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SINGAPORE, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- H World Group Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT) and (HK: 01179), a leading global hospitality group, announced its debut into the Laotian market with the signing of 4 hotel management agreements, further advancing its international growth strategy and expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia.
The signing ceremony, held in Laotians Capital City Vientiane on May 29, marks H Group's first entry into the country, solidifying its "asset-light and internationalization" strategy.
The new properties, located in Vientiane and the historic city of Luang Prabang, will be developed in collaboration with three investment partners: Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., Yuting Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd., and KP Construction Sole Co., Ltd.
"This signing of four hotels in Laos is an important step for H World in promoting localized management and building a deeply rooted network across the region," said Zhu Xiaogang, President of H World Asia Pacific.
"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", added Zhu.
The four hotels signed this time cover H World's core upper-midscale and midscale brands, with projects located in Laos' capital and major tourist destinations:
- Intercity Hotel Vientiane: Developed in partnership with Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., the hotel will be situated near Wattay International Airport and the Sanjiang Area in Vientiane. Scheduled to open in early 2026, the hotel will offer modern amenities and seamless connectivity.
- Intercity Hotel Luang Prabang: Invested by Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., the hotel will be located in the historic city center of Luang Prabang. Expected to open in 2027, it will blend local cultural elements with the brand's signature design and functionality.
- JI Hotel Vientiane Mekong Riverside: Developed by Yuting Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd., the hotel will be located along the Mekong River in downtown Vientiane. Offering scenic river views and strong accessibility, it is set to open in early 2026. This marks the first JI Hotel in Laos and the second in Southeast Asia, following the opening of JI Hotel Orchard in Singapore.
- Orange Hotel Vientiane International Airport: Developed by KP Construction Sole Co., Ltd., this project will be located near the airport and the Sanjiang Area. It is expected to open in Q3 2026. This project represents the global debut of the Orange Hotel brand outside China.
All three investment partners expressed confidence in the collaboration, citing H World's operational excellence, brand reputation, and digital ecosystem as key drivers for the partnership. They noted that the cooperation is expected to elevate hospitality standards in Laos and deliver enhanced travel experiences for guests.
According to the Laos National Tourism Administration, more than 1.97 million international tourists entered the country via the China-Laos Railway in 2024, a more than threefold increase year-on-year. Chinese tourists accounted for over 60%, making China the top source of inbound visitors to Laos. (END)
About H World Group Limited
Originated in China, H World Group Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT; HK:01179) is a key player in the global hotel industry. H World's brands include HanTing Hotel, JI Hotel, Crystal Orange Hotel, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, MAXX, Jaz in the City, IntercityHotel, Zleep Hotels and Steigenberger Icons. In addition, H World also has the rights as master franchisee for Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles, and co-development rights for Grand Mercure and Novotel, in the pan-China region.
For more information, please visit H World's website: https://ir.hworld.com
For m edia i nquiry, please contact:
Lihuan Wang media@hworld.com
Zheming Xing zheming@taskforce-china.cn
Zhibin Lang zhibin.lang@taskforce-china.cn
SINGAPORE, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- H World Group Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT) and (HK: 01179), a leading global hospitality group, announced its debut into the Laotian market with the signing of 4 hotel management agreements, further advancing its international growth strategy and expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia.
The signing ceremony, held in Laotians Capital City Vientiane on May 29, marks H Group's first entry into the country, solidifying its "asset-light and internationalization" strategy.
The new properties, located in Vientiane and the historic city of Luang Prabang, will be developed in collaboration with three investment partners: Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., Yuting Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd., and KP Construction Sole Co., Ltd.
"This signing of four hotels in Laos is an important step for H World in promoting localized management and building a deeply rooted network across the region," said Zhu Xiaogang, President of H World Asia Pacific.
"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", added Zhu.
The four hotels signed this time cover H World's core upper-midscale and midscale brands, with projects located in Laos' capital and major tourist destinations:
- Intercity Hotel Vientiane: Developed in partnership with Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., the hotel will be situated near Wattay International Airport and the Sanjiang Area in Vientiane. Scheduled to open in early 2026, the hotel will offer modern amenities and seamless connectivity.
- Intercity Hotel Luang Prabang: Invested by Lao Kunpeng Industrial Co., Ltd., the hotel will be located in the historic city center of Luang Prabang. Expected to open in 2027, it will blend local cultural elements with the brand's signature design and functionality.
- JI Hotel Vientiane Mekong Riverside: Developed by Yuting Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd., the hotel will be located along the Mekong River in downtown Vientiane. Offering scenic river views and strong accessibility, it is set to open in early 2026. This marks the first JI Hotel in Laos and the second in Southeast Asia, following the opening of JI Hotel Orchard in Singapore.
- Orange Hotel Vientiane International Airport: Developed by KP Construction Sole Co., Ltd., this project will be located near the airport and the Sanjiang Area. It is expected to open in Q3 2026. This project represents the global debut of the Orange Hotel brand outside China.
