NEW YORK CITY—In this market, you have to go where the business takes you, and that is clearly China. Hilton Worldwide knows where the demand is and has just opened what it is calling the first internationally branded hotel in Putian, in the province of Fujian.

“The opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Putian marks Hilton Worldwide's entry into Fujian Province and is another milestone in our ongoing expansion in China, where we have more than 110 properties in the pipeline,” said Martin Rinck, president of Hilton Worldwide, Asia Pacific, in a statement. “We plan to continue to accelerate our growth,” in China. The new asset is the company's 12th Double Tree in China.

Situated in the central Chenxiang diplomatic and commercial district, the DoubleTree is located across the street from the new government center. It offers 23 suites, three restaurants, a lobby lounge and a fitness center with a 25-meter heated indoor swimming pool and a spa.

The opening comes at a time when Asia/Pacific is experiencing what may be simply a temporary slowdown in growth. In year-over-year measurements provided by STR, the Asia/Pacific region's occupancy ended November down with a 1.1% decrease to 72.1%, its average daily rate rose 2.5% to $132.25 and its revenue per available room was up 1.4% to $95.34.

“For the eleven months this year, the region achieved an almost flat occupancy growth of 0.6% to 68.4%,” said Elizabeth Winkle Randall, managing director of STR Global. “ADR performed similarly, with a 0.9% growth to $129.25.

"The number of available rooms in the region increased only 2.9% YTD, the lowest increase in supply over the past six years," the report continued. "Demand for hotel accommodation across the region continued to rise, growing 3.5% YTD to more than 699 million rooms occupied YTD."