China Lodging Group rises 14% on NASDAQ debut

Shares in China Lodging Group (HTHT.NASDAQ), a Chinese hotel operator, rose 14% on their NASDAQ debut on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported. China Lodging’s stock closed at US$13.92 a share, above its initial public offering price of US$12.25. China Lodging operates 173 leased hotels and 63 franchised ones under the Hanting budget and business hotel brands. China Lodging is the latest Chinese hotel operator to seek a US listing, following 7 Days Group (SVN.NYSE) in November 2009, and Home Inn & Hotels Management (HMIN.NASDAQ) in October 2006. China Lodging posted a profit of US$7.5 million in 2009, after two years of losses.