( CNN ) -- China 's economic success has created a fast-growing middle class and an explosion in domestic travel . Cashing in on the travel boom is one hotel chain that 's expanding so fast , it 's opening a new property every two days . Budget hotel chain Hanting Inns was founded by billionaire businessman Ji Qi seven years ago . Today it has 1,000 properties in China , across four brands , and Ji expects Hanting to be the world 's biggest hotel chain by 2020 . The company takes inspiration from Western low-cost hotel chains that cater for frequent business travelers on a budget , such as Accor , Ibis and Premier Inn . `` I first got the idea from a book introducing Accor , about how they open small hotels with less expensive but cozy , clean rooms , '' Ji told CNN 's Richard Quest . `` I realized there 's a gap in the Chinese market for such hotels as well so I decided to invest experimentally in that niche . '' See also : China 's unique boutique hotels . Ji identifies three things that Chinese customers look for in a hotel room -- all of which will chime with Western travelers : a soft bed , free internet access and a good hot shower after a long , tiring day . He says his ultimate target is to open 10,000 hotels . His big draw is clean , no-frills rooms that start from as little as $ 15 a night . `` We only invest in crucial parts ( of the hotels ) . In our lobby you do n't see fancy decorations like marble surface or crystal lights , '' said Ji . `` We keep everything simple because our clients do n't really pay much attention to that . But we put serious money into our rooms -- in that way we manage to keep our hotels cost-effective . '' The sheer scale and speed of economic development within China over the last 20 years has forced hoteliers the world over to sit up and take notice . The number of Chinese people traveling outside China has risen to 65 million a year , overtaking Japan as the largest source of outbound travelers in Asia . See also : Asia 's budget airlines go long haul . International hotel chains are adapting their business plans and services to cater for the increasing number of Chinese travelers . Marriott launched its Li Yu program -- meaning `` serve with courtesy '' -- earlier this year , while Hilton Worldwide introduced its Huanying program last August -- tailor-made for the Chinese market , with a name that means `` welcome '' in Mandarin . Paul Brown , brand president at Hilton , told Quest that Huanying offers services including Chinese foods on the breakfast menu , and guest rooms that come with green tea , slippers , and Chinese TV channels . `` We wanted to create a program that made them feel comfortable and welcome when going outside their country for the first time , '' he said . But international players are also moving into China . Accor has tried to gain a foothold in the Chinese market with its Grand Mercure brand , known locally as Mei Jue , and Marriott plans to more than double the number of its hotels in China in the next three years . `` We 've got to make sure that we are succeeding with the Chinese traveler and winning their loyalty , '' said Marriott CEO Arne Sorensen . `` The loyalty that we build here can get translated ultimately to loyalty of Chinese travelers going around the globe . '' See also : 55 years of Marriott hotels . But Ji believes that foreign competitors will find it hard to compete with Hanting on its home turf . `` We are faster . We are more cost-effective . We know our clients better , '' he said . Ji says he welcomes international customers , but currently 90 % of Hanting guests are Chinese business travelers . And with 1.3 billion Chinese people , whose average incomes have quadrupled in the last four years , it 's small wonder that for the time being , Hanting is concentrating on the local market .
China 's domestic tourism sector is expanding at great speed . Hanting Inns aims to be the world 's biggest hotel chain by 2020 . International hotel chains are trying to tap into China 's travel boom .