Sun Jian, the CEO of Home Inns & Hotels Management, has told local media that the company is expecting to open 200 hotels in 2010, especially in second-tier Chinese cities.

Sun made this statement at the Shanghai International Franchise Exhibition 2009. He said that Home Inns hoped that the total number of hotels could reach 10,000 in three years.

According to its financial report for the second quarter of 2009, Home Inns' operating revenue reached 642 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 43.3%; its net profit has reached 100 million yuan, 12 times of that of 2008. The average occupancy rate for the second quarter was 92.4%, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%.

Sun is of the opinion that economy hotels still have a large potential for development in China. Home Inns expects its operating revenue for the third quarter would reach between 685 million yuan and 705 million yuan; and its whole year operating revenue would increase by 33% to 35% compared to 2008.

(China Hospitality News September 24, 2009)