Hilton’s Hampton Brand Establishes China Presence

Little Hampton (at left), a brand mascot in China, was introduced at a ceremony marking the opening of the first Hampton by Hilton in that country.

GUANGZHOU, CHINA—It may not yet represent the world’s biggest economy, but China now is home to the planet’s largest middle class. At 109 million, it’s nearly 20% larger than the US middle class, according to Credit Suisse Research Institute. Despite its scale, though, it’s a market largely overlooked by hotel investors coming to China, where they focus primarily on upscale properties rather than midscale.

Hilton Worldwide is aiming to change that. The McLean, VA-based lodging giant recently opened its first Hampton by Hilton in the world’s most populous nation, the 223-key Hampton by Hilton Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town. It joins a global portfolio of more than 2,100 Hampton properties; Hilton already operates in China under some of its other flags.