Source: Forbes

Hyatt opened its first hotel in China in 1969 and today has grown to 58 hotels, seven brands and more than 19,000 rooms in Greater China. Over the next four years, Hyatt plans to double its presence in China with 60 hotels and 22,000 more rooms in the pipeline, representing nearly one-third of Hyatt's global development pipeline.

China's growing middle class and rapid urbanization are big drivers in this growth strategy. Travel and tourism revenue in China is growing at more than double the rate of GDP growth, and over the next five years the Chinese market is expected to equal the size of Germany or the United Kingdom. Plus, by 2025, it's projected that there will be more than 220 cities in China with populations of more than one million. In comparison, the United States has just 10 cities of this size.

Earlier this year, Hyatt appointed Stephen Ho as President of Greater China Global Operations, a new role within the company, further investing in leadership for the region. Ho was previously the CEO of the Greater China Region for Marriott International and will be responsible for growth and operations, talent development and owner relations throughout Greater China. Here, Ho shares insight on the Chinese traveler and how Hyatt hopes to win them over.

Read the full article at Forbes