H World Group revenue climbs as hotel network swells

H World Group (NASDAQ:HTHT) reported double-digit revenue and turnover growth for the first quarter of 2026, capitalizating on persistent leisure and business travel demand across its sprawling multi-brand hospitality network.

The multi-national hotel operator posted total revenue of RMB6 billion ($835 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2026, representing an 11.1% increase compared to the first quarter of the prior year.

The top-line acceleration was anchored by a sharp surge in gross hotel turnover, which climbed 17.4% year-over-year to RMB26.4 billion.

Operating efficiency remained strong as the group continues to benefit from economies of scale associated with its asset-light franchise strategy.

H World’s first-quarter operating margin rose to 24.8%, while adjusted EBITDA reached RMB1.9 billion, underscoring steady cost management across both its legacy domestic operations and international divisions.

The company continued its aggressive footprint expansion during the first three months of the year.

H World's global hotel network reached a milestone of 13,215 active hotels, heavily supported by new openings in the mid-scale and economy segments, where its core brands—including HanTing and JI Hotel—maintain dominant market positioning in China.