The Smart Hotel UK Programme is built on the foundation of H World Group — one of the world's top four hotel operators, with over 12,700 hotels, 31 brands, and nearly 280 million loyalty members.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Shanghai, H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT | HKEX: 01179) has grown into a globally leading hotel operation managing over 12,702 hotels and 1.2 million rooms across 31 brands.
In July 2025, HOTELS Magazine ranked H World Group fourth globally. On its 'Global Top 50 Hotel Brands' list, Hanting Hotel ranked first and Ji Hotel ranked fourth — both brands powered by the same technology now being introduced to the UK market.
In 2020, H World completed the 100% acquisition of Deutsche Hospitality (rebranded H World International in 2024), signalling an active international expansion strategy. This UK programme represents the next step in that global growth.
H World Group trades on NASDAQ (HTHT) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (01179.HK), reflecting its status as a world-class institutional operator.
Following the acquisition of Deutsche Hospitality in 2020, H World operates internationally across Europe and Southeast Asia. The UK programme is the next frontier.
Two of H World's flagship brands are the direct inspiration for the Smart Hotel UK programme — and proof that this system works at global scale.
Ranked number one globally for economy hotel room volume, Hanting is the prototype for affordable, high-quality hospitality at scale. Its success is built on the exact modular system being introduced to UK hotel owners.
Ranked fourth globally for mid-scale hotel room volume, Ji Hotel demonstrates how the Smart Hotel system scales up to deliver a premium mid-market guest experience — with the same efficient, modular foundations.
Following the 2020 acquisition of Deutsche Hospitality, H World International operates across Europe, providing a direct precedent for the group's expansion into Western markets — including the UK.
The Smart Hotel Group of Companies is the UK vehicle for bringing H World's proven technology programme to independent hotel owners, developers, and investors. We are represented by Autotec and Richard Lin, the architect of the One-Key modular system used across H World's portfolio.
Our role in the UK is not just to supply components — it is to act as a strategic partner. We provide feasibility and cost-benefit analysis, design and tech integration, supply chain management, and implementation oversight, ensuring local contractors can execute the rapid-assembly model to the same standard achieved across 12,000 hotels in Asia.
We are currently focussed on London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Leeds — targeting independent hotels in the economy and mid-scale segments where the return on investment is most compelling.
We don't just provide parts. Our consulting offer includes:
Richard Lin · Autotec / Smart Hotel Group
Email: autotec@autotec.com.cn
WhatsApp: +86 150 0093 1606
WeChat: kx18121029907
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