContinental Hotels Group said China is a very important market, and the UK firm will combine franchises and other models to speed development in the future, especially in second-, third- and fourth-tier cities, with a focus on medium- and high-end offerings.

US-based Marriott Hotels & Resorts is also upbeat on the Chinese market, and the franchise model is a trend for its future development, it noted.

Amid the Covid-19 resurgence at the end of March, Shanghai brought out citywide Covid-19 restrictions based on different risk levels in districts. The government requisitioned many hotels of Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Accor Hotels to ensure accommodation and food for medical and other staff.

Many employees of foreign hotels have been on the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus. Zhu Yunyi, director of food and beverage at Hilton Shanghai Songjiang Guangfulin, hurried back to work one night at the end of March and embarked on a round-the-clock anti-pandemic mission. He has been parted from his family for more than a month.

Editor: Peter Thomas