After 5+ years of on-or-off rumors, the deal is finally sealed. Mumian hotels are full-service properties developed by CR Land following the "lifestyle" trail (no club lounges, largely analogous to Hyatt Centrics), with the most notable outpost at PKX. Amongst the six initial properties visible on Hyatt.com since December 2023, the Shenzhen and Rizhao hotels will join JdV, whilst properties in Chengdu (both), Hangzhou, Beijing PKX and the upcoming Shanghai (sharing the same complex as the Thompson in Expo Park) and Shaoxing properties will join the Unbound Collection. Per my sources current hotels will join World of Hyatt early next year, coinciding the new openings and some room to breathe as necessary infrastructure upgrades take place. According to Hyatt's PR, additional openings may operate under the Destination brand as well.

"Mumian" means kapok flowers in Mandarin. Some tidbits of trivia, Hyatt served as the brand's initial consultant and helped developed much of the brand standards per my sources. The first Mumian property at PKX was slated for the Unbound Collection brand and managed by Hyatt until late stages of pre-opening. COVID then happened and the hotel eventually debuted without a Hyatt badge in late 2020, though Hyatt did continue overseeing all six properties to some extent. Talks for Mumian to (re-)join Hyatt resumed last year, and here we are. Spearheading the new joint venture is the current GM and AVP of Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, a competent general manager with tenures at other high-profile Hyatts in China. From what I have Hyatt will continue its supervision on brand standards and interior designs.

For end customers the integration should be similar to Lindner and would make Brand Explorer a tad easier for some. Unlike a certain acquisition effort from Hyatt, these are contemporary, full-service hotels built to Hyatt standards (though I wouldn't bet on service at all) without hefty price tags, and should make for positive additions in destinations such as Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Below are a few pictures of current Mumian openings, which all look promising. These additions aren’t completely out of the blue, as Hyatt’s involvement with the brand began in its very early days well over five years ago.