Hilton to build 100 hotels in China by 2014

Hilton Worldwide has laid down the gauntlet to its rivals in China, announcing plans to quadruple its portfolio in three years. This move will make China the biggest market for Hilton outside the US, the company said in an interview with  Bloomberg news wire.

At present, it operates 25 hotels in China under its own brand, including sub-brands Waldorf Astoria and Doubletree. The expansionist move will see the hotel chain's list of properties rise to 100, according to Andrew Flack, vice president of global brand and marketing.

"This exceptional growth is really a once in a generation opportunity we are seeing in China,” Flack said, citing the increasing number of Chinese travelers. “What that delivers for us is the opportunities to build hotels.”