WYNDHAM Hotel Group, one of the world's largest integrated hotel franchise and management companies, said yesterday in Shanghai it will introduce its first luxury Wyndham hotel into the China market later this year.

The US hotel operator, which now has more than 120 properties under four brands across the country, said the 600-room Xiamen Wyndham hotel will be its flagship property in China.

"The Wyndham brand is the latest we've added to our Chinese portfolio which include Howard Johnson, Ramada, Days Inn and Super 8, and it's the most luxurious brand under our group," Steven A. Rudnitsky, Wyndham Hotel Group president and chief executive officer, told Shanghai Daily yesterday. "We are also actively pursuing opportunities to open more Wyndham hotels in gateway cities like Beijing and Shanghai."

Since entering the China market some 20 years ago, the US hotel giant has extended its footprint to more than 20 cities, running a portfolio of more than 120 properties through both franchising and management contracts.

That includes roughly 15 Howard Johnson, 30 Ramada, 20 Days Inn and 60 Super 8 hotels.

The group said it expects its China business to continue to grow at a double-digit rate in the coming years. Its China portfolio expanded to 84 in 2006 from 34 in 2005 and exceeded 120 in 2007, according to company officials.