All three investment partners expressed confidence in the collaboration, citing H World's operational excellence, brand reputation, and digital ecosystem as key drivers for the partnership. They noted that the cooperation is expected to elevate hospitality standards in Laos and deliver enhanced travel experiences for guests.
According to the Laos National Tourism Administration, more than 1.97 million international tourists entered the country via the China-Laos Railway in 2024, a more than threefold increase year-on-year. Chinese tourists accounted for over 60%, making China the top source of inbound visitors to Laos. (END)
About H World Group Limited
Originated in China, H World Group Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT; HK:01179) is a key player in the global hotel industry. H World's brands include HanTing Hotel, JI Hotel, Crystal Orange Hotel, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, MAXX, Jaz in the City, IntercityHotel, Zleep Hotels and Steigenberger Icons. In addition, H World also has the rights as master franchisee for Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles, and co-development rights for Grand Mercure and Novotel, in the pan-China region.
For more information, please visit H World's website: https://ir.hworld.com
For m edia i nquiry, please contact:
Lihuan Wang media@hworld.com
Zheming Xing zheming@taskforce-china.cn
Zhibin Lang zhibin.lang@taskforce-china.cn
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
H World Group Signs Agreement to Debut Intercity Hotel, JI Hotel and Orange Hotel in Laos
ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the official opening of Desert X AlUla 2026, the landmark fourth edition of the international, open-air biennial exhibition. Arts AlUla, in collaboration with Desert X, welcomes visitors to experience a stellar line-up of Saudi and international multi-generational artists whose site-responsive earthworks, sculptures, and installations will engage in a powerful dialogue with the awe-inspiring landscapes and layered heritage of AlUla.
As a premier destination rich in ancient history and breathtaking nature, AlUla, located in Northwest Saudi Arabia, solidifies its position on the global stage as a dynamic, emerging land art destination with Desert X AlUla, the region's first public art biennale, and a key highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival.
The 2026 edition of Desert X AlUla brings together 11 acclaimed artists whose diverse works reflect a wide spectrum of ideas, materials, and traditions. From monumental kinetic sculpture to sound-based explorations above and below ground, each commission is deeply rooted in relationships to AlUla's distinctive environment, further cementing Desert X AlUla's reputation as a globally significant platform for site-responsive land art.
Desert X AlUla runs until February 28, 2026, as a cornerstone of the annual AlUla Arts Festival. Curated by Wejdan Reda, Zoé Whitley, with artistic direction by Neville Wakefield, and Raneem Farsi, its fourth edition explores 'Space Without Measure.' Inspired by Kahlil Gibran, the theme fosters contemplation of imagination within AlUla's natural settings. The exhibition, set in the desert canyons of AlUla, serves as a pre-opening programme for Wadi AlFann, offering a pivotal glimpse into AlUla's plans to create a permanent land art 'Valley of the Arts.'
Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: "At Desert X AlUla 2026, audiences will engage with art that deeply converses with AlUla's unique landscapes and rich heritage. These compelling commissions highlight AlUla's dynamic transformation into a major global destination, where ancient and contemporary expressions converge. This exhibition is part of our broader revitalisation of AlUla as a culturally rich destination to live, work and visit and integral to positioning AlUla in the global dialogue of contemporary art and as a precursor to monumental projects like Wadi AlFann."
Participating artist/artworks are:
- Sara Abdu, A Kingdom Where No One Dies: Contours of Resonance
- Mohammad Alfaraj, What was the Question Again?
- Mohammed AlSaleem, The Thorn, AlShuruf Unit, The Triangles, Flower Bud, and Al Ahilla (courtesy of Royal Commission for Riyadh City)
- Tarek Atoui, The Water Song
- Bahraini-Danish, Bloom
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Imole Red
- Agnes Denes, The Living Pyramid
- Ibrahim El-Salahi, Haraza Tree
- Basmah Felemban, Murmur of Pebbles
- Vibha Galhotra, Future Fables
- Héctor Zamora, Tar HyPar
For further information, please contact:
Sabrine.Shaw@bursonglobal.com
AlUlaArtsFestival@bursonglobal.com
Multimedia gallery:
High-resolution photos of all 11 artists and their artworks can be found here.
About AlUla and Arts AlUla
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages. AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes was developed from at least the 12th century and has been revitalised as the vibrant hub for visitors and residents.
The creation of Arts AlUla within The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is a commitment to crafting the next chapters in a millennia of artistic creation – celebrating cultural inheritance and shaping a future inspired by artists built be artists. The work of Arts AlUla seeks to preserve this legacy: fuse the old with the new; the local with the international, keeping the arts central to the spirit of AlUla as a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage.
Wadi AlFann, meaning 'Valley of the Arts,' will be a global cultural destination for land art, unveiling from 2028 onwards, where era-defining works by artists from around the world will be permanently sited in the monumental landscape of AlUla, the extraordinary desert region of north-west Saudi Arabia.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Desert X AlUla 2026: monumental land art exhibition opens in the ancient oasis of AlUla
