The Forbes article talks about the franchise owners, or investor hotel owners and the asia owners fee structures. ( asia owners don't have thresholds )

In asia, a lot of discount hotel prices are in package deals, air+hotel+tours. C-trip is great at some of these deals which have the western hotels like Mrt, SPG, IHG, Hyatt, etc. as hotel options. Two of my examples- BJ to Lhasa on CA and the Sheraton , BJ to Sanya on CA at the Ritz both were 50% discount as an air/hotel with airport transfers. If booking hotels on C-trip, do not expect to get the membership reward points, but other member benefits are offered upon hotel check in, such as free internet & EL benefits. The CA milage on *A is at 50% on some of these flights.

SPG has some great property locations in China. Mrt has 7 brands in china and has brand consistency in the upper midscale and luxury segments.

BTW, do not expect any 50% package discount deals in the 40 day CNY holiday window....