The Chinese capital plans to increase the number of star-grade hotels to meet the needs of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, mainly through upgrading existing economy-class hotels.

"We welcome big-name international hotel management firms to join this process through multiple channels, including franchise, joint-stock management and financing," said Yu Debin, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Tourist Bureau to Beijing Morning Post.

According to the bureau, Beijing has 601 star-level hotels at the end of September. The city is aiming for 800, the amount required by the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

The bureau predicted Beijing would host 600,000 visitors during the forthcoming Olympic Games.