Global hospitality firm H World Group has made its debut in Laos, underscoring a step in its international expansion strategy.
The entry is marked by the signing of four hotel management agreements, set to enhance its presence in Southeast Asia.
These agreements were formalised in a signing ceremony in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, aligning with H World Group’s “asset-light and internationalisation” initiative.
H World Asia Pacific president Zhu Xiaogang said: “This signing of four hotels in Laos is an important step for H World in promoting localised management and building a deeply rooted network across the region.
“We are committed to strengthening our operational capabilities in Southeast Asia and delivering high-quality, full-lifecycle services to our partners. We are confident that these projects in Laos will become the highlights in H World’s development in the region.”
Under the company’s upper-midscale and midscale brands, the new properties will be situated in Vientiane and the historic city of Luang Prabang.
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By GlobalDataThe first property, Intercity Hotel in Vientiane, is a collaboration with Lao Kunpeng Industrial and will be located near Wattay International Airport and the Sanjiang Area. Its doors are expected to open in early 2026, offering guests connectivity.
Intercity Hotel in Luang Prabang, also developed with Lao Kunpeng Industrial, will be nestled in the centre of city and is slated to welcome guests in 2027.
Yuting Hotel Investment Management will develop JI Hotel in Vientiane’s Mekong Riverside, which will offer river views in downtown Vientiane. This establishment, set to open in early 2026, will be the first JI Hotel in Laos and the second in Southeast Asia, joining JI Hotel Orchard in Singapore.
A project by KP Construction Sole, the Orange Hotel Vientiane International Airport will be situated near the airport and the Sanjiang Area, with an anticipated opening in the third quarter of 2026. This marks the first Orange Hotel outside China.
The expansion comes at a time when Laos is experiencing a surge in international tourism, with more than 1.97 million international tourists arriving via the China-Laos Railway in 2024, a significant increase from the previous year, as per data from the Laos National Tourism Administration.
Chinese tourists represent over 60% of these visitors, with China becoming a source of inbound tourism to Laos.
In financial terms, H World Group reported a net income of 659m yuan ($91m) for the first quarter of 2024, which is a 33.4% decrease from 990m yuan in the same period last year.
