A legal dispute has emerged as Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited, the operator of the Atour hotel chain, has taken legal action against a small Chongqing-based hotel named "Duoya" for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed against Chongqing Duoya Hotel Management Co., Ltd. and its legal representative Tong Daichao, seeks 100,000 yuan in damages, with a court hearing scheduled for August 28.
The plaintiff's evidence submission claims that Tong's hotel used logos similar to Atour's registered trademarks in its promotional materials on the Ctrip platform, as well as throughout its physical premises. This includes the hotel's signage, front desk area, guest room doors, room number plates, ceiling lights, elevator doors, and even bedding, according to documents reviewed by the media.
Tong, a 48-year-old hotel owner in Chongqing's Tongliang District, operates a modest establishment with 35 guest rooms and four mahjong rooms, with room rates ranging from 80-90 yuan for the cheapest options to around 100 yuan for standard rooms. He took over the property on December 31, 2025, inheriting the "Duoya" name from the previous owner, who reportedly drew inspiration from a local 3A-rated scenic spot called "Hehe Yuanxiang" - the name was derived from the imagery of blooming lotus flowers and elegant beauty.
Tong disputes the infringement claim, arguing that "Duoya" and "Atour" share only one common character in Chinese, and that the characters appear in reversed order with distinct pronunciations and visual appearances. He notes that Tongliang, a district in Chongqing with development levels comparable to a fourth-tier city, has no Atour hotels, making it unlikely for local residents to confuse the two brands. Additionally, he emphasizes that his hotel's design, including its entrance, logo, and interior decoration, bears no resemblance to Atour's style. He claims to have reviewed guest reviews on Meituan and Ctrip, finding no instances where customers mistook his establishment for an Atour property.
Meanwhile, Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited recently reported strong financial performance for the second quarter and first half of 2026. The company achieved net revenue of 6.302 billion yuan in the first half, representing a 44.1% year-over-year increase, with net profit attributable to shareholders reaching 1.011 billion yuan, up 51.3%. As of the end of June, Atour operated 2,175 hotels with a total of 242,500 guest rooms. The second quarter alone saw net revenue of 3.49 billion yuan and net profit of 548 million yuan, up 29% year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA grew 34.6% to 821 million yuan. Atour has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
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