The hotel is generally the largest single occupier of space within most mixed-use developments, but its power to influence the success of the development reaches far beyond its footprint.

From Beijing to Bangalore, available plot sizes, government planning policies and the rising cost of land is challenging traditional hotel development strategies. For developers, the concept of building a bespoke hotel in a prime city location has become alien. The reason for this is quite simple: money. "If you're looking at building a stand-alone hotel in a CBD in a primary location, you will be hard pressed to get the returns that you require to justify your investment," explains Andreas Flaig, Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels China.