Global hotel chain operator Hilton has introduced a new brand to China, which it says reflects demand for lifestyle travel and hospitality, amid belief the country’s tourism sector will remain a strong growth engine as the company accelerates its expansion in the world’s second-largest economy.The US hospitality group announced on Tuesday that its Tempo by Hilton lifestyle brand would make its Asia-Pacific debut in mainland China after signing several deals.It added that the brand would offer Chinese hotel owners an opportunity to capture growing demand for lifestyle-oriented hospitality via a scalable model.“The introduction of Tempo reflects our confidence in the long‑term fundamentals of this market and the vast opportunity to meet increasing demand for experience-led lifestyle stays from this next generation of travellers,” Alan Watts, president of Hilton Asia-Pacific, said at a launch ceremony in Shanghai. “As the brand expands in China, we will enable owners to unlock value through clear positioning, strong operational efficiency, superior commercial advantage and a growing network effect.”Hilton, which operates 12 brands in China, including Conrad and Waldorf Astoria, had 1,080 outlets under management on the mainland as of June 30, more than seven times the around 150 it operated at the end of 2018.It is now the largest international hospitality group operating in China in terms of portfolio size. The company said that it expected to keep its growth momentum over the next few years.