China Policy Update — 21 July 2026

policy • 21 July 2026

Major international hotel groups are rapidly expanding China’s tourism infrastructure with significant new openings and signings across Greater China, particularly in gateway cities and leisure destinations. **Holiday Inn** recently signed **24 new hotels** in Greater China during its Hotel Owner Forum in Beijing, adding to its existing portfolio of 168 open hotels and 106 pipeline properties in the region [1]. Meanwhile, **IHG Hotels & Resorts** is accelerating openings in the second half of 2026, including the **InterContinental Shenzhen ICSZ**, **InterContinental Taipei**, and **Holiday Inn Shanghai NECC**, alongside new **Crowne Plaza Suzhou Taihu Lake** and multiple **Holiday Inn Express** and **Atwell** properties [4]. In the luxury segment, **Radisson Collection** has officially debuted in Southwest China with the opening of the **Radisson Collection Hotel, Hi-Tech Zone Chengdu**, marking the brand’s flagship entry into the region and blending European sophistication with Sichuan heritage [5][10]. **Accor** is also scaling up aggressively, having signed deals to **double its China portfolio to 1,600 properties** over the next five to six years, with new upscale and luxury projects across key markets [11]. Additionally, **Marriott** is set to open new properties such as the **Renaissance Hangzhou Qianjiang Century City** (near the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre) and the **Sheraton Guilin Xiangshan Scenic Area**, which recently opened with 170 rooms overlooking local lakes and mountains [7]. Domestic chains are also contributing to infrastructure growth: **Wanda Hotels** opened over 40 new hotels in the first half of 2026 and plans multiple launches in the second half, including **Wanda Yihua & Wanda Meihua** near Beijing’s Bird’s Nest and **Wanda Yihua & Wanda Yuehua** in Bole, Xinjiang (a border city with Kazakhstan) [6][9]. These developments collectively enhance accommodation capacity for Australian travellers visiting China’s major cities, cultural hubs, and emerging border tourism routes.

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