China Policy Update — 31 August 2026

policy • 31 August 2026

China’s hotel pipeline is expanding quickly, with **new urban luxury openings, resort upgrades and large-scale brand growth** giving travellers more choice in 2026 and beyond. For Australian visitors, the most useful developments are concentrated in Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and several leisure destinations, where major international groups are adding new properties and refreshing older ones.[1][2][4][10] According to **China Travel News**, Hilton said its Greater China portfolio has reached **1,100 operating hotels** after opening the Hampton by Hilton Chongqing Yangjiaping Pedestrian Street, and it added **100 hotels in just over seven months** this year.[2][10][13] Hilton also announced several **conversion and redevelopment projects** that are practical for travellers to note: the Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay is slated for a **2028 full opening**, while new openings in **Dali, Wenchang, Shenzhen and Emeishan** are scheduled between **2026 and 2027**.[3][5][12] Another notable opening is the **Financial City Chengdu – MGallery Collection**, which Accor says opened in August 2026 and is part of its wider western China push; Accor also plans to **double its Greater China network by 2030** with future openings in places such as **Pujiang, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Sanya and Lanxi**.[4][9] In Shanghai, Marriott has signed for what it describes as the **world’s first urban Ritz-Carlton Reserve**, set for the **North Bund** and scheduled to open in **2030** with **110 rooms and suites**.[1]

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